majiayu000 General Writing Rules (Strunk & White)
Foundational style guide for clear, concise prose based on Strunk & White's Elements of Style.
Core Principles
The Iron Law of Good Writing
Omit needless words.
Every word must earn its place. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences.
Critical Rules
| Rule | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Write in prose | Avoid bullet points and lists unless explicitly requested |
| Use active voice | "The committee approved the plan" not "The plan was approved" |
| Be concrete | Specific details over vague abstractions |
| Put statements in positive form | Say what something is, not what it isn't |
| Use definite language | Avoid hedging, qualifiers, and weasel words |
Red Flags - Stop If You Think
| Thought | Why It's Wrong | Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| "I'll add some qualifiers to be safe" | Weakens the writing | Make definite assertions |
| "Let me list these points" | Bullet points are lazy | Write in prose paragraphs |
| "I should sound more formal" | Formality often means wordiness | Write naturally, then edit |
| "This needs more emphasis" | Overemphasis dilutes meaning | Let strong words speak |
Rationalization Table - STOP If You Think:
| Excuse | Reality | Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| "The passive voice is fine here" | Passive voice hides the actor; name them | REWRITE in active voice |
| "This adverb adds emphasis" | Strong verbs don't need adverbs | DELETE the adverb, pick a stronger verb |
| "The reader needs this context first" | Lead with the point, add context after | MOVE the point to the front |
| "This paragraph needs one more sentence" | If the paragraph is complete, stop | STOP writing and move on |
| "I should vary the sentence structure" | Clarity beats variety; don't complexify for style | KEEP the clear structure |
Delete & Restart Triggers
If you catch yourself writing ANY of these, DELETE THE SENTENCE and START FRESH:
| Anti-Pattern | Restart Approach |
|---|---|
| "It is [adjective] that..." | Rewrite as direct assertion |
| "There are [X] reasons" | Replace with direct list or synthesis |
| "In order to" | Replace with "to" |
| Sentence > 40 words with nested clauses | Break into 2-3 sentences |
| Passive voice hiding the actor | Name the actor, use active voice |
After deleting, restart the sentence with THE POINT first, then evidence.
Skipping the deletion pass is NOT HELPFUL — the user publishes bloated prose that buries their argument. Identify violations and purge them.
Drive-Aligned Framing
Skipping the sentence-level check is NOT HELPFUL — the user publishes weak prose that undermines their credibility. Reading your own output and thinking "looks good" is not editing.
- You skip the style check because the content is correct. The prose reads as AI slop — your content expertise is hidden behind bad writing.
Editing Checklist
Sentence Level
- Remove unnecessary words ("in order to" → "to")
- Replace weak verbs ("is able to" → "can")
- Convert passive to active voice
- Eliminate redundancies ("past history" → "history")
Paragraph Level
- Ensure each paragraph has one main idea
- Check topic sentences lead clearly
- Verify logical flow between paragraphs
Word Level
- Replace abstract nouns with concrete ones
- Use specific verbs over vague ones + adverbs
- Cut filler words ("very", "really", "quite", "rather")
Quick Reference: Common Fixes
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| utilize | use |
| in order to | to |
| due to the fact that | because |
| at this point in time | now |
| in the event that | if |
| prior to | before |
| subsequent to | after |
| with regard to | about |
| a large number of | many |
| is able to | can |
Progressive Disclosure
For comprehensive guidance, consult:
references/elements-of-style.md- Complete Strunk & White guide covering:- Elementary Rules of Usage (commas, colons, participles)
- Elementary Principles of Composition (paragraph unity, active voice)
- Words and Expressions Commonly Misused
- Style guidance and literary reminders
Examples
Weak original:
It is important to note that there are a variety of different factors that contribute to the overall success of the project in question.
Strong revision:
Several factors determine project success.
Weak original:
The report was written by the team and was subsequently reviewed by management prior to being distributed to stakeholders.
Strong revision:
The team wrote the report, management reviewed it, and stakeholders received it.
Integration
After completing any writing task, invoke /ai-anti-patterns to check for AI writing indicators.