Bloggers Are Terrible Writers

There are so many bad writers on the Internet, especially in the blogging world, so here are some amusing rules to help you become a world-class writer.

34 Rules For Kick ass Writing

1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.
4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They’re old hat.)
6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
7. Be more or less specific.
8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually)
unnecessary.

9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
10. No sentence fragments.
11. Contractions aren’t necessary and shouldn’t be used unless you don’t want to seem too formal.
12. Foreign words and phrases are not always apropos.
13. Do not use more words, phrases, sentences, or other linguistic elements than you, yourself, actually really and definitely need to use or employ when expressing yourself or otherwise giving voice to what you may or may not be thinking when you are trying to say how many words you should use or not use when using words.
14. One should NEVER generalize.
15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
16. Don’t use no double negatives.
17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, i.e. etc.
18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
20. The passive voice is to be ignored.
21. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.
22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
23. Kill excessive exclamation points!!!
24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others elude to them.
25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.
26. Use the apostrophe in it’s proper place and omit it when its not needed.
27. Eliminate distracting quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson is said to have once remarked, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”
28. If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.
30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
32. Who needs rhetorical questions?
33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
And finally…
34. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

Credit: I have spent the past few hours trying to find the original source of this, I have asked numerous people, and done numerous searches, and the best I could do was to narrow it down to 8,400 webpages and two possible authors.

I apologise if I am wrong, but the closest I can find to an original source is here: Source

Dean

  • Chris

    Nice one Dean, I didnt get the jokes at first, but on second glance, very clever and highly amusing.

    Chris

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  • http://www.beginnersmarketingclass.com/blog Chuck Bartok

    I am probably guilty of many of these transgressions.
    Thank you for waking me up!

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  • http://www.bigmarketingonline.com big jason

    some good points dean, but can you explain WHY?

    we all know that you can make a ton of money and do just fine in copywriting and blogging with bad writing.

    so are you saying that even people like the above can make even more money?

    in copywriting, you do what works. if bad writing increases response, do it.

    however, I think general writing is what you are directing your tips at here, and I am just a giant picky bastard.

    btw, will sponsorship from sir richard branson suffice?

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  • http://www.business-powerpack.com Jim

    Hi Dean,

    35 Humour may fall flat if you don’t know your audience

    I enjoyed every rule on your list whilst breaking every one. “It was like a breath of spring”, as Sir Winston Churchill probably said(if you know what I mean).

    Jim

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Jason, it is a spoof list. Re-read it and you will notice that each point contradicts itself.

    e.g 33. “Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.”

    Perhaps I should just stick to toilet humour ;-)

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Jim, looks like you may be right ;-)

    Dean

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  • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan…

    Just excellent. I’m sorry that I don’t have more to say, but that was just swell! Great post, Dean.

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  • http://www.wholelotofnonsense.org Brad P. from NJ

    This is TEH awesome! I can haz new writing skillz now?

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  • http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

    This list has always made me laugh, even when I first saw it on a poster in English class in high school. I can’t remember where it comes from, though, can you refresh my memory?

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  • http://www.jonglassett.com jon

    #35 – These are really guidelines rather than rules.

    This was a very funny post.

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  • Dare

    Avoid quotes? Why? I love posts with wise quotes related to the subject. Quotations are such a good enhancement.

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  • http://www.robert-gonzalez.com Robert Gonzalez

    Crap. Now that I know the rules my blog will be totally blank.

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  • http://moriza.com moriza

    I am so #13. Very nice post!

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  • http://www.equipmentjobs.com Rob Lewis

    Hahahaha, that was hilarious (athough one might never take it to heart, though :) . Great post, I love it!

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  • http://www.artyprints.co.uk Catriona

    Entirely idiographic and nomothetic Dean
    A great read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • http://www.bitpakkit.com bitpakkit

    “Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually)
    unnecessary.”

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  • http://www.kolbemarket.com BarbaraKB

    #35 Phrase *kick ass*. Overused.

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  • http://reitips.com JP Moses | REI Tips

    Brilliant! I thought this post would be another “skimmer” but I read and enjoyed every one of them.

    CQTM! (Chuckle Quietly To Myself)

    …jp

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  • http://www.ContentMatters.info Barry Graubart

    Awesome. Really, really super great post.
    Based upon the comments if you read them hardly no one didn’t not get the joke. Well, que sera sera .

    I’ll stop now.

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  • Richard

    35. Cite your sources

    99% of this is plagiarised, without even so much of a nod to any original source. Googling “your” first rule produces 579 google hits.

    So how about some credit where credit’s due? Or, at the very least, not passing this off as your own work.

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Barry,

    Exactamente, clearly my readers are educated to a far higher standard than myself, as I break many of those pesky rules.

    Dean

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  • http://www.longzero.com Long Nguyen

    I read this with good humor.

    For every single one of those points, there are times when it is appropriate. It is grammatically correct, within context and lets readers be able to understand. An example of that would be #2, and every other number.

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Richard,

    I have spent over an hour trying to find the original source, and have visited over 20 websites to try and find it, but I fear it is just one of those viral things that has been around forever.

    I have a note at the bottom of the article in case anyone can help me identify the origin.

    Dean

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  • http://www.ganconference.com Anthony Russo

    Clipping to my Evernote to save forever. Excellent post.

    Anthony

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  • http://samguzman.com Sam

    Amen! I get frustrated by poor writing. Unfortunately, it doesn’t just apply to bloggers. I recently readn an AP article where the Author used the “word” “Wha??” I couldn’t believe it. Good list, though, and a good reminder to pay attention.

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  • http://samguzman.com Sam

    I just noticed a typo in my comment. So much for paying attention!

