10 editing tips to refine everything from clean copy to sloppy scribbles

Writing is a difficult skill to master, and unlike baseball or accounting, the rules of grammar and style seem to keep changing.

With the debate over differing styles, it’s sometimes hard to keep up with what is good writing and what isn’t. GrammarCheck’s infographic “10 editing tips that’ll instantly make you a better writer” offers simple tips to make the professional or casual wordsmith better at the job at hand.

Insights include:

1. Write for everyday people.

The first mistake people make when writing is trying to sound smart. Complex sentences and advanced vocabulary are great—until you lose your reader.

To keep a reader’s attention, write like you’re having a conversation:

Overly complicated: The impresario mounted his conveyance and absconded with the purloined baguettes.

Perfectly simple: The ballet director drove off with the stolen jewels.

2. Be concise.