Stephen Pinker's 'The Sense of Style' is a must-read for any aspiring writer.
Here's a breakdown of 9 critical pieces of advice he shares:
Here's a breakdown of 9 critical pieces of advice he shares:
1. Make The Reader Feel Smart
Don't overcomplicate your language.
The goal of a writer is to make a reader lost in your work.
Complicated words destroy the flow of reading.
Some key ones to watch out for...
Don't overcomplicate your language.
The goal of a writer is to make a reader lost in your work.
Complicated words destroy the flow of reading.
Some key ones to watch out for...
- Long words
- Foreign words
- Medical terms
- Uncommonly spoken words
An example...
Don't use a word like 'tergiversate'.
Use 'abandon' or 'back out'.
- Foreign words
- Medical terms
- Uncommonly spoken words
An example...
Don't use a word like 'tergiversate'.
Use 'abandon' or 'back out'.
2. Don't Avoid Passive Voice
Passive voice is placing the recipient of an action at the beginning of a phrase.
Here's an example:
"My wallet was stolen"
You hear 99% of writers and English teachers say avoid passive voice.
But what if this isn't always appropriate?
Passive voice is placing the recipient of an action at the beginning of a phrase.
Here's an example:
"My wallet was stolen"
You hear 99% of writers and English teachers say avoid passive voice.
But what if this isn't always appropriate?
Here are some situations you want to use the Passive Voice:
1. To maintain emphasis on a character
2. When you don't want to mention the agent of an action
3. When you want to show a character's helplessness in a situation
1. To maintain emphasis on a character
2. When you don't want to mention the agent of an action
3. When you want to show a character's helplessness in a situation
3. Avoid Intensifiers
Intensifiers are words that don't change the meaning of a phrase but aim to enhance it.
Usually, these are adverbs.
And these dilute your writing...
Intensifiers are words that don't change the meaning of a phrase but aim to enhance it.
Usually, these are adverbs.
And these dilute your writing...
Look at these two phrases and tell me which you find more convincing:
a) Honestly, writing is absolutely essential to grow yourself as a person.
b) Writing is essential to grow yourself as a person.
We think these add substance to our writing.
They make it stodgy.
a) Honestly, writing is absolutely essential to grow yourself as a person.
b) Writing is essential to grow yourself as a person.
We think these add substance to our writing.
They make it stodgy.
4) Strong Verbs and Zombie Nouns
Verbs are the most powerful type of word in English.
They show us action and motion.
When you use a 'Zombie Noun' in place of these, you immediately weaken your sentence.
Let me show you...
Verbs are the most powerful type of word in English.
They show us action and motion.
When you use a 'Zombie Noun' in place of these, you immediately weaken your sentence.
Let me show you...
Strong Verb:
He donated $100,000 to the charity.
Zombie Noun:
His donation to the charity was $100,000.
Can you see how the Zombie Noun sucks all flow out of the phrase?
Prioritise action.
He donated $100,000 to the charity.
Zombie Noun:
His donation to the charity was $100,000.
Can you see how the Zombie Noun sucks all flow out of the phrase?
Prioritise action.
5. The Curse of Knowledge
99% of writers forget who their audience is.
They write as if they're addressing themselves.
This is known as The Curse of Knowledge...
Be sure to get friends and family to read your work when starting out to make sure it resonates with others.
99% of writers forget who their audience is.
They write as if they're addressing themselves.
This is known as The Curse of Knowledge...
Be sure to get friends and family to read your work when starting out to make sure it resonates with others.
6. Hone In On Your Target
The majority of writers aim to talk about 100 things and weave between them flawlessly.
Great writers know to focus on one thing and unravel it from the inside out.
The majority of writers aim to talk about 100 things and weave between them flawlessly.
Great writers know to focus on one thing and unravel it from the inside out.
7. Clean Up Your Mess
Imagine you've just thrown a killer house party...
But now it's the morning after.
Are you just going to sit on the sofa, surrounded by empty vodka bottles and the knocked-over vase your Mum received for Christmas?
Hell no!
Imagine you've just thrown a killer house party...
But now it's the morning after.
Are you just going to sit on the sofa, surrounded by empty vodka bottles and the knocked-over vase your Mum received for Christmas?
Hell no!
The tidying-up process in the writing world is editing.
Once you've finished a piece of writing, go through it several times to spot your errors.
Delete phrases that add nothing and rewrite any sections that aren't clear.
Once you've finished a piece of writing, go through it several times to spot your errors.
Delete phrases that add nothing and rewrite any sections that aren't clear.
7. Prepositions To Finish
Language is fluid.
While there are grammatical structures we should adhere to, speech has changed a lot over the years.
One of the old adages is "Never finish a sentence with a preposition."
But just think about it for a second...
Language is fluid.
While there are grammatical structures we should adhere to, speech has changed a lot over the years.
One of the old adages is "Never finish a sentence with a preposition."
But just think about it for a second...
Which of these would you say:
a) To whom did you talk?
b) Who did you talk to?
Option B finishes with a preposition while Option A is grammatically correct.
But, come on...
This is an example of where it's perfectly fine to break the rules.
a) To whom did you talk?
b) Who did you talk to?
Option B finishes with a preposition while Option A is grammatically correct.
But, come on...
This is an example of where it's perfectly fine to break the rules.
8. Conjunctions To Start
Let's look at another opportunity to break the rules.
Conjunctions are also known as connecting words (and, but, or etc...)
We are taught in school to NEVER start a sentence with these.
Yet, go and look at 99% of copy written nowadays...
Let's look at another opportunity to break the rules.
Conjunctions are also known as connecting words (and, but, or etc...)
We are taught in school to NEVER start a sentence with these.
Yet, go and look at 99% of copy written nowadays...
Conjunctions at the beginning of phrases galore.
And there's nothing wrong with this in today's writing.
If it sounds right, go with it.
And there's nothing wrong with this in today's writing.
If it sounds right, go with it.
9. Write With Confidence
Many new writers struggle with confidence.
They think that no one cares what they have to say...
But as you work on putting your writing out there, you realise that people start coming to your work to hear your opinion.
Many new writers struggle with confidence.
They think that no one cares what they have to say...
But as you work on putting your writing out there, you realise that people start coming to your work to hear your opinion.
Don't be deterred by imposter syndrome.
It is your unique outlook on the world that will get people to click with you as a writer.
Trying to follow the status quo will result in you being found out.
It is your unique outlook on the world that will get people to click with you as a writer.
Trying to follow the status quo will result in you being found out.
9 tips to become a better writer from Stephen Pinker:
1. Make the reader feel smart
2. Don't always avoid passive voice
3. Avoid intensifiers
4. Swap zombie nouns with strong verbs
5. Beware the curse of knowledge
1. Make the reader feel smart
2. Don't always avoid passive voice
3. Avoid intensifiers
4. Swap zombie nouns with strong verbs
5. Beware the curse of knowledge
6. Hone in on your target
7. Use prepositions to finish
8. Use conjunctions to start
9. Be confident in your ability
7. Use prepositions to finish
8. Use conjunctions to start
9. Be confident in your ability
Thanks so much for reading, gang.
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