Unpublished resources: These tools are available exclusively on this website. If you share any of them, please credit me and benyagoda.com
How to Not Write Bad – early excerpts
Some of the most common writing errors, and how to avoid them
Principles of Newswriting
A brief guide to the basics of writing news stories
Yagoda’s Rules for Quotes
All you need to know to render quotations like a pro!
Previously published: These articles are available where they were originally published. If you use any of them, please use the citation information from the original publication site.
5 Ways to Deal with Word Repetition
Word repetition can really weigh down your writing and slow down readers.
Originally published April 16, 2013
Read the article at Writer’s Digest
7 Grammar Rules You Should Really Pay Attention to
The legitimate rules you should be aware of.
Originally published March 14, 2013
7 Bogus Grammar ‘Errors’ You Don’t Need to Worry About
I hate to see people waste their time hunting down so-called mistakes.
Originally published March 05, 2012
Nine Writing Mistakes You’re Probably Making
If you master all nine, I can pretty much guarantee you won’t be writing badly.
Originally published February 05, 2013
Read the article at Huffington Post
In Writing, First Do No Harm
My students can’t really handle writing “well.” I propose a more modest aim: not writing badly.
Originally published February 02, 2013
Read the article at The Wall Street Journal
Fanfare for the Comma Man
My inaugural post for the new NYTimes blog on writing.
Originally published April 09, 2012
Read the article at newyorktimes.com
The Elements of Clunk
The Internet is giving a new sound to prose.
Originally published January 02, 2011
Read the article at Chronicle of Higher Education
Tense Talk
Examining how tenses are used and misused in sports writing.
Originally published August 14, 1988
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