Writing with good style

Effective writing requires a good knowledge of appropriate writing style, and a

sound understanding of how to avoid poor writing style.

Be clear

• In general, keep sentences short and convey a single point in each

sentence

Be concise

• Where possible, use shorter words and phrases

• Write to the point and without unnecessary verbosity
• Use the fewest number of words
• Read your text over carefully and, for each sentence, ask, "Do I need
every word?", "Are there redundant words or phrases?".

Be precise

• Check that your essay communicates the meaning that you intend
• Check word usage. Effective writing is writing that says precisely what
you mean.

Be consistent

• Use terms consistently throughout your essay

Be accurate

• Make sure that your language conveys when a fact is a fact and when

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an opinion, a possibility or hypothesis is being put forward.

Avoid excessively long compounds

Avoid wordy phrases: very long phrases take the focus from the intended
meaning.

Avoid excessively long sentences: they can be difficult to read. Of course,

some brilliant writers deliberately use long sentences.

In general terms, shorter sentences are more effective

Use variation

Provide interest by varying the construction you use. It is rather boring to read
the same verb, phrase, or clause over and over.

Resist being emphatic with adverbs and adjectives

Use adjectives and adverbs instead to provide precision.

• For example:

instead of a disastrous event, use a disaster, rather than numerous examples

use the exact number, and in place of a relatively large effect, use the precise
data, 55 percent of the participants.

Write with care

A few basic things to keep in mind when writing effectively are split
infinitives, and preposition positions.

An infinitive expresses a verb without any predicate or subject.

• For example,

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to see, to learn, to write effectively.

Infinitives should be kept intact.

• For example,

“To heavily sigh” puts an adverb between the two parts of the infinitive.
It should read, “To sigh heavily.”

Prepositions are best kept away from the end of a sentence.

• For example,

instead of “This is a trial I will not suffer with”,

you are best to write: “This is a trial with which I will not suffer.”