William Safire's Rules for Writers:
Remember to never split an infinitive. The passive voice
should never be used. Do not put statements in the negative form.
Verbs have to agree with their subjects. Proofread carefully to see if
you words out. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a
great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing. A
writer must not shift your point of view. And don't start a sentence
with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word
to end a sentence with.) Don't overuse exclamation marks!! Place
pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10
or more words, to their antecedents. Writing carefully, dangling
participles must be avoided. If any word is improper at the end of a
sentence, a linking verb is. Take the bull by the hand and avoid
mixing metaphors. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky. Everyone
should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in
their writing. Always pick on the correct idiom. The adverb always
follows the verb. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague;
seek viable alternatives.
