Here’s a **list of 30 direct communication and writing tips** from *The Elements of Style* by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. This book is known for its short, clear, and powerful guidance on writing that also improves how you speak, teach, and lead.

These tips apply to writing emails, scripts, marketing, and everyday communication.

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### **1. Omit needless words**
Cut what isn’t needed.  
**Don’t say:** “Due to the fact that…”  
**Say:** “Because…”

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### **2. Use the active voice**
Active is stronger and clearer than passive.  
**Don’t say:** “The meeting was led by Sarah.”  
**Say:** “Sarah led the meeting.”

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### **3. Put statements in positive form**
**Don’t say:** “He was not very good.”  
**Say:** “He was weak.”

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### **4. Avoid vague qualifiers**
Words like “very,” “really,” and “quite” weaken your point.  
**Tip:** Cut them.

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### **5. Use definite, specific, concrete language**
**Don’t say:** “Things were bad.”  
**Say:** “Revenue dropped 40% in one week.”

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### **6. Avoid fancy words**
Use short, simple words over complicated ones.  
**Don’t say:** “Utilize.”  
**Say:** “Use.”

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### **7. Keep related words together**
Don’t separate subject and verb.  
**Bad:** “She, despite the noise, completed the task.”  
**Better:** “Despite the noise, she completed the task.”

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### **8. Keep to one tense**
Stick to present or past. Don’t shift mid-message.

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### **9. Use the proper case of pronoun**
**Wrong:** “Her and me went.”  
**Correct:** “She and I went.”

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### **10. Do not overwrite**
Avoid excessive style. Be direct. Be clear.

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### **11. Avoid overstatement**
Don’t exaggerate. It kills credibility.  
**Bad:** “It was the worst thing ever.”  
**Better:** “It caused major delays.”

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### **12. Revise and rewrite**
Good writing is rewriting. Always tighten your message.

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### **13. Do not explain too much**
Trust your reader to connect basic dots.  
**Tip:** Show. Don’t over-tell.

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### **14. Do not use dialect unless essential**
If it’s unclear, it’s a distraction. Avoid unless it’s part of the message's point.

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### **15. Use figures of speech sparingly**
They lose power if used too much. One metaphor per section is enough.

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### **16. Avoid foreign phrases and jargon**
Use plain English. Don’t show off.

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### **17. Place the emphatic word at the end**
**Stronger:** “What he needed was rest.”  
**Weaker:** “Rest was what he needed.”

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### **18. Avoid the use of qualifiers like “seems,” “perhaps,” “possibly”**
They make you sound unsure.  
**Tip:** Make strong claims and own them.

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### **19. Express coordinate ideas in similar form**
**Example:** “She likes hiking, biking, and swimming.”  
(Not: “She likes hiking, to ride a bike, and swimming.”)

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### **20. Choose a suitable design and stick to it**
Follow consistent structure in paragraphs and outlines.

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### **21. Do not inject opinion unless asked**
Stick to facts unless it’s appropriate to share your view.

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### **22. Use paragraph breaks to show structure**
New idea = new paragraph. Don’t bury key points.

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### **23. Do not take shortcuts at the cost of clarity**
**Bad:** “FYI re: ASAP metrics.”  
**Better:** “Here’s the update you asked for.”

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### **24. Keep introductions and conclusions short**
Say what needs to be said. Don’t drag it out.

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### **25. Break up long sentences**
One idea per sentence. Avoid run-ons.

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### **26. Be consistent with tone and formality**
Don’t mix casual and formal in the same message.

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### **27. Avoid exclamation marks unless essential**
They add emotion. Use only when the tone calls for it.

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### **28. Spell out numbers under ten**
“Three people attended.” Not “3 people attended.”

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### **29. Hyphenate compound adjectives before nouns**
**Correct:** “Well-written message.”  
**Wrong:** “Well written message.”

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### **30. Edit ruthlessly**
Strunk said:  
> “Vigorous writing is concise.”  
Say what you mean—then delete 20% of it.

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Want a stripped-down checklist or examples adapted for business or marketing writing?