Think you're ready to submit a story for publication? Think again. These 10 checklist items will help make something good into something great.

1. Journalism’s
10 Deadly Sins
Jim Streisel
Carmel (IN) High School
www.hilite.org/streisel

2. I. Always use
“said.”

3. I. Always use
“said.”
“Said is the most objective
word we have for
dialogue/quote
attribution,” the
instructor said.

4. II. Use “name
said,” not “said
name.”

5. II. Use “name
said,” not “said
name.”
Subjects come in front of
verbs, not after…said he.

6. III. Omit passive
voice

7. III. Omit passive
voice
The sentence is made less
clear in passive voice.
It’s also made less concise.

8. IV. Omit adverbs

9. IV. Omit adverbs
Amazingly, adverbs are
really very subjective
words.
Use strong verbs and
nouns instead.

10. V. Eliminate
gener alizations

11. V. Eliminate
gener alizations
All of these words are
subjective and none of
them work unless you have
research to back them up.

12. VI. Avoid firs t
and second
person

13. VI. Avoid firs t
and second
person
I think you should use third
person. Remember, this
story isn’t about you.

14. VII. Use pas t or
present tense
consis tently

15. VII. Use pas t or
present tense
consis tently
When writers write they
should have remained
consistent.

16. VIII. Avoid vague
words

17. VIII. Avoid vague
words
Really, guys, I believe you
should try to avoid these
really very annoying
things.

18. VIII. Avoid vague
words
Really, guys, I believe you
should try to avoid these
really very annoying
things.
Really.

19. IX. Use
spellcheck

20. IX. Use
spellcheck
Becuz u nevr no when yu
mite mak a typng airor.

21. X. Avoid
Exclamation
points

22. X. Avoid
Exclamation
points
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

23. X. Avoid
Exclamation
points
!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!

24. !!!?#@?!$@&-it!!!

25. The End
Stay in touch
www.hilite.org/streisel
jstreise@ccs.k12.in.us