Safire's Rules

William Safire, the great speechwriter, language commentator and wit who passed away in September, offered these tongue-in-cheek rules for writers:
• Remember to never split an infinitive
• Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors
• Proofread carefully to see if you words out
• Avoid cliches like the plague
• Don't overuse exclamation marks!!

Great Letter to the Editor

Here's an excerpt from a recent letter to the New York Times:

What I learned in my English composition courses I have distilled into advice that I subsequently imparted, over and over again, to my own first-year students during nearly 40 years as a professor of American history: If you will not devote yourself to learning to write, you will discover yourself hampered and frustrated by your inability to think effectively.

Writing and thinking stand among the keys to learning.

Michael H. Ebner
Professor Emeritus, Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Ill.