Effective Writing Style

On this Page:

1. Write to Express, not to Impress
2. Develop your Vocabulary
3. Avoid Unneeded Words
4. Use active Verbs
5. Use Concrete Specific Language
6. Vary Sentence length and structure to improve the "flow"
7. Write with your audience/ readers in mind.

1 Write to Express, not to Impress

• In my opinion it is a not unjustifiable assumption that we should implement a change in procedures (pompous and inflated).
• I think we should change procedures (clear & concise).

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2. Develop your Vocabulary

choose words with precision. Don't choose a word simply because it is long and you found it in a thesaurus.

• "Coup" or "revolt" may be a better choice than "war"
• The word "use" is easily understood; writers waste time searching vainly for longer replacements such as "utilize" and"employ."

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3.Avoid Unneeded Words

• Place the car in a parked position (too wordy).
• Park the car (concise).

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4.Use Active Verbs

• It was determined by the president that the bill should be vetoed (passive).
• The president decided to veto the bill (active).

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5.Use Concrete Specific Language

• The professor reorganized her class to make it interactive (vague).
• The professor introduced multimedia lectures, small group discussions, and e-mail conferencing to make her class interactive (concrete).

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6.Vary sentence length and structure to improve "flow"

• The Harris government may have gone too far. They have stripped away out education system. The health care system has been gutted as well. They are trying to reduce the deficit. Canadians are wondering if it will be worth it in the long run (choppy).
• In an attempt to reduce the deficit, the Harris government has introduced massive cuts to the health and education system. Canadians now wonder if Harris has gone too far (smooth).

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7. Write with your Audience/Reader in Mind

Don't waste your time providing your political science professor with a Webster's Dictionary definition of "government." On the other hand, if you describe a leader as a "leftist guerrilla," be sure to provide concrete explanation of the term's meaning and why it is significant. Show your professor that you've done your research and thought carefully about the terms used in your paper.

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