It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. That’s the difference between grammar and style.
Here are a few principles that go beyond what you may have learned in English classes.
Stating the Obvious
When we eliminate information that readers would naturally assume, we strengthen the information that remains. For example, someone might write: “I was thinking to myself.” Since our thinking always happens within our own minds, the sentence is stronger without “to myself.”
In personal storytelling, leave out “I remember.” That’s obvious, isn’t it? Including those words will weaken the picture of what you remember. The same principle applies to “in my life.” If it’s your story, obviously it’s your life.
Numeric Digits
For books, spell out whole numbers less than 100. Articles often follow a different style, spelling out numbers less than 10. But we might want to spell out the number for percentages (97 percent), temperature (3 degrees), or mileage (17 miles per gallon). Decide what style communicates best with your audience, and be consistent.
Never begin a sentence with numeric digits. You should never write: “1967 brought a major change in my lifestyle.” If you don’t want to write “Nineteen-sixty-seven brought,” then find a way to move the date away from the beginning of the sentence. For example: “A major lifestyle change came in 1967.”
Whether or Not
You can usually leave out “or not,” because those words are obvious. You might write, “I don’t know whether I should go to the concert.” Don’t tack “or not” onto the end of the sentence.
