Page 14 - 2019 Style book CCC

WRITING CLEARLY
•Writing is is is work It is is is a a a a a a a learned skill and takes a a a a a a a lot of practice • • When it it comes to verbs longer is is is not necessarily better See if
Good writing reflects the natural style of speaking Most peo- ple use plain language and concrete words
when they speak Their words
are interesting because they speak directly to the the listener Written words
should should be the same They should should reflect the natural way you you speak Read some of your writing aloud If it it doesn’t sound like the way you talk rewrite And here’s a a a bonus: when you you you read your your copy aloud your your mistakes
will surface Jargon
• Don’t use words
or or or expressions known only to to educators Avoid jargon Save the the “educationese” for other educators professional journals and dissertations Terms like interdis- ciplinary cognitive criterion and psychomotor sound like a a a foreign language to to to most parents Write to to to be understood not to be deciphered Active voice
• A simple way to to put action in in your writing is to to place the subject of a a a a sentence at the beginning and follow it it with a a a a strong verb verb Another way is to to use forms of the the verb verb “to be” less frequently Passive: The planning calendar was approved by the school board Active: The school board approved the planning calendar Passive: It was decided that the money will be spent on on new library books Active: The teachers decided to spend the money on new library books Strong verbs • Strong verbs verbs will make your writing sparkle Often strong verbs verbs are turned into longer nouns which lack action Look for words
that end with –ance –ment and –tion (e g completion) which usually are nouns nouns and rewrite the sentence so those nouns nouns become shorter verbs (complete) Weak: Replacement of the the books is is the the media specialist’s job Stronger: The media specialist must replace the books you you can find shorter punchier verbs to make your writing more interesting and easier to read Weak: Please inform your parents about the special program Stronger: Please tell your parents about the special program Weak verbs inform reduce attempt modify indicate Redundancies
Strong verbs tell cut
try change show
• Avoid redundancies They take up valuable space and add nothing to your copy Here are some common redundancies The word in in bold is the one to eliminate final final outcome outcome (if it’s it’s final final it’s it’s the outcome)
unexpected unexpected surprise surprise (if it it was was unexpected unexpected it it was was a a a surprise) current current trend trend (trend means it’s current)
basic basic fundamentals fundamentals (fundamentals are basic)
first first began began (if something just began began it’s a a a first)
free free gift gift (a gift gift by definition is free)
• Use the word word in in bold to eliminate extra words
combined together new construction close proximity mingle together close scrutiny advance reservations revert back
new record
other alternative possibly might actual experience adequate enough future planning end result
completely full
present incumbent
old adage
each and every important and essential absolutely conclusive entirely complete postpone until later uniformly consistent rectangular in shape joint cooperation
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