4) Never use the passive where you can use the active. (Orwell)
A classic. Eliminating passive voice will improve your writing. Unfortunately, this is forgotten by most writers. Ahem!!! Most writers forget this rule.
5) Do not explain too much. (Strunk & White)
A good writer writes just enough and lets the reader make his own discoveries. As La Rochefoucauld quipped, “As great minds have the ability to say much in few words, so, conversely, small minds have the gift of talking much and not saying anything.”