Even the most professional authors rely on simple techniques such as these to make their writing clean, direct, and accurate.
(taken from the U.S. Naval Institute for their publication Proceedings)
- Don't overprove your thesis.
- Check all data, particularly dates, figures, and proper names, against the original documents.
- Keep your sentences short; one independent and one dependent clause are usually enough.
- Try to use the active, not passive, mode. This may come hard for those who have drafted a lot of official correspondence.
- Strive for clarity and vigor in every paragraph. If you bore the reader, he may quit reading.
- Generally, it is best to use a topic sentence for each paragraph.
- Assume that the reader is intelligent but knows little of your topic.
- Avoid jargon. If you must use acronyms, define them parenthetically, e.g., sea line of communication (SLOC). You may safely use SLOC in subsequent paragraphs but not too far apart. If you use dates, include the year, e.g., 12 July 1986. Otherwise, your reader will flounder.
- Add color and readability to your account by weaving in people's quoted remarks. Personalities spark your reader's interest.
- Document your evidence with footnotes, if necessary. They also allow your readers to follow up on your findings.
- If possible, send photos, maps, sketches, graphs, or tables to flesh out your article.
- Avoid abstract concepts; stay with the concrete.
- Where convenient, use subheadings about every six paragraphs. They give the reader a set of signposts and prevent the boredom of facing page after page of solid print.
- Smooth any abrupt transitions between paragraphs. Your story should flow evenly.
- Read your finished article aloud to pick up repetition or awkwardness.
- Have a friend read it for comprehension and clarity.
- Before you finish your final draft, you will have sacrificed paragraphs that you are loath to delete. Accept these deletions as part of the game in writing an article.
- Submit your manuscript double-spaced, with wide margins and mark it clearly with your address and telephone number.