THREE RULES
Writes the Duke of Argyll: I have always held that clear thinking will find its own expression in clear writing. As to mere technical rules, there are very few that occur to me, except such as these—first, to aim at short sentences, without involution or parenthetical matter; second, to follow a logical order in construction of sentences, and in the sequence of them; third, to avoid absolutely such phrases as "the former" and "the latter," always preferring repetition to the use of such tiresome references. The last rule, and in some measure the other, I learned from Macaulay, and have found it of immense use. There is some mannerism in his style, but it is always clear as crystal, and this rule of repetition contributed much to this.
QUOTATIONS
Quotation marks are not needed when matter is indented, thus: The speaker said in part:
I do not believe that, etc.
Sometimes marks of punctuation belong inside quotation marks and sometimes outside, as: "Did you hear him say, 'I am here'?" But in this case: "I heard him say, 'Are you here?'" Continental usage permits this form: "Are you shot!?" but it is not in good use on this side.
Use no quotation marks with slang of your own writing.
Use no quotes in writing testimony with question and answer. This is the style: