2. Two Objectives
Objectives of professional writing:
To inform: To communicate the most
amount of information in the least amount
of reading time
To persuade: To present logical arguments
in the most convincing manner
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3. Language Usage
Effective language us is essential in
professional writing. This is done by :
Being precise
Being clear
Being forthright
Being familiar
Being concise
Being fluid
SLH1013 Professional English Friday, October 05, 2012
4. Being Precise
This is the most important goal of language
in professional writing. Communicate
exactly what you did and what you learned.
It is important to choose the right word
and the appropriate level of accuracy.
Here are a few examples of similar words
that are often confused and have different
meanings:
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5. Errors in Word Choice (1)
comprise = include; compose = make
up
Theprocedure comprises treatment with an
acid composed of hydrogen and chlorine.
continual = repeated; continuous =
without interruption
The continual pulsing of pressure has less
effect than would continuous application of
the same level of pressure.
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6. Errors in Word Choice (2)
affect = to influence; effect = result
Exposing the samples to water affected
their moisture content, with the effect that
their elastic properties were reduced.
principal = main, most important;
principle = law, rule
The principal investigators in the project
are very familiar with the principles of
research procedure.
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7. Use a dictionary, not a thesaurus
Avoid synonyms. They may have an inexact
meaning for the situation concerned. Their
meaning depends on situation in which they
are used.
The word dense may mean compact or solid or
luxuriant, which have different connotations and
may be inappropriate for the situation.
If one describes conditions as adequate, this means
a far different set of criteria for airplane safety than
for marking out a baseball field.
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8. Being Clear
Avoid needless complexity in words, such
as in this paragraph:
The objective of this study is to develop an
effective commercialization strategy for
solar energy systems by analyzing the
factors that are impeding early commercial
projects and by prioritizing the potential
government and industry actions that can
facilitate the viability of the projects.
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9. Keep it simple
This could better be rewritten as :
Thisstudy will consider why current solar
energy systems have not yet reached the
commercial stage and will evaluate the
steps that industry and government can
take to make these systems commercial.
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10. Unnecessary Complexity
A sentence is needlessly complex when:
The sentence seems too long.
It contains many prepositional phrases.
It presents more than one idea.
It wanders from point to point.
It contains participial phrases.
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11. Avoid Ambiguity
Many English words have multiple
meanings. This can appear in many
ways.
In the following examples, the
prepositions as and since may be
interpreted in different ways:
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12. Which Word is Correct?
T cells, rather than B cells, appeared as the
lymphocytes migrated to the thymus gland.
(because/while?) This could mean either that T cells
appeared because lymphocytes migrated to the thymus
bland or that T cells appeared at the same time that
lymphocytes migrated to the thymus gland.
T cells appeared since they were migrating to the
thymus gland.
(because/after?) This could mean either that T cells
appeared because they were migrating to the thymus
gland or that T cells appeared following their migration
to the thymus gland.
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13. Ambiguity in Syntax
Ambiguity can also result from the way
words are arranged in a sentence
(syntax).
In the following sentences, the same
words are arranged in different ways.
Each way produces a different meaning:
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14. Ambiguity in Syntax
Only I tested the bell jar for leaks yesterday.
Only I, no one else, tested the bell jar.
I only tested the bell jar for leaks yesterday.
The only thing I did yesterday was test the bell jar.
I tested only the bell jar for leaks yesterday.
The only thing I tested yesterday was the bell jar.
I tested the bell jar only for leaks yesterday.
The only test I made of the bell jar was for leaks.
I tested the bell jar for leaks only yesterday.
It was just yesterday that I tested the bell jar.
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15. Ambiguity in Pronouns
There should be no doubt as to what a
pronoun refers. In the following
example, the pronoun it could mean
either the receiver or the radiometer:
Because the receiver presented the
radiometer with a high flux environment,
it (?) was mounted in a silver plated
stainless steel container.
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16. Ambiguity in Punctuation
Punctuation tells the reader when to
connect, slow down, or stop. It may also
have a major impact on the meaning.
While other punctuation marks are
essential, the comma (,) is quite
important.
In the following sentences a comma
makes a difference in the meaning:
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17. What’s the difference?
In our study we examined neat methanol,
neat ethanol, methanol and 10 percent
water and ethanol and 10 percent water.
In our study we examined neat methanol,
neat ethanol, methanol and 10 percent
water, and ethanol and 10 percent water.
The panda eats shoots and leaves.
The panda eats, shoots, and leaves.
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18. Being Forthright
Professional writing should be sincere
and straightforward.
Control the tone by avoiding
pretentious words, such as:
facilitate
( cause, bring about)
implement (put into effect, carry out)
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19. Be Careful…
Avoid arrogant phrases, such as:
as is well known; as we all know; it is said
that
results clearly demonstrate; it is clear that
Use strong nouns to provide a helpful
image of the subject. Reduce abstract
nouns, such as ability, factor, methods,
criteria.
Use strong verbs to express action.
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20. Use Familiar Language
Professional communication is designed to
inform, not to puzzle or to mystify.
Use language your readers will understand.
Avoid jargon, nicknames, initials, processes,
technical terms, or materials that might be
unclear to readers.
Define unfamiliar terms.
Use examples and analogies.
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21. Eliminate Redundancies
No needless repetition of a word within
a sentence.
Eliminate words with no real meaning:
o as a matter of fact
o it is noteworthy that
o that fact that
o it is significant that
o the presence of…
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22. Being Fluid
All of this might give the impression
that professional writing becomes so
flat and dull that it is painful to read.
Good professional writing does not
have to be dull.
Several techniques may be used to
make professional writing interesting to
read.
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23. Variety
Vary sentence rhythms by varying sentence
openers, lengths, or structure.
Vary sentence openers by a clear subject-
verb connection.
o By using a prepositional phrase
o By using transitional words
o By using a participial phrase
Vary sentence length
Vary sentence structure
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