How to Write Better: Seven Checks Anyone Can Do

Most unclear writing is unclear because the writer is not sure what the point is, and the reader can tell. Before editing anything, write the single sentence you want someone to remember. If you cannot, the draft is not ready to edit — it needs a decision first. Then check the first paragraph actually contains that sentence, ideally in the first line.

• Cut the hedges. 'It could potentially be argued that perhaps' says nothing. Replace with the real claim or delete it.
• One idea per sentence. If a sentence has two 'and's, split it and see whether the reader is faster.
• Prefer the concrete noun and the real verb. 'Made a decision' is weaker than 'chose'.
• Delete 'very', 'really', 'quite', 'basically' and 'actually'. They cost words and add nothing.
• Move the qualifier to the front. 'The meeting, which ran long, ended at four' becomes 'The four-hour meeting ended at four'.
• Read the first sentence of every paragraph alone. If it says nothing, the paragraph may not need to exist.
• Read it out loud. Your ear catches run-ons and repeated words that your eye slides over.

Some things about writing are checkable rather than matters of taste, which makes them easy to improve. Sentence length, word frequency, reading level and total count are all measurable, and all of them correlate with whether a piece gets finished.

• Average sentence length: 15–20 words is a reasonable target for general writing. Above 25, readers start dropping clauses.
• Hedge frequency: count 'might', 'could', 'perhaps', 'somewhat'. More than one per paragraph and the writing sounds unconfident.
• Passive voice: fine occasionally, but a paragraph of it hides who did what.
• Reading level: for most audiences, plain is better. Complexity is only a virtue when the content genuinely requires it.