Here's a simple, helpful improve-your-writing tool on the web: Hemingway.
It looks like this:
Hemingway goes over the prose you paste into it and marks these things:
- It gives you the reading grade level and encourages you to keep it low.
- Sentences that are hard to read. They are long and complicated.
- Sentences that are very hard to read. They are longer and even more complicated.
- Adverbs. You almost always need fewer of them. (I wish they'd also mark adjectives for the same reason.)
- Words or phrases that can be simpler. You know, utilize when you could say use.
- Uses of passive voice. I don't think passive voice is the monster many make it out to be. But seeing it marked, you can decide whether or not it's appropriate.
Give it a try. It's quick and easy and can help you meaningfully improve your writing.
