Reduce, Revise, Restructure

You have probably read something recently that makes you feel secondhand embarrassment for the author and groan internally (or very loudly). The mistakes that readers find unbearable to find are the same mistakes that we, as writers, have to eliminate. Knowing common errors and learning how not to commit them are arguably the best ways to become a stronger writer. Errors to be vigilant of include wordiness, careless grammar mistakes, and repetitive sentence structures.

Using concise, curated wording keeps the message clear because slight differences in diction changes the tone of the sentence. Take this sentence for example:  “The introduction, the climax, and conclusion aren’t necessarily what make the story shine.” “Making something shine” is an overused phrase. Replacing “shine” with distinctive or even unparalleled eliminates the cliche and adds implications. Calling Station Eleven distinctive means it stands out from other books, while calling it unparalleled implies it stands out in a way that has no competition. It is important, as a writer, to understand the power of words and utilize it intelligently. However, remember that words should be used only when necessary; redundancy bores the reader. If I restated this in three different ways, you would lose interest in anything I had to say, right?

Eliminating juvenile grammar mistakes increases the credibility of the author. When easy grammar rules are violated, readers are more likely to subliminally discredit an author’s ideas (in the same way it’s hard to take someone seriously if they confuse your and you’re). This sentence, “The disease is highly contagious, and is able to reach people faster than people are able to communicate and compile information about it,” the comma before “and” should be deleted, because a comma and a coordinating conjunction should be used together to connect two independent clauses. Naturally, the first thought a reader has when reading this sentence is  probably not how thoughtful this observation is, but how rookie the mistake is. I make the same mistake again in this sentence: “Condescension towards sick women, and dismissal of sick men are harmful for both genders because they perpetuate stereotypes.” Both examples also show that writers are likely to make the same mistakes. Knowing frequently committed grammar blunders is an essential skill for strong writers.

Having distinct style is important, but using varying sentence structures sophisticates writing. I often add a comma and a dependent clause to a main clause. This sentence structure softens the point of the sentence. It serves a specific purpose. This sentence exemplifies the effect the comma and dependent clause has: “Her perception of America is founded on what the narrator hears about the country from her family, showing that her ideas are not based on experience, but merely mirror the common stereotype about the magical land of America.” The main idea of the sentence is how the main character’s perception of America only reflects the stereotypes from her family, but the sentence relaxes the clause that contains that idea. If I used this structure for every sentence, I would have a vague and passive piece of writing. Now, let’s look at a good example. In this sentence, “Although Mandel transitions into and from things seemingly unrelated, in the end, all of the stories of the individual characters come together in one big picture. This unique structure helps Mandel develop her storytelling voice, which captures the emotional turmoil of the characters, the grimness of the world after the pandemic, and the way the survivors adapted and carried on in the changed world,” my use of variety was effective because it highlights my argument. As the juxtaposition between the first and second example illustrates, how you express your ideas is just as important as the idea itself.

If you want to improve your writing skills, you can start small and work on the fundamentals. Already, you've learned three ways to become a better writer: use good diction, rectify grammar mistakes, and mix different sentence lengths. If you remember all of  these tips, I’m sure reading will be more enjoyable and less embarrassing for everyone.