Writing Tips for Ph. D. Students, by John H. Cochrane

From the PDF at Cochrane's blog:

Organize the paper in “triangular” or “newspaper” style, not in “joke” or “novel” style. Notice how newspapers start with the most important part, then fill in background later for the readers who kept going and want more details. A good joke or a mystery novel has a long windup to the final punchline. Don’t write papers like that — put the punchline right up front and then slowly explain the joke. Readers don’t stick around to find the punchline in Table 12.

Making them up as I go (1)

These rules were originally in text above the posts. I'm moving them into a post, and starting a new set of rules. This set got too long. Thanks.

1. Tell the truth.
2. Don't just make notes. Write paragraphs.
3. If Gibbs can have rules, so can I.
4. Take out the tangents.
5. Let's not use Let's...
6. I'm not quite surprised. I'm surprised.
7. Use few words.
8. Very true: I don't need very.
9. Avoid And. And you often don't need it. And it interferes with meaning and flow. And so on.
10. The word "whether" means "whether or not." Drop the "or not."
11. Don't explain. Just tell a story.
12. Don't argue. Just say things that make sense.
14. Approach the writing as if people will be bored by it. Make it as brief and clear as possible.
15. To emphasize, summarize.
16. Add what seems right, then remove what seems wrong.
17. If if doesn't come easy, get rid of it.
18. Is it interesting?
19. If it ain't short, it don't work.
20. My thoughts focus. They don't "really focus."
21. Introduce the idea first, then make the case.
22. Entice, or fail.
23. Generalizations are always wrong.
24. I don't "would say" something. I say it.
25. Distinguish your conclusions by following them with a separator graphic or a new heading.
26. Skip that part.