Tips for writing letters to the editor

If you see an article in the paper that has an industry or government spokesperson who says something that is challengeable or does not mention an important point, this is your chance to write a great letter to the editor. Here are some tips on how to go about writing the best letter you can.

• Keep it short. 200 words is the absolute maximum. 100 words is good, but even better is 50 words. A short letter is very likely to be printed, and can be very powerful if you have a good point. If your letter is too long and it still gets printed, a sub-editor is likely to lop off paragraphs, which may make your letter look pretty silly to people who may know the background of the issue you're writing about


• Stick to one concise point. You can't cover every base when you're writing about a complicated issue in 200 words


• Humour is good. Include a funny line if you can


• Keep your sentences as short as possible


• Keep your language plain and simple. Only use long words if you need the precision


• Statistics often impress some editors, so throw in some big numbers or percentages if you have them handy, but make sure they are accurate


• Be economical with your words. Go over the letter and take anything out that is repetitive


• Pathos works for some editors. Evoke emotion with a phrase like "you can no longer hear the cry of the yellow bellied glider"


• And of course, check the letters for typos, spelling and grammar before you send.

Good luck - get out there and start writing!