Good Writing 2

1. Think first, then write.
2. Get to the point.
3. Use familiar words.

Complex Common
indisposed ill
monumental big
endeavor try
summon call
procure get
3. Use familiar words.
Complex Common
indisposed ill
monumental big
endeavor try
summon call
procure get
4. Omit verbal deadwood.
for the reason that because

at the present time now
tendered his resignation resigned
affixed his signature signed
told his listeners said
united in holy matrimony married

held a conference met
was able to make his escape escaped
4. Omit verbal deadwood.
advance prediction
fatal killing
definite decision
The other alternative
free gift
For a period of two weeks
past history
dead body
final conclusion
5. Keep your sentences short.
The reader absorbs the idea faster.
Very easy 8 or less

Easy 11
Fairly easy 14 or less
Standard 17
Fairly difficult 21
Difficult 25
Very Difficult 29 or more
6. Shorten your paragraph.
Short paragraphs are better for three reasons:
1. Easy on the eye
2. Act as a brake on the writer
3. Signal a new development of the

subject
7. Use specific, concrete language
Three rules for good writing:
1. Be concrete, 2. be concrete, 3. be concrete
Community collision,
fire,
deed
suit
Jaycees,
wedding?
explosion,
for
salary?
oftown?
damages?
asale?
Catholic
fallbribe?
from
barrio?
record?
mass?
drowning,
Action,
criminal
areward?
building,
city?
award?
certificate?
cave-in?
YMCA?
case?
slip?
Monetary collision,
fire,
deed
suit
Jaycees,
wedding?
explosion,
for
salary?
of damages?
asale?
Catholic
fallbribe?
from
record?
mass?
drowning,
Action,
criminal
areward?
building,
award?
certificate?
cave-in?
YMCA?
case?
slip?
consideration
document
Ceremony collision,
fire,
deed
suit
Jaycees,
wedding?
explosion,
for
of damages?
asale?
Catholic
fall from
record?
mass?
drowning,
Action,
criminal
a building,
award?
certificate?
cave-in?
YMCA?
case?
slip?
Legal
Ceremony
Accident
Tragedy
Action collision,
fire,
suit
Jaycees,
wedding?
explosion,
for damages?
aCatholic
fall from
mass?
drowning,
Action,
criminal
a building,
award?
cave-in?
YMCA?
case?
slip?
Ceremony collision,
fire,
Jaycees,
wedding?
explosion,
aCatholic
fall from
mass?
drowning,
Action,
a building,
award?
cave-in?
YMCA?slip?
Organization
Accident
Tragedy collision,
fire,
Jaycees,
explosion,
aCatholic
fall from
drowning,
Action,
a building,
cave-in?
YMCA?slip?
Accident
Tragedy collision,
fire, explosion,
a fall from
drowning,
a building,
cave-in?
slip?
Precision pays.
His head was injured by a blunt instrument. vague

Precision pays.
His head was injured by a blunt instrument. vague
His skull was fractured with a hammer. Precise

Precision pays.
Officers remove a gun from his clothing. Vague

Precision pays.
Officers remove a gun from his clothing. Vague
Police took a .32 caliber automatic from his Precise

hip pocket.
Precision pays.
A large number assembled for the meeting. Vague

Precision pays.
A large number assembled for the meeting. Vague
Some five hundred attended the caucus. Precise

Precision pays.
He spoke in disparaging terms about the

radical element.
Vague
Precision pays.
He spoke in disparaging terms about the

radical element. Vague
He denounced the Communists. Precise

8. Prefer the simple to the complex
Prefer the simple words to the

complicated ones.
Prefer the simple sentence to the

complex sentence.
Prefer the simple paragraph to

involved readers.
9. Use the Active voice
Write your sentences like this:
somebody does something

and
watch your writing comes to life
S–V-O
The
Someresignation
senators demanded
of the Pressthe
Secretary
resignation
was
demanded
of the Press
by some
Secretary.
senators.
10. Write as you talk
We use plain words in talking.
Conversational tone makes for

readable writing.
It increases interest.
It helps understanding, too.

11. Use adjectives sparingly
Avoid sugar-coated words.
12. Revise and sharpen

It allows you to spot a libelous word or an unfair
adjective.
A good test to any kind of writing is to

read it aloud.
13. Write to express, not to impress
Somewhere, we lost the real idea in writing.
That is our purpose.
14. Odds and Ends
“The right Honorable Member is guilty

of a terminological inexactitude.”
“You are lying.

They were developed by Dr. Ernest Brennecke of Columbia University.
Only I hit him in the eye yesterday.

I only hit him in the eye yesterday.
I hit only him in the eye yesterday.
I hit him only in the eye yesterday.
I hit him in only the eye yesterday.
I hit him in the only eye yesterday.
I hit him in the eye only yesterday.
I hit him in the eye yesterday only.

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Good Writing 2

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1. Think first, then write.

2. Get to the point.

3. Use familiar words.

for the reason that because

affixed his signature signed

told his listeners said

united in holy matrimony married

The reader absorbs the idea faster.

Very easy 8 or less

1. Easy on the eye

2. Act as a brake on the writer

3. Signal a new development of the

Three rules for good writing:

1. Be concrete, 2. be concrete, 3. be concrete

Three rules for good writing:

1. Be concrete, 2. be concrete, 3. be concrete

Three rules for good writing:

1. Be concrete, 2. be concrete, 3. be concrete

Three rules for good writing:

1. Be concrete, 2. be concrete, 3. be concrete

Three rules for good writing:

1. Be concrete, 2. be concrete, 3. be concrete

Three rules for good writing:

1. Be concrete, 2. be concrete, 3. be concrete

Three rules for good writing:

1. Be concrete, 2. be concrete, 3. be concrete

His head was injured by a blunt instrument. vague

His head was injured by a blunt instrument. vague

His skull was fractured with a hammer. Precise

Officers remove a gun from his clothing. Vague

Officers remove a gun from his clothing. Vague

Police took a .32 caliber automatic from his Precise

A large number assembled for the meeting. Vague

A large number assembled for the meeting. Vague

Some five hundred attended the caucus. Precise

He spoke in disparaging terms about the

He spoke in disparaging terms about the

He denounced the Communists. Precise

Prefer the simple words to the

Prefer the simple sentence to the

Prefer the simple paragraph to

somebody does something

We use plain words in talking.

Conversational tone makes for

It helps understanding, too.

12. Revise and sharpen

A good test to any kind of writing is to

Somewhere, we lost the real idea in writing.

That is our purpose.

14. Odds and Ends

“The right Honorable Member is guilty

“You are lying.

Only I hit him in the eye yesterday.

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