Paragraphing. A paragraph is a unit of thought. It should have a main idea along with some development or elaboration. A concluding sentence either summarizes the thought or connects the paragraph to what follows. Coherent paragraphing is part of good organization. Check to see whether your paragraphs seem random. Avoid having many extremely long or extremely short paragraphs. The reader who is attempting to understand the structure of your argument frequently relies on your paragraphing as a guide.
Good diction (i.e. choice of words) consists of the deliberate selection of words that most precisely express your meaning. If you find that you are repeating a few general adjectives, examine each case to see whether you can find words which will make finer distinct ions as well as give variety to your writing. A good thesaurus will be of assistance to you in such circumstances. Also avoid popular expressions which substitute for adequate, more precise words: e.g., "in-depth analysis" for profound or thorough analysis, "finalized" for completed or made final, "contrary wise" for on the contrary.
Spelling. Errors will be attributed to poor spelling, not to typography. If your spelling is poor, have a friend (whose English is good) check your paper or make use of your word-processing programme's "spell-checker". When in doubt about the spelling of a particular word, always check the dictionary. Foreign words are always underlined or written in italics: supra , in extenso, Weltanschauung, la dolce vita, fin de siècle. If, however, they have become a normal part of English usage, they are not underlined: fiancé, ombudsman, status.