Great Rules for Writing

Great Rules for Writing
by William Safire, New York Times.

Do not put statements in the negative form.

And don't start sentences with a conjunction.

It is incumbent on one to avoid archaisms.

If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of
repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.

Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.

De-accession euphemisms.

If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.

Last, but not least, avoid cliche's like the plague.