1. Never use two words when you can use ten.
2. Never use your own words if you can quote somebody more learned, more famous, or more dead than you are.
3. Do not fear adjectives and adverbs — especially if they look like you made them up.
4. Never, ever agree with anyone if it is more fun (or produces more words) to argue.
Thought of these today while taking a walk. There must be more. Will post as they occur to me.