Roy Peter Clark Writing Tools

Instant Quiz

Can you improve the sentence below? Scroll to the bottom of today’s post for the answer.

We need to buy an extension cord, candy canes, tinsel, etc. for our Christmas tree.

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Roy Peter Clark has made a list of 50 Writing Tools that’s worth reading. If you’re serious about writing, you can learn a lot by reading (and pondering) one or two of his tools every day. Here’s the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JaNiIY3FL4rjVGhbwn3K_jQpHRM6DYWe/view?usp=sharing

I have two reasons for liking Clark’s tools so much. First, he knows what he’s talking about. Second, his crisp, concise style challenges you to think about what he’s telling you. You have to figure it out yourself – and that’s one of the best ways to learn about writing.

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Instant Quiz ANSWER

Avoid etc. in formal writing: it’s too folksy. Here’s a suggested revision for today’s sentence:

We need to buy an extension cord, candy canes, tinsel, and several other items for our Christmas tree.  CORRECT

What Your English Teacher Didn’t Tell You is available in paperback and Kindle formats from Amazon.com and other online booksellers.
“A useful resource for both students and professionals” – Jena L. Hawk, Ph.D., Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

“Personable and readable…Jean knows her subject forwards and backwards.” – Adair Lara, author of Hold Me Close, Let Me Go