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Re: 47 rules for literacy

To: "John F. Kelly Jr." <76067.1750@compuserve.com>,
Subject: Re: 47 rules for literacy
From: james creasy <Black94PGT@pacbell.net>
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 09:16:49 -0700
interesting, i wrote "cliches" with the proper accent, and it was converted
to an "i" by the autox mailer.

-james c
OSP - Owfel Spelin; Punchooashun?!

----- Original Message -----
From: "james creasy" <Black94PGT@pacbell.net>
To: "John F. Kelly Jr." <76067.1750@compuserve.com>; "BayArea Team.Net"
<ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 9:07 AM
Subject: Re: 47 rules for literacy


> an odd spelling of the work 'clichis'.  is that british spelling?
>
> -james c
> OSP - Outstanding Spelling, Punctuation
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John F. Kelly Jr." <76067.1750@compuserve.com>
> To: "BayArea Team.Net" <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 8:32 AM
> Subject: 47 rules for literacy
>
>
> > Previously I've offered this forum a 10-item list to help improve
writing
> > quality.
> >
> > Then this came in today that Really gets to the heart of it all.
> > Obviously 47 rules are better than 10.--John Kelly
> >
> > Things they forgot to put in the Associated Press Manual:
> >
> > 1.      Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
> > 2.      Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
> > 3.      And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
> > 4.      It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
> > 5.      Avoid clichis like the plague. (They're old hat.)
> > 6.      Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
> > 7.      Be more or less specific.
> > 8.      Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually)
> unnecessary.
> >
> > 9.      Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
> > 10.     No sentence fragments.
> > 11.     Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.
> > 12.     Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
> > 13.     Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's
> > highly superfluous.
> > 14.     One should NEVER generalise.
> > 15.     Comparisons are as bad as clichis.
> > 16.     Don't use no double negatives.
> > 17.     Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
> > 18.     One-word sentences? Eliminate.
> > 19.     Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
> > 20.     The passive voice is to be ignored.
> > 21.     Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words
> > however should be enclosed in commas.
> > 22.     Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
> > 23.     DO NOT use exclamation points and all caps to emphasise!!!
> > 24.     Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
> > 25.     Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth
earth
> > shaking ideas.
> > 26.     Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not
> > needed.
> > 27.     Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate
> > quotations. Tell me what you know."
> > 28.     If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times:
Resist
> > hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
> > 29.     Puns are for children, not groan readers.
> > 30.     Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
> > 31.     Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
> > 32.     Who needs rhetorical questions?
> > 33.     Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
> > 34.     The passive voice should never be used.
> > 35.     Do not put statements in the negative form.
> > 36.     Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
> > 37.     A writer must not shift your point of view.
> > 38.     Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long
sentences
> > of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
> > 39.     Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
> > 40.     If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb
> > is.
> > 41.     Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
> > 42.     Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
> > 43.     Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with
singular
> > nouns in their writing.
> > 44.     Always pick on the correct idiom.
> > 45.     The adverb always follows the verb.
> > 46.     Be careful to use the rite homonym.
> > And finally .....
> > 47.     Proof-read carefully to see if you any words out

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