As in life, so it is in writing. Be positive!

Express yourself in positive language. Say what it is, not what it is not. It isn’t clear to say “it wasn’t this” or “it wasn’t that.”

I would rather read something that tells me directly what something is than make me have to figure out its opposite. Use specific and concrete language.

Examples:

Joey is not on time very often.  Joey is usually late. (better)

There was unfavorable weather last week. It rained five days in a row last week. (more specific)

He is not pleasant.  Well, what is he exactly?

• He is grumpy.
• He is irritable.
• He is insensitive.
• He is foul-mouthed.

These sentences give me a clearer picture of this person. The first makes me ask: How so?