The document provides guidance on structuring writing in English concisely and effectively. It discusses focusing on the audience and using an appropriate voice. It also emphasizes arranging information in a clear structure and using well-structured paragraphs, sentences, and concise language. Specific tips include varying sentence lengths, using active voice, intentional tense, simple word choices, and ordering information in a way that is clear and focuses on what is most important.

1. Structure your writing
well in English
21 February 2020 Maura Hannon

3. 1-Audience
Who are you talking to? What information do they want? What level of
background information do they have? What is most important to them?
Great writers ask questions
2-Voice
What voice is appropriate to the document? An objective, reasoned and
thoughtful academic voice? An informative, plain English voice?
4-Design
Getting the basics right. What helps transmit my message? What hinders
my message?
3-Structure
How do I best arrange my information? What are the expected structures
from a cultural, school, department point of view?

4. Sentences
Use structure.
Convey clarity.
01 Paragraphs
The rules.
The room to move.
02
Our work today
03 The big picture
Underlying structures.
Your argument.
Polishing.
04 All the other stuff
Culture.
eMail.
Questions.

5. One sentence = one idea
The sentence
Concise Intentional Effortless

6. Vary writing by alternating longer sentences with
shorter ones. Aim for an average length of 20 words
or less.
E G A N
R
O
H
S
TLE
Vigorous writing is concise. Make every word tell.
William Strunk, Jr

7. Which atmosphere do you want to create?
Wordy sentences can be too much.

8. Concise
The immediate effects of the new economic policies have been to strike a bit of
terror in the hearts of government workers, to plant smiles on the faces of the rich,
and to put frowns on the faces of the poor, who have long benefited from the
federal safety net.
One sentence with 50 words
The new economic policies had three immediate effects. While they struck a bit
of terror in the hearts of government workers, they planted smiles on the faces of
the rich. The policies put frowns on the faces of the poor, who have long
benefited from the federal safety net.
Three sentences < 20 words
E G A N
R
O
H
S
TLE

9. Concise
Cut!
For all intents and purposes It appears that Indeed
Due to the fact that Imperative that Very
As a matter of fact In the process of In order to
Condense
Last but not least —finally Greater and greater — increasingly
Make it clearer — clarify Arising from the fact — because
In the amount of — for There can be little doubt — probably

10. Concise
Simple
Utilisation — use Remuneration — pay Guidance — guide
Expiration — end Methodology — method Hereinafter — after
Formal
Finish up — complete Help out — assist Write up – report
Come up with — devise Look at — review Set up — establish

11. Example
Original
The second reaction is really the end result of a very large number of
reactions. It is also worth noting that these two reactions form a simple
linear chain whereby the product of the first reaction is the reactant for
the second. (44 words. Sentence 2: 27 words)
Edited
The second reaction is the result of numerous reactions. These two
reactions form a simple linear chain whereby the product of the first
reaction is the reactant for the second. (30 words, Sentence 2: 21
words)
Prepared by Nathan Sheffield, Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University In collaboration with Duke Writing Studio Updated September 8, 2011
The second reaction is really the end result of a very large number of
reactions. It is also worth noting that these two reactions form a simple
linear chain whereby the product of the first reaction is the reactant for
the second.

12. Apply
Practise condensing on the handout. Look to:
-shorten sentences
-cut unnecessary words
-replace a phrase with a word
-use the simplest form of a word
-replace phrasal verbs

13. Intentional voice
Active voice — introduction, literature review and discussion sections
Passive voice — method sections
(passive) A new regime of labour laws was established. (By whom?)
(active) The Keating government established a new regime of
labour laws.
(passive) Bushfire destroyed over 186,000 square kilometres of land.
(active) Over 186,000 square kilometres of land were destroyed by
bushfire.
Examples

14. Examples
(present continuous) The farmers are producing corn and beans.
(present) Farmers produce corn and beans.
Intentional tense
Past tense — methodology, previous work by researchers,
describe something completed eg a law no longer valid
Present tense — express and discuss findings and conclusions that
continue to be true

15. Examples
Intentional tense
Past tense — methodology, previous work by researchers,
describe something completed eg a law no longer valid
Present tense — express and discuss findings and conclusions that
continue to be true
(present)
John Fitzgerald Kennedy is an American politician who serves as the
35th president of the United States from January 1961 until he is
assassinated in November 1963.
(past)
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was an American politician who served as the
35th president of the United States from January 1961 until his
assassination in November 1963.

16. Intentional
Grammar
Less is more
Review subordinate clauses, parenthesis, italics, abbreviations…

17. Examples
Original
The slave trade, often as a result of seeds being unwittingly attached to
clothing, brought three grasses, as well as a range of other useful
plants, including Bermuda grass (latin name Cynodon dactylon but also
known as Vilfa stellata, couch grass, Indian doab, and Scutch grass)
from Africa, during ship transportation to the United States.
Clearer
A range of useful plants arrived in the United States from Africa during
the slave trade. Many seeds were unwittingly attached to clothing and
thereby transported by ship. Cynodon dactylon or Bermuda grass is one
of three grasses that arrived this way.

18. Ordering information
Start with what is important
Write in the positive
Given to the new
Intentional

19. Examples
Positive vs negative
(negative) It is not that the research was entirely lacking relevance, it
was however based on material that was not current.
(positive) The research had some relevance although it was based on
outdated material.
Start with what is important
In addition to herbs, animal products are employed in some forms of
traditional medicine.
Animal products are employed in some forms of traditional medicine in
addition to herbs.

20. Examples
Given to the new
Farmers try to provide optimal growing conditions for crops by using soil
additives to adjust soil pH. Garden lime, or agricultural limestone, is
made from pulverized chalk, and can be used to raise the pH of the soil.
Clay soil, which is naturally acidic, often requires addition of agricultural
lime.
Farmers try to provide optimal growing conditions for crops by using soil
additives to adjust soil pH. Garden lime, or agricultural limestone, is
made from pulverized chalk, and can be used to raise the pH of the soil.
Clay soil, which is naturally acidic, often requires addition of agricultural
lime.
Farmers try to provide optimal growing conditions for crops by using soil
additives to adjust soil pH. One way to raise the pH of the soil is an
additive made from pulverized chalk called garden lime or agricultural
limestone. Agricultural limestone is often added to naturally acidic soils,
such as clay soil.
https://cgi.duke.edu/web/sciwriting/index.php?action=lesson2#worksheet
Farmers try to provide optimal growing conditions for crops by using soil
additives to adjust soil pH. One way to raise the pH of the soil is an
additive made from pulverized chalk called garden lime or agricultural
limestone. Agricultural limestone is often added to naturally acidic soils,
such as clay soil.

21. Effortless
Pronouns
Vague
Noun + pronoun + noun
Noun phrases
The National Institute of Child
Health has issued warnings
about excessive internet use.
Unfortunately, it has not been
given much attention in the
media
https://www.aje.com/arc/editing-tip-avoiding-vague-pronouns/
It has — This has or this problem
has…
It is recognised — This problem is
recognised…
They found — Sully and Jake found…

22. Effortless Ants, bees and cats
Cello, oboe and tumpet
Debt, taxes and inflation.
Milk, honey and chocolate.
Photos, paintings and works of art.
Life, liberty and the pursuit or
happiness.
Morning, noon and night.
Renaissance, baroque and
romantic.
Order
Alphabetical order
Least to greatest number
of syllables
Number of words
Natural or chronological
order

23. Spelling
Nomenclature
Numbers
Tenses
Symbols
Effortless
Consistent