Page 886 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
P. 886
Learning Objectives
In this chapter, you will learn how to
1 Explain why writing with style matters.
2 Limit use of the verb to be.
3 Replace lackluster verbs with vivid verbs.
4 Revise sentences that begin with there is or it is.
5 Vary sentence openings.
6 Vary sentence structure and length.
What is that indefinable thing called style?
Perhaps you recognize it in the way someone
dresses, performs a job, or interacts with others.
Style is not always easy to pin down, but most
people know it when they see it. Writing can have
style, too. It can be a certain smoothness that
makes reading seem effortless. It can be the
surprise of a sudden change of pace. It can be the
use of exactly the right word or the selection of
verbs so lively that they practically jump off the
page. Whatever it is, style is a quality to be
desired.
