57. Don’t make a collective noun plural unless you mean to convey the idea of plurality. The word “audience” is singular when you mean the audience as a unit. It is plural when you have in mind the individuals that compose the audience, as “the audience waved their hats.”
58. Don’t call a policeman a “minion of the law.”
59. Don’t use “enthuse.” There is no such word.
60. Don’t waste your energy on trivialities.
61. Don’t use “illy” for “ill,” which may be either adjective or adverb. “Illy” does not exist in good usage.
62. Don’t overwork “very.” Through abuse the word has lost much, if not all, of its force. “He’s a very good man,” as spoken, usually gives the idea that he is only passably good. “He’s a good man” is stronger. Be sparing in the use of superlatives.
63. Don’t use dialect to the disparagement of any nationality. Don’t use it at all unless you are sure of your ground.
64. Don’t color your story with modifying words that imply approval or disapproval.
65. Don’t write 300 words when you are told to keep your story within 100.
66. Don’t say “at the present time.” Say “at present” or “now.”