How to Improve Your Writing Style: 6 Easy Tips to See Fast Results

Discover easy steps you can take to transform your writing in minutes. 

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• Writing style overview
• 6 easy writing style tips
• Final writing style considerations

Writing style overview

What is writing style? Writing style refers to the unique way you express yourself in words. It includes sentence structure, tone, and word choice, as well as how these elements relate to the overall message and meaning of a piece of writing.

No matter your genre—fiction, blogging, content marketing, or creative nonfiction—improving your writing style makes your work more engaging. It helps you communicate ideas with your readers more effectively.

Below, you'll find 6 quick tips you can apply to a short writing sample to see instant results.

6 easy writing tips 

Grab a short sample of your writing, something that matters to you, in any genre. Then, use these tips to refine the sample quickly and see improvements right away. This is your chance to make a meaningful difference, in a short amount of time, while also seeing your potential.  

1. Make your sentences clear and concise.

Clear, concise sentences help readers stay engaged and understand your message effortlessly. Long, convoluted sentences can slow down the reader and make your writing harder to follow. The goal is to express your ideas as simply and directly as possible, without unnecessary words or complicated structures.

Let's look at an example of how you could make a long sentence easier to read without losing any meaning:

•  Long version: "In order to enhance the overall clarity and readability of your writing, which is important for keeping the reader engaged, it’s essential that you avoid overly complex sentence structures and unnecessary details that could distract from your main point."
• Short and simple version: "To keep readers engaged, avoid complex sentences and unnecessary details that distract from your main point."

Exercise: In your writing sample, find a few sentences that feel overly long or cluttered. Try trimming them down, focusing on simplicity and clarity. You’ll see how much more powerful your writing becomes with this small adjustment.

2. Minimize adverbs and adjectives.

Adjectives describe nouns (e.g., "bright" in "bright sun"), and adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., "quickly" in "she ran quickly"). While they add detail to your writing, overusing them can clutter your sentences and weaken your message.

It’s easy to overload sentences with these parts of speech in an attempt to make your writing more descriptive or elegant. However, adverbs and adjectives often create unnecessary padding. Instead of relying on them, try using more precise, active language that conveys the same idea with more power.

For example:

Adjective and adverb heavy: "She quickly ran to the very tall building and carefully opened the heavy door."

Revised with more vivid, active language: "She sprinted to the skyscraper and eased open the door. It must have weighed a ton."

In the revision, the specific verbs ("sprinted" and "eased") replace the need for "quickly" and "carefully," while stronger nouns like "skyscraper" and the details about the door's weight create a clearer picture without extra adjectives.

Exercise: Look through your writing sample and identify places where you’ve relied on adverbs or adjectives. Try swapping them out for stronger verbs or more specific nouns to make your writing more dynamic and engaging.

3. Use active verbs and fewer nouns.

Using verb forms instead of noun forms makes your writing more active, direct, and easy to read. Noun forms (also known as nominalizations) often make sentences feel static, abstract, and formal, while verb forms add energy and immediacy to your writing. 

For example:

Noun form: "I experience joy in the teaching of children."

Verb form: "I experience joy when I teach children."

The second sentence is more dynamic and natural because it uses the verb "teach" instead of the noun form. 

Exercise: In your writing sample, find a few examples where you've used noun forms. Rewrite those sentences using active verbs. Notice how this simple shift brings life to your sentences and makes your writing direct and more engaging. 

4. Replace "to be" forms with strong, active verbs. 

One of the easiest ways to strengthen your writing is by replacing weak "to be" forms ("am," "is," "are," "was," "were, and "will be") with stronger and more active verbs. "To be" forms often make sentences feel static and lifeless, while stronger verbs inject energy and clarity into your writing. 

Examples: 

With "to be" forms: "The stakeholder meeting was in the conference room and the conversation was about how to conclude the project."

Revised with strong, active verbs: "The stakeholders met in the conference room and discussed how to conclude the project."

In this example, the revised sentence communicates what the stakeholders did in a clearer, more direct way, with strong action verbs carrying the action. 

Exercise: Look through your writing sample for any sentences that rely heavily on "to be" forms. Replace them with stronger, more specific verbs or reconstructing the sentence to make the action more dynamic. Notice how much more engaging your writing becomes. 

5. Leverage natural, down-to-earth language.

There’s often a temptation to adopt an ornate or overly fancy style, thinking it will elevate your writing. But in many cases, these stylistic choices can obscure your meaning and disengage readers. Everyday language, on the other hand, has a unique beauty and life to it. It makes your writing more relatable and can connect with readers in a genuine way.

Example: 

Overly ornate: The profound and ineffable nature of the human condition is manifest in the juxtaposition of sorrow and joy."

Down-to-earth: Life is a mix of joy and sorrow, something we all experience."

The second version is much clearer, while still expressing the same idea. It connects with readers directly and asks them to ponder an important topic, without unnecessary complexity in the construction. 

Consider these ideas: 

• Using natural, down-to-earth language isn't just about making your writing approachable; it also allows you to retain the cadence and authenticity of real speech, giving your work a rhythm that resonates.
• By listening carefully to how people speak in conversation, you can capture those nuances and use them to express your ideas with clarity and appeal.
• Using down-to-earth language doesn’t mean sacrificing professionalism or precision. You can still be exact with your word choices while tapping into the richness of everyday language.

Exercise: In your writing sample, identify places where you've used overly formal or fancy language. Rewrite these sections using more natural, everyday words, while still maintaining clarity and precision. Pay attention to how this shift makes your writing more relatable and easier to understand. 

6. Use jargon or specialized terms strategically (and sparingly).

While it's important to use clear, down-to-earth language, there are moments when jargon or specialized terms have their place. These terms can be powerful tools when you incorporate them strategically into otherwise accessible writing. These terms often represent a field of knowledge or refer to important concepts that help deepen your message. The key is to introduce jargon sparingly and explain each instance clearly, so that readers who may not be familiar with the terms can understand and even start using them themselves. 

For example. 

Overusing jargon: "The synergistic effects of cross-platform integrations in the SaaS ecosystem catalyze scalability across verticals."

Using jargon strategically: "Integrating different software platforms helps businesses streamline their efforts and scale more easily. This process, called cross-platform integration, is key to growth in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry."

The second version introduces the jargon, "cross-platform integration" and "SaaS," in a way that is easy to understand. 

Exercise: Review your writing sample and identify any jargon or specialized terms you've used. Consider whether each term is necessary or if there's a simpler way to express the idea. If you choose to keep a particular term, ensure you've explained it clearly in context. Try to strike a balance between technical language and clarity for your readers. 

Final writing style considerations

Improving your writing style is about more than just polishing sentences. It’s about developing a deeper sense of clarity, authenticity, and purpose in your work. By practicing these quick tips regularly, you’ll see immediate improvements, but the true transformation comes with a long-term commitment to refining your voice.

As you continue to write and evolve, focus on:

• Expressing yourself in ways that resonate with your readers.
• Structuring your pieces to serve them.

Over time, this process will help you craft writing that is not only effective but uniquely your own.

Ready to take your writing style to the next level?

Start applying these tips to your writing today, and watch your work improve with every draft. If you’re serious about growing as a writer, sign up below to get more strategies, tips, and inspiration to elevate your craft, right in your inbox!