Style and Clarity
Style and clarity go together. Do you sound like yourself when you write? Does your reader understand you? Does your reader want to keep reading?
This section offers ten suggestions to help you develop your own voice and write clear, understandable, authoritative prose. Keys for success: liveliness and simplicity.
1. Write naturally, use only words you understand.
Although it's tempting to use fancy language to give your prose more weight, unless you fully understand a word's denotations (meaning) and connotations (implications), your meaning may suffer.
The computer's thesaurus may be handy, but it won't give you shades of meaning, and it may not provide you with an effective word every time. Use a thesaurus to remind you of words you already know, but just can't remember at the moment. The thesaurus should be a guide, not an authority; and don't forget to check your choice in the dictionary.
It's great to expand your vocabulary. The best way is by reading widely and paying attention to the way good writers use words. You'll discover words that are lively, provocative, precise, colorful, and engaging. Make these words your own by using them in your writing.
2. Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases.
Look for overused, gasbag phrases such as
- due to
- the fact that
- in order to
- is when
- of great importance
- I believe that (in an essay, unless you're quoting someone else, you're the only speaker with beliefs).
3. Write actively, watch out for the passive voice.
In an active sentence, the subject performs the action. In a passive sentence, the action is being done to the subject.
Active: Joe asked Jane to lend him her notebook.
Passive: Jane was asked for her notebook.
Active: He loves you
Passive: You are loved.
Active: The board of directors decided to fire you.
Passive: It was decided that you would be fired.
Active sentences make your writing clearer. The passive voice, particularly when it's used over and over again, makes your writing hard to read.
Wordy, vague, and cluttered, the passive voice nevertheless has its uses. In a scientific experiment, for example, the name of the scientist is often unimportant.
"Sally boiled the water for five minutes" is active, directing our attention to Sally. But who cares about Sally? The passive construction, "The water was boiled for five minutes," correctly reveals the action without distracting, irrelevant information. In fact, the passive construction, because it eliminates the active subject, implies scientific objectivity. That's why, in the sciences and social sciences, readers will expect passive construction in some essays and reports.
Learn the difference between active and passive voice, and choose the right one for your essay.
4. Pay attention to verbs and verb forms.
Verbs are powerful words in any sentence. Use strong verbs, and change "ing" forms into present or past tense.
Examples:
Strong evidence can make an argument better.