Grammar and Style
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Writing 101: The Nuts and Bolts
Abroad View’s Tips on Grammar:
• Editors want writers who understand grammar and syntax, who know how to gather accurate information, who write with clarity and without affectation, who know what their point is and get to it, and who exhibit intelligence and wit.
• There should be a “self” in your writing. A reader should hear your voice.
• Good writing always "shows" rather than "tells." There should be an abundance of sensual detail and vibrant sentences.
• The lead is the bait you use to lure readers into getting hooked on your story. Write and rewrite ones that grab your readers and pull them into your tale. Please, no "majestic" mountains, "spectacular" canyons, "perched" or "quaint" villages.
• Dialogue helps a travel story immeasurably, but few writers ever include it.
• Brevity, clarity, and conciseness should be hallmarks of your article. Use active voice more often than not. Eliminate redundancies.
• Accuracy and attention to detail are essential. Do your research; double check your facts.
• Always include all of your contact information on your manuscript, as well as a brief bio.
Style Guides: A style guide is your source for answers to the most commonly asked questions related to form. Style guides make all published writing correct and consistent in style and form.
A few suggested Style Guides:
Wikipedia’s Manual of Style:
The Chicago Manual of Style Online:
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online:
Copy Editor Newsletter:
The Slot for Copy Editors:
Grammar and Punctuation Guides:
Wiki-How- How to Use English Punctuation Correctly:
Paradigm Online Writing Assistant:
University Writing Center Sites:
Texas AtM University Writing Center:
Guidelines from Columbia University’s Writing Center
What Good Writers Know by Yale University’s Writing Center
MIT’S Writing Resources on the World Wide Web:
University of Richmond’s Writing Center:
Middlebury College's Writing Center