Writing well isn’t easy. Fortunately, experts such as Dr. Rhonda Stanton, assistant professor of English at Missouri State University, know some quick and easy ways to improve our writing skills.

“One of the most important things to consider is your audience,” said Stanton. “We need to make sure to consider the audience’s education level, background, gender and age in order to write to them effectively.”

“Rephrase, don’t repeat”

Though it can be difficult, make an effort to not repeat the same words and phrases when explaining or describing things.

“Often times, students repeat the same word or phrase over and over in their papers,” said Stanton. “This can cause the reader to lose focus on the content. You shouldn’t repeat a word or phrase for about four pages.”

Stanton also noted that if you do need to repeat a word or phrase, merely rephrase it instead using fresh words.

Cover letters and editing

Cover letters can be intimidating, but there are a couple of things you can do to feel more confident.

“If you use the same heading on your cover letter and resume, it looks like letterhead and creates a more uniform style,” said Stanton. “This also takes up whitespace and creates a more professional appearance.”

Cover letters should also be approximately one page in length and include a short bulleted list of some key points from your resume, noted Stanton.