To The Point is an ideal course if you want to learn to write better. But even if you already write well, you should consider taking the course for two reasons. One, the course contains many sophisticated writing concepts with which you might not be familiar. Two, the course will give you the vocabulary necessary to teach others to write well. Thus, rather than simply writing “REWRITE” next to a paragraph in a document, you can explain to the document’s drafter how to rewrite the paragraph.

If you take this course, you obviously will learn many writing style principles and grammar rules. As an added bonus, though, you also will pay more attention to the content of your writing, because paying more attention to content is a natural consequence of improving one’s writing style. Thus, your writing truly will become stronger and more focused after you complete To The Point.

A one-time cost of $95 grants you access to the 12 issues of Part 1 and related exercises for nine months. You can print the issues and exercises so you have them beyond the nine-month subscription period. When you are ready, you can purchase access to Part 2, also for a one-time cost of $95, and likewise to Part 3. There are no other fees associated with this course.

You may login and purchase the Program here.
Note: Part 2 will be available in June 2009, and Part 3 will be available in September 2009.
Note: District of Columbia residents will be assessed D.C. sales tax on their subscription fees.

When you subscribe you will receive immediate access to all 12 issues in Part 1 and additional exercises. Read through each issue and complete the accompanying exercises. Do not rush, though. You will have access to the materials for nine months. After reading an issue, spend one or two weeks looking for the related stylistic problem in your writing and the writing of others before reading the next issue. The exact length of time you should take between issues will depend on how quickly you learn to spot and correct the stylistic problem learned in an issue.

Part 1 focuses on parts of speech. Four of the 12 issues teach how to use verbs and nouns effectively. Another four issues discuss pronouns. Two issues explain the right and wrong ways to use adjectives and adverbs, while the remaining two issues explain how prepositions can reek havoc on your writing. You may be familiar with some of the principles (such as prefer the active voice) and grammar rules (such as the difference between that and which), but you may not be applying them in your writing.

Part I also addresses writing principles with which you may not be familiar (such as avoid vague nouns and verbs and avoid complex prepositions). You’ll learn in Part 1 which nouns and verbs are vague and what complex prepositions are. By the end of Part 1 you will possess the foundational tools necessary to explore sophisticated writing principles that will enable you to effectively structure sentences.

Parts 2 and 3 teach you how to write effective sentences. The issues in Parts 2 and 3 offer varied topics such as linking sentences by using word repetition and introductory clauses, avoiding long subjects and long interrupting clauses, and effectively using parallelism. By the end of Part 3, you will possess the tools necessary to identify a myriad of stylistic problems and to produce clear and powerful documents.