28 Comments
User's avatar
Barry Baz Morris's avatar

Solid advice for any writer, even those of us who been at this game for decades. It never hurts to read a good review of sentence syntax. After all, it’s the currency of our trade. 👍🏼👍🏼

Expand full comment
Tom Kuegler's avatar

Thanks Barry!! :) And thanks for reading!

Expand full comment
Fairtheewell's avatar

This was perfect. As someone not trained as a writer I will take this and look at it while writing my next piece 👏

Expand full comment
Tom Kuegler's avatar

Wow that makes me feel great. Happy it was helpful.

Expand full comment
Patrick O’Brian's avatar

That was what I was thinking too.

Expand full comment
Courtney's avatar

As an English teacher, I agree! And not The Elements or Style! 🤩 I keep a copy in my desk. That and Bird by Bird.

Expand full comment
Tom Kuegler's avatar

I really need to read Stephen King's book on writing as well!

Expand full comment
Barry Baz Morris's avatar

Bird By Bird. A good reminder to reread this classic. 🙏🏼

Expand full comment
Courtney's avatar

Anne Lamott’s writing is so soothing to me. 🙂

Expand full comment
saf's avatar

Nice tips !

Expand full comment
saf's avatar

I read the elements of style when I was a teenager.

Expand full comment
Luc Beyegue's avatar

I like the tenth tip Tom.

I think is important for writer to run their readers by emotions. And personalisation are still well to make it easy.

Un paysan dans l'âme 💚

Expand full comment
Teyani Whitman's avatar

I absolutely love this post. Thank you Tom. What a gem you are!

I never knew there was a tool that counted words in sentences. How cool is that.

When my mind is flapping with dull sentences, I often pick up a book that contains some of the juiciest writing possible. After reading this post, I’ll go analyze a couple of my essays. (🫣😳)

Expand full comment
Tom Kuegler's avatar

Teyani I've heard a lot of experts say that reading great writing helps them with their own writing. :) I don't do that as much as I should.

Expand full comment
Harun Kewa's avatar

Valuable information, Tom.

Expand full comment
Preston's avatar

Excellent advice all around! I’m trying to apply this to my writing, especially making sentences shorter.

Expand full comment
Shittu Isaac's avatar

Use contractions 😅

That's a solid one, so we stop writing like it's terms and conditions for a business deal.

Nice one, Tom.

Expand full comment
Tom Kuegler's avatar

Yes please! Thanks for reading.

Expand full comment
⚡Thalia The Comedy Muse⚡'s avatar

Speaking of contractions, in the title of your post it can be good to not use them. It uses less brain power to read.

Or don't. Whatever you think works. Something to think about.

It was in a famous marketing book that I can't remember the name of right now.

Expand full comment
Andrea Johnson Beck's avatar

Love this! I always tell my son to write how he talks. Now I’m going to show him you backed it up, hahaha.

Expand full comment
Lis McDermott's avatar

Very useful points, thank you.

Expand full comment
Emilie's avatar

The rule of 3 is interesting! It does sound better when you add three elements in a sentence. I've been using it sometimes without really thinking about it.

Expand full comment
Tom Kuegler's avatar

Yeah I use it all the time Emilie. Even with the bullet points in my Notes. I like to include 3 bullet points a lot.

Expand full comment
Glenda Margatinez's avatar

Thanks much! This is very helpful. More like this, please.

Expand full comment
Tom Kuegler's avatar

Sounds good Glenda. Message received :)

Expand full comment
Jane Wilson's avatar

Slowly coming out of a 3 year creative funk, this was very helpful ❤️

Expand full comment
Tom Kuegler's avatar

Really happy to hear this Jane! Cheers :)

Expand full comment