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Writing Center > Faculty Writing Tips

Lois Barr
Spanish 

  • I find it helpful to read my work aloud.
  • It is also helpful to begin the writing process as soon as possible. Thus you don't have the assignment hanging over your head as an insurmountable project. Your primary objective is always clarity.

Cathy Benton
Religion 

  • I learned from a very good writing teacher once that simply deciding not to use any form of the verb "to be" makes my writing almost automatically stronger. This technique forces me to think in more specific and graphic terms, and then communicate more clearly.

Diana Darnell
Biology 

  • I encourage science students to see if each sentence contains one idea, each paragraph one larger idea and each paper one larger idea. If their paper can't be simplified into a nested outline of topics, it often won't make sense to me.

Judy Massey Dozier
English 

  • Revision is the key to clear, interesting writing. All successful writers know this. Toni Morrison spent three months revising the first four pages of her novel Sula.

Michael Ebner
History 

  • Avoid beginning any sentence with the word however.
  • On using Mr.,Mrs.,Ms., or Miss, it is more a matter of taste. Here is my taste: I avoid using any of these appellations for the most part. Hence, the first time I refer to someone, it is with his or her full name (e.g.Jane Addams), and thereafter it is simply Addams, and if continually referring to the personal and occasional Jane Addams might be reintroduced for the sake of continuity.
  • Beware of the word feel. Use it sparingly to describe the physical act of touching another human being or an inanimate object. Do NOT use feel when you are really suggesting how you think about an issue. Other possible subsititutes for feel include: believe and contend. Hence, avoid a sentence which begins: "I feel that the Lowell mill girls were. . ." Instead, write, "I believe that the Lowell mill girls were. . ."
  • The word seem(s) suggests uncertainty or ambivalence on the part of the writer. Beware of using it indiscriminately; it is a sentence weakener!

Jonathan Galloway
Politics

  • As Winston Churchill once said vis-a-vis the preposition rule, "That is something up with which I will not put."

Janet McCracken
Philosophy 

  • Define any important terms, and then stick to them.
  • Have a well-defined question or claim.
  • Use words carefully.
  • Be direct and simple--don't claim more than necessary.
  • Don't use extra words; don't use too few words.
  • Don't hurry; re-read your papers before you print them out, or better yet, in a hard-copy draft; if you have time, have a friend read your paper, and point out whatever is unclear.
  • Don't try to build suspense or drama by keeping your reader in the dark about your plan

Julie Swensgard
Office of Student Affairs 

  • Write down everything in the rough draft. Write as much as you can, it is easier to edit than to add.