15 Basic Writing Rules – Common Mistakes & Fixes [2025 Upd.]

Getting your message across is trickier in text than in real life. Even though you have a whole lot of guides and tutorials at your disposal, it’s still hard to write top-notch content, be it an article or an essay.

So, what do you do to win this game?

Well, we’re going to help you out. To share your thoughts and ideas effectively, try following the basic writing rules compiled by our experts below. By following them, you’ll be able to deliver perfectly clear and engaging messages. We’ve also included examples to illustrate each rule to make it easier for you to understand them.

And the best part? These tips will be indispensable for everyone, including students, bloggers, and content writers.

1. 💬 Keep Your Sentences Short and Simple

To keep your readers engaged, you need to make your sentences short and straightforward. This will help you hold the reader’s attention and deliver your message before they lose interest.

The golden rules are:

• Avoid unnecessary details.
• Don’t make a single sentence longer than 35 words.
• Place the main focus on verbs and nouns.

Also, it’s best to skip fancy adjectives and adverbs when simpler alternatives are available (you can learn more in the section of this article about using simple words).

Take a look at these sentences:

• There are some people who can’t take things seriously.
• There’s nothing better than the holidays.
• Here are some rules that can help you.

Now, check out the improved versions:

• Some people can’t take things seriously.
• Nothing’s better than the holidays.
• Some helpful rules are…

2. 🗣️ Use Active Voice in Your Writing

Good writing sounds friendly and approachable to your readers. They’ll feel more comfortable when you speak directly to them (we’ll talk in more detail about addressing your reader later in this article).

To make your audience feel more comfortable, use the active voice instead of the passive. This will make your text more engaging right away.

Here are some sample sentences:

• Great results were achieved by the students.
• The price was set by the distributor.

And here are the enhanced versions:

• The students achieved great results.
• The distributor set the price.

Keep in mind that sometimes it makes sense to use passive voice in order to place emphasis. For example:

• “The package was received by Mike” – this sentence emphasizes that it was Mike specifically who got the package.
• “Mike received the package” – this sentence doesn’t stress that a specific person got the package.

3. 🆗 Include Simple Words and Word Combinations

As mentioned earlier, short and simple sentences help to deliver your messages quicker and more effectively. But what’s the point of having short sentences when they’re filled with words that a regular person would rarely use in everyday life?

No one will ever want to look up the meaning of a certain word in the dictionary. Even if you have the best dictionary for writers in the world. Especially when quickly scanning through an article.

With simpler words and word combinations, the message itself becomes clearer. So, try making your writing as straightforward as possible. It isn’t a grammar rule per se, but it can save you much trouble.

Examples:

Wrong	Right
Utilize.	Use.
Commence.	Begin.
Tranquil.	Calm.
Transparent.	Clear.

4. 📖 Use the Appropriate Vocabulary

To convey your idea properly, it’s essential to use the right vocabulary.

Here’s what it means:

There are certain words that signal the reader what exactly the text is trying to achieve and what they’ll learn by reading it. Using these words is a highly effective strategy that will make your writing clearer and more varied:

There are many more words you can use to improve your writing—just make sure they fit the context properly.

5. ⬇ Insert Quotes Properly

Sometimes, there’s no better way to strengthen your writing or to make a point than to share other people’s ideas or words. But the infamous short attention span gets in the way here, too. So, you need to make the quotes as efficient as possible.

Here’s the deal:

Include the amount of text that’s just enough to make your point. There’s no need to insert huge paragraphs just for the sake of context. Instead, you can make a short introduction to make a point of a quote clearer.

As long as you don’t alter the meaning, you can edit a quote if it helps to clarify the message.

According to the English grammar rules, it’s also essential to use proper punctuation:

• Add a colon before the quotation if you introduce it with an independent clause.
• Use a comma before the quotation if you introduce it with a verb that indicates expression.
• If there’s a quotation within a quotation, then use single quotation marks for the quotation within the quotation, such as in the third example below.

Consider these examples:

• His message was quite rude, “I don’t want to talk to you again.”
• After a pause, he said: “We’ll redo everything.”
• They said, “Add the word “that” for clarity.”

Here’s how they’ve been polished:

• His message was quite rude: “I don’t want to talk to you again.”
• After a short pause, he said, “We’ll redo everything.”
• They said, “Add the word ‘that’ for clarity.”

