Being a writer can be tough for all sorts of reasons, and one of them is definitely falling foul of the dreaded grammar police. They lurk around every corner silently waiting for you to slip up, and as soon as you do, they pounce!
I’m only human, so still slip up, but over the years have learned from others the following great rules to help me limit the grammar gremlins... and avoid being publicly named and shamed by the ever watchful grammar police. 👻 👻 👻
So, here goes:
1. Correct speling is essential.
2. Don’t use no double negatives.
3. Avoid alliteration. Always.
4. Good writers should never generalize.
5. Verbs has got to agree with their subjects.
6. Remember to not ever split infinitives.
7. Think outside the box to avoid clichés like the plague.
8. Remember exaggeration is a million times worse than understatement.
9. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.
10. Alway’s use apostrophe’s correctly.
11. Proofreading everything write means don’t miss any words out.
12. A preposition is not a good word to end a sentence with.
13. Don’t write run-on sentences they are hard to read.
14. Join clauses good, like a conjunction should.
15. Avoid ampersands & abbreviations, etc.