This document provides examples of writing styles, structures, and elements to avoid in informal writing, along with corrections. It addresses issues such as: - Unparallel elements in lists - Linking dissimilar items - Mixed metaphors - Non sequiturs - Ambiguities The document demonstrates proper ways to write lists, link ideas, use metaphors, ensure logical flow, and clarify meanings. The goal is to provide guidance on creating clear, cohesive informal writing.

1. P R A C T I C E S T O A V O I D I N F O R M A L WR I T I N G
WRITING STYLE

2. UNPARALLEL ELEMENTS
THE JOINING OF DISSIMILARLY CONSTRUCTED ITEMS

3. LISTING
Incorrect
• Please include
information about your
family, location, current
career, and what you
plan to do with your
degree.
Correct
• Please include
information about your
family, location, current
career, and future
plans for your degree.

4. LINKING
Incorrect
• This module/week
introduces the Undo
Advisor and how to
manage undo data.
Correct
• This module/week
introduces the Undo
Advisor and the
management of undo
data.

5. Describe the primary components you need to be aware
of and how you would determine proper sizing.
Describe the primary components of which you need to
be aware and your method for determining proper sizing.
These systems have saved many aircraft and their
occupants so it is very important that the pilot knows how
the system is designed to work and how to test it prior to
flight.
These systems have saved many aircraft and their
occupants, and it is very important that the pilot knows
how the system is designed to work and how it should be
tested prior to flight.

6. EXPLETIVES
A WORD OR PHRA SE USED TO FI LL OUT A SENTENCE
WI THOUT A DDI NG TO THE SENSE

7. ELIMINATING FILLERS
Weak
• There is a clear thesis
statement.
• There are clear
transitions between
paragraphs and
sections.
• It is 500 words or more.
Strong
• A clear thesis
statement exists.
• Clear transitions
between paragraphs
and sections are
present.
• The word count is met
or exceeded.

8. AWKWARD CONSTRUCTIONS
ILL-FITTING SENTENCE PARTS

9. BUILDING FUNCTIONAL SENTENCES
Awkward
• Risk management is the
idea that we can
manage risk to within
tolerable limits through
redundancy,
inspections and
equipment like fire
protection systems.
Functional
• Risk management is the
idea that we can
marginalize potential
hazards through
established routines,
proper inspections, and
fire protection systems.

10. This module/week we will look at fasting, the basics,
boldness, best practices, an effective spiritual leader.
This module/week we will look at fasting—the basics,
boldness, and best practices—of an effective spiritual
leader.
This module/week we will look at the basics, boldness,
and best practices of fasting in an effective spiritual
leader’s life.
In order to generate energy, make new cells, and
produce, hormones, enzymes, and other constituents,
our bodies must break down and absorb the nutrients
from food.
Our bodies must break down and absorb the nutrients
from food in order to generate energy; make new
cells; and produce hormones, enzymes, and other
constituents.

11. MIXED METAPHORS
A COMBINATION OF INCONGRUOUS COMPARISONS

12. PROPERLY USING METAPHORS
Improper
• His pen was a sword
dipped in the inkwell of
truth.
• Don’t burn bridges until
you come to them.
• This module/week, we
will dive headlong into
spiritual warfare.
Proper
• His pen wrote as
though imbued by an
inkwell of truth.
• Don’t burn your
bridges.
• This module/week we
will delve into spiritual
warfare.

13. UNNECESSARY ELEMENTS
ANYTHING THAT DEVIATES FROM THE CENTRAL TOPIC

14. CREATING UNITY
Disunified
• Grammar has been
viewed as essential to
education for millennia. It
is critical to understand
how God made us as
well as His special
creation of human
beings. In that vein, you
will be introduced this
module/week to the
basics of what grammar
is, where it comes from,
and why it is important.
Unified
• Grammar has been
viewed as essential to
education for millennia. It
is critical to understand
how God made us to
communicate as part of
His special creation. In
that vein, you will be
introduced this
module/week to the
basics of what grammar
is, where it comes from,
and why it is important.

15. Lighting sets the mood for a party. Key light is the main
lighting; fill light keeps the shadows from being too dark;
and rim light provides those pretty reflections on the
edges. Getting just the right combination of key light, fill
light, and rim light is critical.
Lighting sets the mood for any atmosphere, and getting
the right combination of key light, fill light, and rim light is
critical.
This module/week will present elements that contribute
to youth risk. These include stressors from political, social
and economic change. Family life is one of change and
transition. Healthy families are not exempt from distress
associated with loss and typical life transitions.
Dysfunctional families have few resources on which to
draw, leaving the adolescent vulnerable and at-risk.
Family interventions will conclude this chapter.
These include stressors from political, social, economic,
and specifically domestic changes.

16. NON SEQUITURS
CONCLUSIONS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE PREMISE

17. FOLLOWING THROUGH TO THE
LOGICAL END
Illogical Logical
• Bill lives in a large
building, and his
apartment is spacious.
• In my opinion, you
should buy Lucky
Charms for your
children to enhance
their childhood.
• Since Bill lives in a large
building, his apartment
is spacious.
• If you don’t buy Lucky
Charms for your
children, you are
denying them their
childhood.

18. Thousands of Americans have seen lights in the
night sky that could not be identified. The existence
of life on other planets is fast becoming certainty.
Homeopathy comes in pretty bottles. Therefore,
homeopathy can cure cancer.

19. AMBIGUITIES
INEXACTNESS OF MEANING

20. CLARIFYING STATEMENTS
Unclear
• We have sought our
satisfaction in other
things and treated
them as more valuable
than God which is the
essence of idolatry.
Clear
• We have sought our
satisfaction in other
things and treated
them as more valuable
than God—a practice
which is the essence of
idolatry.

21. The importance of the electrical system of a modern
aircraft cannot be overemphasized.
The importance of a properly functioning electrical
system in a modern aircraft cannot be overemphasized.
Do Christian animations measure up to secular
animations? What is the difference between Christian
animation and secular animation?
Do Christian animations measure up to secular
animations? What is the difference between the quality
of Christian animation and secular animation?