6. 🔀 Use Action Verbs and Strong Adjectives

So here’s the question:

How can you make your points strong?

The best way to do it is to show that you know what you’re talking about. Action verbs can help you by making you sound more confident. Strong adjectives can also be helpful in this regard. Just make sure not to add “very” or “really” before them: this will only weaken your writing.

Here are some commonly used phrases with stronger alternatives:

Wrong	Right
He is writing.	He writes.
Make it clear.	Clarify.
Really tasty.	Delicious.
Very small.	Tiny.

7. ☑ Use Proper Punctuation to Keep the Right Meaning of Your Sentence

This writing principle is not about the proper rules of punctuation: instead, it’s about breaking some of them to deliver the right meaning.

A clear message is what makes people keep reading. This is what matters most, whether you’re a student working on an essay or a content writer who wants visitors to stay on the page as long as possible. This will never happen if your writing is confusing and ambiguous.

So, if you feel like a sentence needs an extra comma for clarity, add it—even if punctuation rules tell you not to. Also, if you can separate two ideas with a period instead of a comma, do so. This way, the meaning of both sentences will remain intact and be easier to understand.

Have a look at these examples:

• This armchair as old as it is still makes you want to sit in it.
• You can prepare this meal whenever you want, take it with you to work and you’ll have a nice lunch.

The punctuation here is used incorrectly, and because of it, it’s unclear what these sentences mean. Now, here are improved versions of the same sentences with appropriate punctuation:

• This armchair, as old as it is, still makes you want to sit in it.
• You can prepare this meal whenever you want. Take it with you to work, and you’ll have a nice lunch.

8. 🖋️ Make Your Writing Specific

While keeping your sentences short and to the point, you also need to provide your reader with enough details. At first glance, it may seem that these writing rules contradict each other.

But here’s the thing:

It will help to make your writing more balanced. You just need to stay focused and make sure that the details you describe are on point. Being specific will enhance your writing and help make it easier to share your ideas with readers.

Check out these sentences:

• I like many different fruits.
• The weather was unusual on the East Coast.

Take a look at the refined versions:

• I like many different fruits, such as oranges, plums, and pears.
• New Jersey had freezing weather yesterday.

9. 📫 Address Your Reader

Nothing’s more comforting for the reader than when you address them personally. And it doesn’t mean that you have to call them by their name.

Simply use the word “you” whenever it’s possible.

This single word will make your reader feel that you’re in the same room, having a friendly conversation. This is the basic rule of writing and one of the easiest to follow.

Examples:

Wrong	Right
It’s possible to avoid this problem.	You can avoid this problem.
This rule is easy to learn.	You’ll learn this rule easily.

10. ↩ Avoid Confusing Terms and Jargon

Not everyone is an expert in your sphere. Even if someone is trying to find information on a specific topic, this doesn’t mean that they know enough about it to understand the terminology related to it. Readers don’t usually enjoy checking dictionaries all the time (and this includes professors reading essays.)

If your article or essay is easy to understand, it will draw the audience in and keep them reading. That’s why, to write good texts, you need to steer clear of niche jargon as much as possible. And if it’s impossible to avoid it, provide your readers with more information so that they can understand what you’re talking about.

Consider these examples:

Wrong	Right
Hypertension.	High blood pressure.
Pyrexia.	A fever.
Getting a soapbox.	Making a speech in public.

11. 💡 Formulate a Clear Central Idea

Writing in any genre gets easier if it’s built around a clear unifying concept. In academic texts, the main argument is conveyed via the thesis statement. Think of it as the foundation of the entire text, shaping the body paragraphs and guiding the readers through them.

A solid thesis statement should include:

• A specific focus. It should communicate your central idea without ambiguity or confusion.
• Conciseness. It should be clear and direct, giving the readers a concrete idea of your standpoint.
• Relevance. It should directly answer the research question at hand.
• Debatability. Instead of being obvious, it should offer room for different perspectives.

Have a look at this example:

You can’t really call it a good central argument: it’s too vague and offers no definite perspective on the issue.

Now, compare it to this example:

This version of the same thesis statement is much more informative: it clearly states the central idea, letting readers know what to expect from the paper’s contents.