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  • http://www.connexted.com/blog/ Craig Dewe

    Reading that list hurt my brain…

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  • http://www.LifeStyleDenver.com Gretchen – LifeStyle Denver

    Dean – But I was told in blogging, convention, could be dispensed with.

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  • Tim F.

    95% sure William Safire wrote the original list. I’m sure he showed up prominently in your Google search results.

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Tim,

    His name does ring a bell, so yes, he may have been one of the 5+ million results.

    On a sidenote, the search term “William Safire Writing Rules” throws up 8,400 results, the first of which seems to display a fraction of the list. So again, finding the root source seems to be tricky, and I am not linking to 8,400 sites ;-)

    I am the author of this post, but the original list seems to have grown and been adapted thousands of times over the years.

    Anyway, thanks for your attempt. I look forward to an actual answer.

    Dean

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  • http://nathanrein.com Nathan Rein

    Just for the sake of antiquarian interest, a lot of these were featured in this text:
    George Trigg, Phyical Review Letters 42 (1979): 747f.

    http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v42/i12/p747_1

    Reproduced here:
    http://www.ecd.bnl.gov/steve/trigg.html

    Trigg doesn’t claim to have come up with them himself, though.

    Parts of this list have been passed around in the scientific community for, well, decades, FWIW.

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Thanks Nathan,

    Now I am even more confused ;-)

    Dean

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  • http://www.flacklife.com Bob LeDrew

    I believe these are William Safire’s “Fumblerules” of English grammar, for hte most part.

    See: http://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Write-Essential-Misrules/dp/039332723X/ref=pd_sim_b_1 or http://alt-usage-english.org/humorousrules.html

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  • http://nathanrein.com Nathan Rein

    Heh … just trying to hlep! I mean help!

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  • http://www.cyns-home-biz.com Cyn | Home Biz

    Hi Dean

    Firstly, thanks for alerting me to this post. Did it make me laugh? It sure did – it is absolutely hilarious. I proofread quite a lot so I will certainly take note of No. 34!

    Cynthia Minnaar

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  • http://PreciseEdit.com David Bowman

    The greatest and best list of rules since someone sliced bread!!!

    Thanks for the Monday morning laugh. I may pass this around at our next writing workshop. (I hope they will understand that this is meant to be a spoof.)

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  • http://www.forexebookstore.com Rick Williamson

    Thanks for that makes me feel less stupid…If I gould understand it all…lol. good post

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  • Allen S

    Brought back memories of school. The teacher could always count on me as an example of how *not* to write. (Hmm, i am left wondering if it is it *OK* to use *’s?)

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  • lilo

    Hello to all good and bad writers :-)

    Great post: Thank you, Dean (!!! ;-) We all want to get better (generalized?) and that’s how we learn. (again?) Don’t bother if you (are told you) repeat what others have already written, we learn through repetition (outdated theory) and repetition of what others said makes topics big.(internet)

    And boy this is an important topic: Improve style..AND content!

    May all those who write about how to make more money tell their addicted users how to write better and what else they could deal with! They could call it giving insight into their long-term strategy.

    Even worse than simply being a bad writer: People like me, who aren’t native speakers in addition to probably unexperienced/simply bad writers but though try to write in English, or what I think might be.
    Sorry for that – I decided to learn by doing – and – honestly, why should I hesitate in the middle of terrible writers :-) )

    PS:
    Enjoyed your post – Thank you Chris for twittering.

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  • http://www.best-online-home-biz.com Mark Dunbar

    Hi Dean

    You just made my day !!!!

    This list of rules are just the Funniest have I read in a long time?

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  • http://www.copy-cat-copywriting.com Cathy Goodwin

    Alas, most of the people who write badly won’ “get it.” They’ll say, “Hey, I’m a pretty good writer after all!”

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  • http://awritinggeek.blogspot.com Mrinal Bose

    Dean, you’re simply irrepressible!

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  • http://humachine.us Nicole

    none of these rules should be taken seriously, they are entirely matters of style.

    also, most of them are regurgitated from other places. it’s nice to note that even if you don’t cite a specific web site. (Orwell’s rules, anyone?)

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Nicole,

    Nobody was taking them seriously, it is a joke/spoof based post.

    Also, there is a section at the bottom that clearly states that they are from other sources.

    Dean

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  • http://etribes.com/MollieSmith Kay

    Great fun, and even if it has been seen by millions before this is the first for me. Love your own stuff.

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  • http://www.amoremiaafganhounds.com Alan Cox

    In my day there was a lady called Mrs Malaprop. Unfortunately, I thought she was the real way, what you have to speak.
    As in Star Trek we will have to (Boldly go where no man has gone before).
    In my case I will have to look for a new job!!!!
    Great post as usual Dean.
    In the sweltering heat here in Italy, I think a job as a swimming pool attendant would be cool. Throw all those alliterations and infinitives in the bin.
    Alan

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  • http://www.payoffyourmortgagein8yearsorless.co.uk Diane

    My favourite is when they insist on writing “there” blog updates about “there” latest additions, and with special thanks to “there” guest speakers on “there” latest interview.

    Gets me every time :0)

    Note to self always guilty number 34

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  • http://www.daveconrey.com Dave C.

    I agree with most of these, but many of these examples lend to personal style. Some writers prefer A.P. and others Chicago style, so which is correct? The writer’s personal style or voice needs to be considered along with their grammar.

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  • dawt

    JP Moses said exactly what I was thinking when I StumbleUpon-ed your list! Thanks for my laugh for today, Dean, gonna go spread the joy now!

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  • my77raisins

    Dean,

    Thanks for the terrific post. Most of these grate my nerves online and in real life. I’m to the point that I refuse to walk into an establishment that has misspellings on its ad signs out front.

    “Our meet is 100# pur beaf”

    Oy Vey!!!

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