Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DOs:
Before you start writing... read others. Make use of every text that you find
interesting, note out words and expressions that you like or find useful. Even if
you know them. Words and expressions have a mysterious tendency to slip your
mind the moment you need them most. Sometimes it is good to copy the whole
Have a list of your favourite expressions - the ones you are entirely sure of as
far as their correctness is concerned, and which you will always remember. It is
better to put down something less lofty but correct than wrestle under time
pressure with your own memory, wondering how this 'stupid thing went'.
Always keep in mind who your target reader is. Even if you know that your
problems with determining the potential addressee of your writing, assume that
task.
Make your writing interesting. Put yourself in the reader's shoes. Would you
Use linking words to form paragraphs and join your ideas in a logical way.
They make reading easier, which counts a lot if your piece is longer.
Be careful with pronouns. They are tiny and look innocent, but can cause a lot of
commotion.
DO write! As much and as often as you can. Make yourself mock tests - with time
restrictions and word limits. Do not worry if you forget some words and get stuck
- better now (when you still have the chance to look these words up in a
Do not panic!
Do not forget that you are writing, not speaking. What would go in a friendly
message, cut them out. Unnecessary wordiness shows that you have
Do not ask your reader to read your mind. You are the one who knows. If you do
Avoid line-lifting. It means that you should not repeat the sentences used to set
the task.
Do not write very long sentences, unless you are perfectly sure how to
punctuate them.
Do not try to impress your reader with vocabulary. Do not use words you don't
know.