according to edward dmytryk

In his book, On Film Editing, Edward Dmytryk stipulates seven “rules of cutting” that a good editor should follow:

Rule 1: Never make a cut without a positive reason.

Rule 2: When undecided about the exact frame to cut on, cut long rather than short”

Rule 3: Whenever possible cut ‘in movement’

Rule 4: The ‘fresh’ is preferable to the ’stale’

Rule 5: All scenes should begin and end with continuing action

Rule 6: Cut for proper values rather than proper ‘matches’

Rule 7: Substance first—then form