Associations can and should regularly publish newsletters to keep members informed about events in the association, board meetings, rules and regulations, and other items of general interest. Following is a list of writing tips for your newsletters.
NEWSLETTER DOS & DON'TS by William Safire:
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Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read.
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Don't use no double negatives.
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Use the semicolon properly, always use it where it is appropriate; and never where it isn't.
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Reserve the apostrophe for it's proper use and omit it when its not needed.
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Do not put statements in the negative form.
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Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
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No sentence fragments.
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Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
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If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
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Steer clear of incorrect verb forms that have snuck into the language.
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Take the bull by the hand in leading away from mixed metaphors.
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Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
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Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
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Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
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I must have told you a million times to resist hyperbole.
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Also, avoid awkward and affected alliteration.
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"Avoid overuse of 'quotation "marks" ' ".
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Avoid commas, that are not necessary.
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A writer must not shift your point of view.
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And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
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Don't overuse exclamation marks!!!!!
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Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of ten or more words, to their antecedents.
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Write all adverbial forms correct.
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Avoid un-necessary hyphenation.
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When dangling, watch your participles.
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It is incumbent on us to avoid archaic phrases.
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Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
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It's hard to imagine a phrase when you will have needed the future perfect.
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Unqualified superlatives are the worst.
- Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague.
ASSISTANCE: Associations needing legal assistance can contact us. To stay current with issues affecting community associations, subscribe to the Davis-Stirling Newsletter.