Patrick Timothy Mullikin

35 years of experience in writing, editing, photography, graphic design, advertising, marketing, public relations and events planning
Home Page
Hire The Veteran
Biography
Resume
References
News Writing Samples
Poems & Lyrics
Journalist's Creed
Safire's Writing Rules
Free GOT GRAMMAR? Button
Rogues' Gallery
'09 Dylan Wannabe Contest
How Not To Write
 
 
The list below is reprinted with written permission from its author, William Safire, author of How Not to Write: The Essential Misrules of Grammar (Norton, 2005)

 

1. Remember to never split an infinitive. 

 

2. The passive voice should never be used. 

 

3. Do not put statements in the negative form. 

 

4. Verbs has to agree with their subjects. 

 

5. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.

 

6. If you reread your work, you can find on   rereading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

 

7. A writer must not shift your point of view.

 

8. And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.(Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)

 

9. Don’t overuse exclamation marks!!

 

10. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.

 

11. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

 

12. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

 

13. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

 

14. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

 

15. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

 

16. Always pick on the correct idiom.

 

17. The adverb always follows the verb.

 

18. Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague; seek viable alternatives.

 

 


 

Patrick Timothy Mullikin
P.O. Box 151726
Ely, NV 89315
(435) 621-8514