At first glance, it may seem that this is only relevant to academic texts. But in reality, the ability to formulate a clear guiding idea is a universally valuable skill for anyone. Regardless of how you use it, a well-defined thesis keeps your writing focused and impactful.

12. 📑 Plan Your Text in Advance

Outlining as a technique also originated in academic writing, where the thesis statement dictates the assignment’s structure. But planning the text’s structure is crucial in any genre—here’s why:

The versatility of this approach makes it applicable to any form of writing. So, the next time you want to compose a formal email or a creative blog post, we recommend you start with an outline. This way, you will ensure your writing achieves the intended purpose without causing any misunderstandings. And if you want to learn more about this topic, check out our article on making great outlines.

13. ⏫ Be Consistent in Your Argumentation

Delivering your message clearly is essential, but you also want your readers to believe in what you’re saying.

You need to build trust with the audience. To achieve this, you must ensure that every point you make aligns with your central idea without shifting or contradicting itself.

Here’s how:

• After stating your main point, strengthen it by providing additional proof and facts.
• Describe your idea from different perspectives and points of view.
• Avoid introducing unrelated ideas or switching perspectives while writing.

Now, have a look at this paragraph:

As you can see, the arguments here are underdeveloped and not connected with each other. Here’s a more consistent version:

You also want to have consistency in the way you build your sentences, which brings us to the next writing rule:

14. 🧱 Build Sentences Properly to Make Strong Points

Many students believe they can emphasize specific thoughts and ideas with an exclamation mark. They often try to incorporate it in essays and other academic writing.

Here’s the kicker:

This method is not very helpful. It actually won’t give your writing the impact it needs.

Instead, build your sentences correctly to make your points strong. One of the best ways to do this is to use a parallel structure. It means offering multiple ideas and using the same grammar forms in several sentences for a smoother delivery. Incorporating correct prepositional phrases will also improve the text’s overall readability.

For instance, here’s a couple of sentences with inconsistent structure:

• I was happy to be going back home, but I was worried when I left the building.
• Forgotten by everybody, his contribution was meaningless.
• We will show you what our best writing strategies are and different ways to use them.

And here are the same sentences with consistent structure:

• I was happy to be going back home but worried about leaving the building.
• He was forgotten by everybody, and his contribution was meaningless
• We will show you what our best writing strategies are and how exactly to use them.

15. 🤓 Proofread the Result

Last but not least, you should always proofread what you’ve written. This step allows you to take a step back and see your writing with fresh eyes. Pay attention to the following:

1. Correctness of grammar, syntax, and spelling.
2. Logical flow, coherence, and readability of your text.

For even better results, have somebody else go through the finished text. It may be your friend, classmate, family member, or even an AI tool like ChatGPT. With their help, you will receive an unbiased second opinion and locate issues you might have overlooked.

In conclusion, it’s fair to mention that you can find many more writing rules to pay attention to than just the ones that we’ve listed here. We, however, listed the ones that are easier to follow. Even though these are quite basic writing rules, they often get ignored, leading to poor writing results.

We’re not telling you that you need to follow them all. Following even a single rule of writing can bring you desired results. So feel free to experiment and find ones that are the most suitable for you.

Thank you for reading the article! Share it with others and let us know your opinion in the comment section below.

Learn more on this topic:

• Useful Revising and Editing Checklists
• Essay Checklist: How to Write an A+ Essay
• Common Mistakes in Essay Writing
• Effective Writing Strategies for College Students
• How to Control Words per Page
• 200 Powerful Words to Use Instead of “Good”
• List of Credible Sources
• An Ultimate Punctuation Guide

🔗 References

1. 5 Writing Rules That Are Really Guidelines: Brittney Ross, Grammarly Blog
2. Effective Writing Grammar Rules: Grammar Book
3. Tips on Grammar, Punctuation and Style: Kim Cooper, for the Writing Center at Harvard University
4. Count and Noncount Nouns, Basic Rules: Purdue Online Writing Lab, College of Liberal Arts, Purdue University
5. 10 Rules for Good Writing: Lifehack
6. Rules of Style A-to-Z: Writing Style Guide, Western Michigan University
7. 5 Comma Rules: Center & Resources, Writing center, Hamilton College
8. Subject-Verb Agreement: Grammar, Academic Guides at Walden University