Writing Tips “To be” Avoid overusing the verb “to be.” Instead, utilize the active tense. E.g., “It is important that net neutrality survives.” Instead say, “Net neutrality should survive.” For more examples, check out “Avoid Unecessary ‘To Be’ verbs,” by Writing Commons. Keep it Short and Concise Keep sentences short and to the point, particularly when explaining complex topics. Be wary of long paragraphs, particulary for articles or blog posts published online—adding spaces between 2-4 sentence paragraphs helps with accessibility and engagement. Avoid Jargon Avoid industry (or academic) jargon or terminology, particularly when writing for non-academic and/or industry-specific audiences. Remember to write with your audience in mind, and explain any potentially confusing terms, acronyms, or references. Embrace Lists Use bullet points or numbers to convey lengthy information. More specifically, use numbered lists if there is a sequence to the information. Non-English Words Words from a language other than English should appear in italics unless they are commonly used in English. E.g. Millions of Muslims travel to Mecca for hajj (or pilgrimage) each year. E.g. Advocates for net neutrality arrived en masse at Capitol Hill. Do not italicize words written in a different alphabet. Include an italicized transliterated version of the word in parentheses or in a footnote. 14