Link to this page

The Writing Rules: Out of 613, Which Is Most Important?

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

An online devotional for writers

A Word From The Word

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:27-29, NLT)

A Word For Writers

Your language arts teacher taught writing rules so that you’d learn to communicate clearly on paper. Rules like:

  • Each sentence needs a verb. Especially one-liners.
  • Don’t use contractions like don’t, he’d, you’ll
  • And never start a sentence with a conjunction such as and, but, or yet.
The Writing Rules: a #devotional for #writers based on Matt 22:37-38 with Word Wise at Nonprofit Copywriter #WritingTips

Notice that I’ve broken each of these three writing rules.

That’s not to say you should toss all the rules out the window as you write. Writing rules become a problem when they become The Thing. That is, when following the rules becomes more important than communicating clearly in language that the target reader can understand. 

Jesus spoke often about the same problem with religious law. The purpose of the law was to help God’s people obey Him and have a relationship with Him. 

But leaders of the time were so obsessed with following the law’s 613 rules that obedience to the law became more important than loving God. Rule-following took the place of a relationship with Him. 

Jesus helped them set their priorities straight. He pointed out the most important commandment – that we love God will all our heart, soul, and mind. The rest of the rules are helpful. But Jesus is clear: loving God and loving others is the priority.

There are way more than 613 writing rules that set good standards. But of those, what is the most important writing rule? Communicate clearly. The rest are helpful. But clarity is the priority.

A Wise Word

Use writing rules to communicate clearly.

A Word To Pray

Heavenly Father, 

Rules and laws are for my good. Help me keep my priorities straight as I write. Let me use writing rules as a means to communicate clearly. 

In Jesus’s name, Amen.


More Devotionals for Writers

The Sentence Fragment: Use It Judiciously. To Make a Point.

The Run-On Sentence: Don't Make Readers Work So Hard ...

The Preposition: A Little Word with Big Connections ...

The Rule of Seven: Repeat Your Message in Different Formats ...

The Ad Copy: The Case for Clear Headlines ...

The Exclamation Mark: Do You Use Too Many?

The Metaphor: Use It to Express an Intangible Idea Tangibly ...

Wise Words: Devotionals for Writers ...

More Devotionals for Writers on our Pinterest board ...

Join other Christian Writers in the Writing for Ministries Community ...

Free Mini-Course: Getting Started Writing Devotionals ...

Get more devotionals for writers delivered to your inbox each week.

Get Wise Words Now

Return from The Writing Rules to Nonprofit Copywriter home

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Powered by SBI! Learn more here.
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Search This Site


Share This Page



writers-digest-logo

Named to 2022 Writer's Digest list
BEST GENRE/NICHE WRITING WEBSITE

nonprofit-courses-content-expert-logo-round
Get Free Writing Tips

Stop Wasting Time!

Grab your exclusive FREE guide, "5 Simple Writing Tips You Can Put to Use in 10 Minutes or Less"

XML RSSSubscribe To This Site
  • XML RSS
  • follow us in feedly
  • Add to My Yahoo!