Writing Communication Reference

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (Summary)

by William Zinsser

Read this sentence from a university president's letter: 'It is a matter of considerable difficulty to transmit the sort of humanizing values which it is the function of the university to impart.' What is he trying to say? Zinsser translates: 'It is hard to teach students human values.' The difference isn't just clarity; it's a battle against the epidemic of clutter—the jargon, the passive verbs, and the pretentious words—that smothers meaning in modern life.

Strip Every Sentence to Its Bones

The fundamental rule of good writing is to eliminate every word that serves no function. Most sentences are bloated with unnecessary adverbs, qualifiers, and roundabout phrases that weaken the writer's point.

Zinsser points to the common phrase "at this point in time," which can always be replaced by "now." He shows how a bureaucratic sentence like "Assistance will be rendered to those who are found to be in need of it" can be stripped down to the clear and human "We will help people who need it."

The Audience is One: You

Stop trying to guess what a generic audience wants to read. The secret is to write for yourself. If you write with genuine interest, enthusiasm, and clarity about a subject you care about, your personality will shine through and resonate with readers.

Zinsser advises writers to think of their writing as a conversation. If you wouldn't use a word like "heretofore" or a phrase like "it is incumbent upon us" when talking to a friend, don't use it in your writing. Your writing should sound like you.

Verbs are the Engine of Your Prose

Strong writing is powered by strong, active verbs, not by adverbs and adjectives. Verbs provide the energy and forward momentum, while an over-reliance on modifiers is often a sign of a weak or poorly chosen verb.

Instead of writing, "The runner moved quickly across the finish line," which uses the weak verb "moved" and the adverb "quickly," use a single, powerful verb: "The runner sprinted across the finish line." One word does the work of two and provides a more vivid image.

Good Writing is Rewriting

No one writes a perfect first draft. The process is messy and iterative. The real work of writing happens in the revision, where sentences are tightened, reordered, and polished until every component is in its right place.

Zinsser likens the process to carpentry. The first draft is like building the rough frame of a cabinet. It's only after the initial structure is in place that the writer can go back to sand, plane, and finish the wood, ensuring every joint is tight and every surface is smooth.

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