# 10 Rules for Better Writing from the Book Economical Writing



<BookCover
  src={bookCoverImage}
  alt="Book cover of Economical Writing"
  title="Economical Writing"
  author="Deirdre N. McCloskey"
  publicationYear={2019}
  genre="Academic Writing"
  rating={5}
  link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/022644807X"
/>

## Introduction

I always look for ways to `improve my writing`. Recently, I found Deirdre McCloskey’s book `Economical Writing` through an Instagram reel. In this post, I share `10 useful rules` from the book, with examples and quotes from McCloskey.

## Rules

### Rule 1: Be Thou Clear; but Seek Joy, Too

> Clarity is a matter of speed directed at The Point.
> Bad writing makes slow reading.

McCloskey emphasizes that `clarity is crucial above all`. When writing about complex topics, give your reader every help possible. I've noticed that even if a text has good content, bad writing makes it hard to understand.

<ExampleComparison
  bad="The aforementioned methodology was implemented to facilitate the optimization of resource allocation."
  good="We used this method to make the best use of our resources. It was exciting to see how much we could improve!"
/>

### Rule 2: You Will Need Tools

> The next most important tool is a dictionary, or nowadays a site on the internet that is itself a good dictionary. Googling a word is a bad substitute for a good dictionary site. You have to choose the intelligent site over the dreck such as Wiktionary, Google, and Dictionary.com, all useless.

The Writer highlights the significance of `tools` that everyone who is serious about writing should use. The tools could be:

- <a href="https://www.grammarly.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
    Spell Checker
  </a>
  (Grammarly for example)
- <a href="https://www.oed.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
    OED
  </a>
  (a real dictionary to look up the origin of words)
- <a href="https://www.thesaurus.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
    Thesaurus
  </a>
  (shows you similar words)
- <a
    href="https://www.hemingwayapp.com"
    target="_blank"
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
  >
    Hemingway Editor
  </a>
  (improves readability and highlights complex sentences)

### Rule 3: Avoid Boilerplate

McCloskey warns against using `filler language`:

> Never start a paper with that all-purpose filler for the bankrupt imagination, 'This paper . . .'

<ExampleComparison
  bad="In this paper, we will explore, examine, and analyze the various factors that contribute to climate change."
  good="Climate change stems from several key factors, including rising greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation."
/>

### Rule 4: A Paragraph Should Have a Point

Each paragraph should `focus` on a single topic:

> The paragraph should be a more or less complete discussion of one topic.

<ExampleComparison
  bad="The economy is complex. There are many factors involved. Some people think it's improving while others disagree. It's hard to predict what will happen next."
  good="The economy's complexity makes accurate predictions challenging, as multiple factors influence its performance in often unpredictable ways."
/>

### Rule 5: Make Your Writing Cohere

Coherence is crucial for readability:

> Make writing hang together. The reader can understand writing that hangs together,
> from the level of phrases up to entire books.

<ExampleComparison
  bad="The experiment failed. We used new equipment. The results were unexpected."
  good="We used new equipment for the experiment. However, it failed, producing unexpected results."
/>

### Rule 6: Avoid Elegant Variation

McCloskey emphasizes that `clarity trumps elegance`:

> People who write so seem to mistake the purpose of writing, believing it to be an opportunity for empty display. The seventh grade, they should realize, is over.

{" "}

<ExampleComparison
  bad="The cat sat on the windowsill. The feline then jumped to the floor. The domestic pet finally curled up in its bed."
  good="The cat sat on the windowsill. It then jumped to the floor and finally curled up in its bed."
/>

### Rule 7: Watch Punctuation

Proper punctuation is more complex than it seems:

> Another detail is punctuation. You might think punctuation would be easy, since English has only seven marks."
> After a comma (,), semicolon (;), or colon (:), put one space before you start something new. After a period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation point (!), put two spaces.
> The colon (:) means roughly “to be specific.” The semicolon (;) means roughly “likewise” or “also.”

{" "}

<ExampleComparison
  bad="However we decided to proceed with the project despite the risks."
  good="However, we decided to proceed with the project despite the risks."
/>

### Rule 8: Watch The Order Around Switch Until It Good Sounds

McCloskey advises ending sentences with the main point:

> You should cultivate the habit of mentally rearranging the order of words and phrases of every sentence you write. Rules, as usual, govern the rewriting. One rule or trick is to use so-called auxiliary verbs (should, can, might, had, is, etc.) to lessen clotting in the sentence. “Looking through a lens-shape magnified what you saw.” Tough to read. “Looking through a lens-shape would magnify what you saw” is easier.
> The most important rule of rearrangement of sentences is that the end is the place of emphasis. I wrote the sentence first as “The end of the sentence is the emphatic location,” which put the emphasis on the word location. The reader leaves the sentence with the last word ringing in her mental ears.

<ExampleComparison
  bad="Looking through a lens-shape magnified what you saw."
  good="Looking through a lens-shape would magnify what you saw."
/>

### Rule 9: Use Verbs, Active Ones

Active verbs make writing more engaging:

> Use active verbs: not “Active verbs should be used,” which is cowardice, hiding the user in the passive voice. Rather: “You should use active verbs.”
> Verbs make English. If you pick out active, accurate, and lively verbs, you will write in an active, accurate, and lively style.

{" "}

<ExampleComparison
  bad="The decision was made by the committee to approve the proposal."
  good="The committee decided to approve the proposal."
/>

### Rule 10: Avoid This, That, These, Those

Vague demonstrative pronouns can obscure meaning:

> Often the plain the will do fine and keep the reader reading. The formula in revision is to ask of every this, these, those whether it might better be replaced by ether plain old the (the most common option) or it, or such (a).

<ExampleComparison
  bad="This led to that, which caused these problems."
  good="The budget cuts led to staff shortages, which caused delays in project completion."
/>

## Summary

I quickly finished the book, thanks to its excellent writing style. Its most important lesson was that much of what I learned about `good writing` in school is incorrect. Good writing means expressing your thoughts `clearly`. Avoid using complicated words. `Write the way you speak`. The book demonstrates that using everyday words is a strength, not a weakness. I suggest everyone read this book. Think about how you can improve your writing by using its ideas.

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