This lecture focuses on some basic writing tips and techniques in reporting. It includes some AP style rules.

1. Qualities of Good Writing

2. Short Paragraphs
• In English class, you may have been
encouraged to write long paragraphs for your
essays.
• In news writing, though, your paragraphs are
kept short.
– Short paragraphs are easier to read on a small
mobile device.
– They also look better when typeset into a long,
skinny column in a newspaper.

3. Traits of Good Writing
• Take charge and develop your own ideas
• Develop strong leads
• Examine the story from all angles
• Revise and rewrite
• Do an “AP style” check

4. Principles of Clear Writing
• K.I.S.S.
• Avoid tangled sentences
• Don’t show off with “big words”
• Use active voice not passive voice

5. Active Voice
• Active voice uses a subject-verb-object
structure
• ACTIVE: Joe Smith wrote the book.
• PASSIVE: The book was written by Joe Smith.

6. Spelchek Yer Werk
• Everyone makes spelling mistakes…so use
computer spellcheck technologies to your
advantage

7. Proper Nouns
• In reporting, it is critical that you get the name
correct of the individual or business
• Many well-known businesses are commonly
misspelled

8. Common Mistakes
• J.C. Penney – not Penny
• Marriott: hotel chain
• Men’s Wearhouse: not warehouse
• Procter & Gamble
• Berkeley, California
• Columbia – University or Washington, D.C.
• Colombia – South American country

9. Commas
• Use commas to separate items in a series, except just before
“and” (example: Red, white and blue)
• Use comma with semicolons when dividing complicated
materials, such as names and titles
– Example:
– “Alexis Lew, president; Stephen Ro, vice president; Cathy Smith,
treasurer, and Natalie Hack, secretary.”
– Note that you switched from the semicolon to a comma before the
“and”

10. Beware! Exclamation Point!
• Use exclamation points sparingly
• Usually a period or question mark will be
sufficient

11. Hyphen
Use the hyphen symbol as follows:
•13-year-old girl
•30-second commercial
•One-minute break
•15-page paper
•Three-day cruise
•24-hour hotline
•Queen-size bed

12. Quotes
• When quoting a source, make sure that the
quotation marks are placed outside the other
punctuation.
– Example:
• “I enjoy teaching,” she said. “I created this guide to
help you.”

13. Writing Tight Sentences
• Do not repeat key words in the same sentence
• Example:
– “The University of Hawaii students have been
attending University events…”

14. Numbers & Things
• Spell out single-digit numbers (nine and
below)
• Use figures for numbers 10 and above unless:
– the sentence begins with a number
– you are expressing money, age, dates, etc.

15. Writing Tips
• When writing about the current date, do not
use the year. It’s obvious.
• When dealing with money, omit the decimal
point when the amount is even
– $25 not $25.00
• In writing amounts with many zeros, use the
word “million,” “billion,” etc.

16. Said vs. Says
• Use “said,” NOT “says” in interviews and
quotes
• Use “says” when referring to a printed
document or sign

17. Other common mistakes
• “In regard to…” NOT “In regards to…”
• “Toward” NOT “Towards”
• “Often…” NOT “Often times…”
• “Try to…” NOT “Try and…”