Hey Blogspot readers! Ready to take your academic or professional writing from good to great? Even the best ideas can get lost in cluttered, confusing prose. This article—drawn from key editing and writing tips—will give you the tools you need to catch common errors, enhance your style, and make your arguments crystal clear. Whether you're working on an essay, a report, or just an important email, these tips will help you communicate with force and precision.
Key Editing Tips for Clarity and Precision
1. Avoid Redundancy and Repetition
Your writing should be lean and direct.
- Don't
use the same word or expression multiple times in the same paragraph.
- Avoid
using redundant synonyms, such as saying something is both "writing
and prose".
2. Manage Run-on and Incomplete Sentences
While long sentences can be necessary, be careful of
run-ons (two independent clauses not properly
separated).
- Fixing
a Run-on: You can separate independent clauses using a period, a comma
and a conjunction (like and), or a semicolon.
- Incorrect:
The Cult of Washington emerged in the late eighteenth century, people
were excited.
- Correct
(Semicolon): The Cult of Washington emerged in the late eighteenth
century; people were excited.
- A
Note on "However": Remember, "however" is NOT
a conjunction.
- Incorrect:
George Washington cut down the tree, however he refused to tell a lie
about it.
- Correct
(Semicolon): George Washington cut down the tree; however, he refused
to tell a lie about it.
- Vary
Your Structure: Try using a short, simple sentence for emphasis after
a few longer ones.
- Incomplete
Sentences: Never write an incomplete sentence; always ensure you have
a subject and a verb.
3. Place Modifiers Carefully
Misplaced modifiers can cause confusion by making it
unclear what a descriptive phrase is referring to. Always place your
descriptive phrases (like participial and prepositional phrases) next to the
noun they modify.
- Incorrect:
Running through the forest, the wind cooled the sweaty Davy Crockett. (It
sounds like the wind is running!)
- Correct:
The wind cooled the sweaty Davy Crockett as he ran through the forest.
Tips for Stronger Academic Style
4. Maintain Parallel Structure
Parallel structure can enhance your writing's rhythm
and impact.
- Keep
the structure consistent by maintaining the words, phrases, or grammatical
sequences you use to begin your clauses.
- Incorrect:
George Washington rallied the colonists’ spirits, defeating the British,
and maintained his republican values, in order to become a national icon.
- Correct:
By rallying the colonists’ spirits, defeating the British, and
maintaining his republican values, George Washington became a national
icon.
5. Control Your Person, Contractions, and Expletives
- Person:
Avoid first or second person ("I think," "you can
see") and use them only sparingly. The reader already knows it is you
who holds the thoughts. Also, avoid using "one" to talk about
people generally (e.g., "One can see...").
- Contractions:
As a general rule, avoid contractions (e.g., use "I
would" instead of "I'd").
- Expletives:
Avoid the grammatical structure ("there" + form of "to
be") when possible, as it makes your writing indirect.
- Indirect:
There were many people that admired George Washington.
- Direct:
Many people admired George Washington.
6. Introduce and Integrate Quotations
Only quote someone when paraphrasing could not possibly do
justice to their idea or their phraseology; otherwise, paraphrase and cite.
- Do
not leave quotations hanging on their own.
- Be
sure to
introduce the quotation and the author (using first
and last name).
- Correct:
As historian David Waldstreicher (2009) notes, “More important than the
speed with which they spread … is the very generic quality of the
commentary around these celebrations” (p. 9).
7. Avoid Using "This" as a Noun
Using "
this" as a noun is generally imprecise and weak.
- Use
"this" as an adjective (e.g., "This strategy") or
rephrase the sentence for greater clarity.
- Weak:
George Washington surprised the British by crossing the Delaware in
mid-winter. This made him a hero.
- Strong:
George Washington surprised the British by crossing the Delaware in
mid-winter. His daring strategy made him a hero.
8. Use Hyphens in Adjectives
If a noun phrase (adjective-noun) is used as an
adjective before another noun, you need to add a
hyphen. This is common with centuries.
- Noun
phrase: Newspapers from the nineteenth century praised George
Washington. (No hyphen)
- Adjective
phrase: Nineteenth-century newspapers praised George Washington.
(Hyphenated)
Conclusion
These guidelines are not just rules—they're tools for
effective communication. By focusing on avoiding redundancy, correcting
run-ons, placing modifiers correctly, and maintaining a clear, direct style,
you'll produce writing that is not only correct but genuinely compelling. Start
applying these tips to your next piece of writing, and watch the quality of
your work soar!
Which of these tips do you find yourself needing to apply
most often? Share your thoughts below!
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