Know your thesis, don’t wait until the last minute, brainstorm, research, start with your body paragraphs, and, above all else, outline, outline, outline. This writing advice has been the mantra of every teacher I’ve had since elementary school. Sure, it’s not bad advice, but none of it helps with the practical aspects of actually being in the process of writing an essay—or any type of writing, for that matter. As a writer by hobby, I have learned many other writing tips that, for whatever reason, no one outside the writing world ever mentions. 

First, Google definitions are your best friends. Everyone always says to vary your words; if you have the same word three times in the last two sentences, it’s usually a problem. My favorite way to find synonyms is by typing “[blank] definition” into the Google search bar. One of the first results is a box with different definitions of the word and, below it, synonyms for that word based on that definition. This is easier to access and navigate than a thesaurus, and it allows you to see the nuances of definitions rather than just a list of words to pick through. 

This strategy can also help with words stuck on the tip of your tongue. When you know the perfect word is just barely evading your consciousness, Google the definition of the nearest synonym that comes to mind. Often, you will find a sufficient word either listed as a synonym or a near synonym. 

Second, sentence variety is the key to well-flowing writing. We’ve all suffered through textbooks with sentences long enough to be a bedtime story. If you zone out halfway through, what’s the point of having the sentence at all? Conversely, writing full of short sentences is choppy and unengaging. Try to balance them out. Most sentences will be of medium length, which is fine. If you have an exceptionally long sentence, follow it with a short sentence, and vice versa. This keeps your reader from getting bored with one format or another. 

Sentence structure fits into this idea, too. Transitions at the beginning of sentences—another popular piece of writing advice—are great, but they can be overused. It’s better to mix it up. For example, start some sentences with transitions. Start others with the main subject. In other sentences, begin with a prepositional phrase to clarify or give more information about your subject. This helps everything feel like new information, even when you maintain the same subject. 

Lastly, I have a tip for the bane of every college student’s existence: plagiarism. We’ve all had a moment where, faced with a looming deadline, the only words in our vocabulary seem to be taken by the source we are desperately trying to paraphrase. While Googling synonyms will help, replacing a couple of words will not save you from plagiarism. In addition to your synonyms, try shifting the subject of the sentence. For instance, say the sentence you’re trying to paraphrase is: “The United States government has three branches, one of which is the legislative branch.” The subject here is the United States government, which cannot be easily replaced with a synonym. Therefore, shift the subject—maybe to the legislative branch. Start your sentence with that and throw in a few synonyms: “Congress is one of the three divisions of the United States government.” Obviously, this is an oversimplified example, but the strategy has worked well for me in many cases. (Note that you still need a citation for your sources, even if you paraphrase them; this is just a way to cut down on direct quotes in your writing.)  Like any advice, these tips are not foolproof, but they are the ones that I use most often. I discovered them as a creative writer, but they are applicable to any form of writing. As midterms and final exams loom ahead for many of us, we may need all the help we can get with our writing skills. Students can find more personalized writing help from EMU’s Writing Program, information about which can be found through the sidebar “Quick Links” on Moodle or through the EMU website.