How to write effectively?
by Ann
Views: 102
Keep your writing simple and easy to read. |
| Vary sentence length and arrangement. |
| Use active voice whenever possible. A passive voice slows the pace and the reader. |
| Active voice: Our Company produces ten thousand widgets each month. |
| Passive voice: Ten thousand widgets are produced each month by our company. |
| Use positive statements. |
| Positive: As a leader in total home security, Trusty Alarms can protect your investment. |
| Negative: No other security company can protect your investment like T rusty Alarms. |
| Keep verb tenses consistent and understandable. |
| Common verb tense errors: |
| I should have went to their office yesterday. [should have gone] |
| The dog has bit the boy seriously. [has bitten] |
| Use strong nouns and verbs to eradicate as many adjectives and adverbs as possible. |
| Write to “express,” not “impress” the reader. If the right word is long, use it, but if a shorter word will do, use the shorter word. |
| Ensure that your words can’t be misinterpreted; e.g., the senior citizens were reluctant to book their holiday to the “hot” destination described by the travel agent. |
| Get to the point and finish. |
| Never state the obvious as it wastes words; e.g., never begin a sentence with “I am writing you…” of course you are, start right in. |
| Avoid wishy-washy openings; e.g., Do you like… |
| Avoid clichés. Tired expressions such as “a good time was had by all” are annoying and lack creativity. |