Modern writing principles

1. Writing skills:
the principles
Ritesh Chaudhary

2. Modern writing principles
Texts should be clear
Communicating

3. Part-01
Modern Writing
Simple
Concise
Clear

4. Effective Writing
• What precisely is the central issue?
• To what degree does the audience
understand the issues and terminology?
• What are the main ideas that need to be
expressed and which ideas can be left out?
• How are you going to structure your text so
that they are consistent and clear?

5. Clear, simple, concise
• Before:
 High-quality learning environments are a necessary precondition for facilitation and enhancement
of the ongoing learning process.
• After:
 Children need good schools if they are to learn properly. Communicating Europe 2014
Clear, simple, concise
• Before:
 High-quality learning environments are a necessary
precondition for facilitation and enhancement of the ongoing
learning process.
• After:
 Children need good schools if they are to learn properly.
Communicating Europe 2014

6. Clear, simple, concise
• Before
 If there are any points on which you require explanation or further particulars
we shall be glad to furnish such additional details as may be required by
telephone.
• After
 If you have any questions, please ring.

7. Part-02
Your readers
Who are you writing for?

8. Types of reading
• Skim reading: general understanding
• Scan reading: looking for one specific item
• Reading for detail: to understand exact
arguments, position, points

9. Good and not so good readers
Efficient
 Has a clear purpose
 Reads multi-word phrases
 Visualizes ideas
 Has a sufficient vocabulary
 Sorts ideas into critical,
interesting or trash
Inefficient
•Has not decided on aim
•Reads words in isolation
•Reads every word
•Lip reads / vocalises
•Unfamiliar with key
•vocabulary
•Does not make notes
•Reads everything

10. Writing tips
Eight essential tips to more effective writing
Writing tips
Eight essential tips to more effective writing

11. Writing Tips
Eight essential tips to more effective writing
Tip-I
Use shorter, simpler
words
Tip-II
Put important
information at the
beginning
Tip-III
Use verbs that carry
meaning
Tip-IV
Use verbs that carry
meaning
Tip-V
Avoid redundant
words
Tip-VI
Avoid starting
sentences with the
gerund (ing form)
Tip-VII
Avoid starting
sentences with the
gerund (ing form)
Tip-VI
Tip-VIII
Be careful with
jargon

12. Tip 1
Use shorter, simpler words
• Our experts postulate that the evidence is conclusive in supporting our assertion.
• Our experts claim that the evidence supports our idea.

13. Tip 2
Put important information at the beginning
• Even with the differences of opinions, the members of the working groups agreed to
conclude the negotiation.
• Members of the working group agreed to conclude the negotiation despite some
differences in opinion.

14. Tip 3
Use verbs that carry meaning
• Please do an invoice and send it to the project lead partner.
• Please invoice the project lead partner.

15. Tip 4
Use active sentences
• Such revision procedures should be achieved at the shortest possible delay
possible by the secretariat.
• The secretariat should revise the procedures as soon as possible.

16. Tip 5
Avoid redundant words
• Due to the ongoing , not yet conclusive, discussions we will need to delay the
decision
• We will need to delay the decision due to ongoing discussions

17. Redundant or not?
• When is it necessary to include two words that mean the same thing?
“Our processes are efficient and effective”
Question - Is it necessary to include both the process and the outcome?

18. Tip 6
Avoid starting sentences with the gerund (ing form)
• Being aware of the president’s negative opinion we have prepared
a statement
• We have prepared a statement as we are aware of the president’s
negative opinion

19. Sentences should be simple
Subject + Verb + Object S + V + O

20. Tip 7
Minimize use of meaningless phrases
• Basically, the fundamental problem is capacity
• The main problem is capacity

21. Tip 8
Be careful with jargon
• This programme provides funding for beneficiaries from third countries
• The aim is to mainstream these ideas into regional policy initiatives
• The project actions need to be executed by next month

22. Recap
• Use shorter simple words
• Put important information at the
beginning
• Use verbs that carry meaning
• Use active verbs and sentences
• Avoid redundant words and
phrases
• Avoid starting sentences with
gerund (ing forms)
• Minimize use of meaningless
phrases
• Avoid jargon and institutional
language

23. Readability
• On-line Utility tool to assess the readability of your
documents

24. Paragraphs
and
sentences
Structure – the importance of paragraphs and
sentences

25. Paragraphs:
the big idea
•Paragraphs have a big idea. They should start with a
topic sentence.
•A topic sentence helps the reader understand the
focus of the paragraph.
•A topic sentence allows reader to ‘skim’ the entire
text for general meaning.

26. Sentences
Sentences contain one idea
They should have a simple structure
Subject + Verb + Object
Sentences can have up to two clauses which are
separated by a comma

27. Sentences
and
clauses
Defining relative clause
An agreement that encourages a risk based
approach for regulations is paramount.
Non defining relative clause
An agreement that encourages a risk based
approach for regulations, based on principles of
sound science, risk assessment and risk
management, and transparency is paramount.

28. Dr. Ritesh Chaudhary
Associate Professor
School of Media Journalism & Film Making
Himgiri Zee University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand,
India
Email: ritesh.chaudhary22@gmail.com
Mobile: +91-9936825689