66 News Tips

Which news tips are about writing ledes?

1-7

Which news tips are about the rest of the story?

8-15

Which news tips are about editing and style?

16-28

Which news tips are about the rules of grammar?

29-36

Which news tips are about word choice?

37-50

What specific word choices are referenced in news tips 51-55?

Non(sexist, ageist, discriminatory) word choices

Which news tips are about punctuation?

56-66

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Avoid starting leads with the when or where unless the time or place is unusual. Most leads start with who or what."

3. Writing Leads

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Remember, what happened makes a better story than the fact that it did."

7. Writing Leads

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"If you must write a long sentence, try using a short sentence before or after it."

9. The Rest of the Story

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Avoid introducing new information at the end of a news story. All aspects of a story should usually be introduced or outlined in the first few paragraphs."

14. The Rest of the Story

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Eliminate words such as when asked and concluded. These are weak transitions. Just report what was said"

16. Editing and Style

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"On first reference, identify a person by his or her first and last names. On second reference, refer to the person by his or her last name only."

21. Editing and Style

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Use parallel construction for verbs in lists or sequences.

Example: He likes camping, fishing and hunting."

31. Rules of Grammar

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Know the difference between whose (possessive pronoun) and who's (the contraction for who is). Examples: Whose (possessive pronoun) coat is this? Who's (contraction) wearing it?"

34. Rules of Grammar

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Use simple words. Don't send readers to the dictionary. Odds are they won't bother looking up definitions; worse, they might quit reading."

40. Word Choices

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Avoid using words that qualify how someone feels, thinks or sees. Qualifiers include the following: a bit, a little, sort of, kind of, rather, around, quite, very, pretty, much, in a very real sense, somewhat."

43. Word Choices

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Use he or she instead of he. Women do notice the difference. If using he or she or him or her is awkward, try a plural pronoun: they, them, their or theirs."

53. Non(sexist, ageist, discriminatory) Word Choices

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Substitute asexual words for sexist man words. For example: Instead of mankind, people or humanity."

54. Non(sexist, ageist, discriminatory) Word Choice

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Avoid comma splices: joining two independent clauses with a comma. Example: Half the company's customers lost power after the ice storm, power was restored to most of them quickly. (A period or semicolon should replace the comma.)"

59. Punctuation

What number and what kind of news tip is this?

"Use an exclamation point only after brief expletives. Exclamation points often demonstrate a lack of control (or excess of emotion) on the writer's part. Use them sparingly"

65. Punctuation