Say What It Is, Not What It Isn’t
One subtle habit that weakens prose is describing something by what it isn’t rather than stating what it is. Writers often do this without realizing it. Sentences slip into constructions using not, didn’t, wasn’t, or similar negatives. While these sentences may technically communicate the idea, they force the reader to mentally process the opposite of what the writer actually means. Clear writing moves forward. Negative constructions make the reader take a detour. Consider the difference: … Read more