16. Write to express, not to impress.
Professor Style Plain English
The degree to which these
levels of landuse change
have in fact manifested
themselves upon the
hydrological regime of the
river remains unclear.
46 words
It is not clear how much impact
land use changes have had
on the hydrological regime of
the river.
21 words
Seven Myths About Writing
There are probably more, but seven will do for now.
Good writing is more than a string of words in a sentence. Writing is about organizing and communicating ideas to create images in the mind of the reader. Of course you need basic vocabulary and grammar. The point is, you don’t wait until you meet some magical threshold of vocabulary and grammar before you start writing.
Good writing is more than a string of words in a sentence. Writing is about organizing and communicating ideas to create images in the mind of the reader. Of course you need basic vocabulary and grammar. The point is, you don’t wait until you meet some magical threshold of vocabulary and grammar before you start writing.
Most people read more than they write. They see the writer’s product but never the process. (show revisions for “An argument against” article.
Most people read more than they write. They see the writer’s product but never the process. (show revisions for “An argument against” article.
The word “writing” is used as a synonym for “composition”. Composition is the act of putting words on paper or typing them with a keyboard. Composition is usually done alone but not always. Writing includes a number of processes including: reading, discussing ideas, seeking feedback and revising.
When the most advanced writing technology was a quill pen and paper was very expensive, authors spent a lot of time composing and revising “in their head” before they started writing. There was no WhiteOut or delete button so mistakes were difficult and expensive to correct and changing a word or a phrase meant starting over from the beginning. Now we have word processors. Revision is so simple it’s actually part of the problem.
The word “writing” is used as a synonym for “composition”. Composition is the act of putting words on paper or typing them with a keyboard. Composition is usually done alone but not always. Writing includes a number of processes including: reading, discussing ideas, seeking feedback and revising.
The word “writing” is used as a synonym for “composition”. Composition is the act of putting words on paper or typing them with a keyboard. Composition is usually done alone but not always. Writing includes a number of processes including: reading, discussing ideas, seeking feedback and revising.
When the most advanced writing technology was a quill pen and paper was very expensive, authors spent a lot of time composing and revising “in their head” before they started writing. There was no WhiteOut or delete button so mistakes were difficult and expensive to correct and changing a word or a phrase meant starting over from the beginning. Now we have word processors. Revision is so simple it’s actually part of the problem.
Writing is more than a string of words in a sentence. Writing is about organizing and communicating ideas to create images in the mind of the reader. Revising is the process of making those ideas clear.
People think writing has to be very formal. Sometimes this is true. If you are writing a speech for the Ambassador, you would probably use formal language. But not all audiences are the same. You have to adjust your writing to meet the needs and level of the audience. Write to express, not to impress.
Writing is more than a string of words in a sentence. Writing is about organizing and communicating ideas to create images in the mind of the reader. Revising is the process of making those ideas clear.
The text on the left is from a draft of a report. The text on the right is a revised version.
Managers often confuse their personal preferences for good writing and report layout.