7 Features of Bad Writing suggests some common characteristics of poor prose. Any one of these 'sins' would serve as an indicator, especially if they occur more than once or twice.
Read MorePhoto from Stencil. Licence: CC0
Bad writing
Review: Waterhouse on newspaper style
This book may be thirty years old, but its advice is still pertinent. If you want to have a blitz or crackdown against, or shake-up of, bad writing (all examples of 'tabloidese'), then this is the book for you.
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Why would anyone write badly?
Why do some writers write badly? Plus links to examples of bad writing.
Read MoreThe new definition of "cosmetic"
We writers have a duty to do what we can to preserve the dignity of the language in which we work.
Read MoreA randomly created short story
She walked over to the window and reflected on her deprived surroundings. She had always loved urban Truro with its plain, pong parks. It was a place that encouraged her tendency to feel worried.
Read MoreWhy are positive reviews so boring?
It’s a sad fact of life that the most entertaining reviews are the ones that are highly critical of the thing being reviewed.
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Swearing, by Terry Freedman
Why swearing in writing or speaking is (usually) very ill-judged (Updated)
Gratuitous swearing usually adds nothing to a piece of writing or a talk. It’s unpleasant to listen to, and probably has unfortunate consequences for the offender.
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exasperated, by Terry Freedman
Note to would-be contributors: the grapeshot strategy is a waste of time
Have you ever seen an article on here about pre-menstrual tension?
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No thanks!, by Terry Freedman
Writers: tear up the rule book!
Adverbs serve a purpose, or they wouldn’t exist, they would have fallen into disuse.
Read MoreThe primary duty of a translator
When you pick up an English edition of a foreign language book, you have to rely on the good intentions and skill of the translator. But can they be trusted?
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Not sure, by Terry Freedman
Minding our language
Using words correctly is essential. Why?
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Surely it wasn’t that bad?! Photo by Terry Freedman
The worst novel and novelist ever?
How would you feel about being called the worst novelist ever?
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Keeping up with DfE Updates, by Terry Freedman
The Department for Education's communication skills
What’s the point of writing policy documents which are obscure, jargon-filled verbiage?
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Buzzsaw screenshot, by Terry Freedman
Bad PR jargon, and how to detect it
If you’re tired of people “reaching out” or “circling back” or sending you sales “literature” that bears no relevance to you whatsoever, you will enjoy learning that you’re not alone.
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The cover of The Greek Myths, Folio Edition, by Terry Freedman
The Greek Myths, by Robert Graves: A short review
in Bad writing, Reviews
The best thing I can say about this book is that it’s great to use as a work of reference.
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Private Eye, by Terry Freedman
I've never written a detective story but...
in Bad writing, Oulipo
The trouble with detective fiction.
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Writers reference books, by Terry Freedman
Mind your language (1)
in Bad writing, Language
Words are being used in ways which are completely wrong – in fact, in some cases the meaning is the exact opposite of the way the word is being used, like when the word "choose" means you have no choice at all.
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Discombobulated, by Terry Freedman
Bad titles
Should there be courses on badly-written books and articles?
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Diverted Traffic, by Terry Freedman
"Negligible" is not a synonym for "small"
People should say what they mean. One way of doing so would be to use the correct word. Another way would be to use objective facts rather than subjective value judgements.
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Why swearing in writing or speaking is (usually) very ill-judged
Gratuitous swearing usually adds nothing to a piece of writing or a talk. It’s unpleasant to listen to, and probably has unfortunate consequences for the offender.
Read More