Writing Tips
Writing tips
These are some tips to help you in your writing.
General
The ideal English text is easy to read and understand. Good
writers usually use plain English words. So your sentences should be simple,
clear and well structured.
When writing, remember the following recommendations in mind:
- use
simple language
- use
simple and clear sentences
- write
well structured paragraphs (with a topic sentences supporting details and
a concluding sentence)
- you may
use subordinate clauses but keep them short
- prefer
active voice to passive voice
- avoid
slang language.
Sentence
Make your sentences simple and clear.
A sentence always encloses a subject, a verb and , optionally, a complement.
Examples:
A sentence always encloses a subject, a verb and , optionally, a complement.
Examples:
- she tells
stories
- She lies
A sentence may contain subordinate clauses (relative clauses, if
clauses…)
Paragraph
As to paragraphs, keep the following rules in mind:
- Concentrate
on one main point per paragraph. Summarize this point in the first
sentence ( topic sentence.)
- All
sentences that follow support the main point or limit its scope
(supporting sentences)
- The last
sentence is a summary of the main point of the paragraph and is used as a
transition to the next paragraph. (concluding sentence)
Text
The typical structure of a text is as follows:
- (title)
- introduction
- main part
- conclusion
Make your texts interesting. Vary the lengths of your sentences.
Use a short sentence to put emphasis on an important statements. Vary the
lengths of your paragraphs and avoid one-sentence paragraphs.
There are various possibilities on how to structure your texts,
e.g.:
- General
to Specific:
general statement followed by details and examples - Specific
to General:
details and examples followed by a generalization: - Known to
Unknown:
provide new information based on what readers already know - Least
Important to Most Important:
catch and keep readers' attention - Chronology
(ordering by time):
e.g. in biographies
Process writing
Writing is a process. Famous successful writers follow these steps
in their writing:
- Collecting
the data
- Organising
the data
- Making an
outline.
- The first
draft.
- Editing.
- Possible
reassessment of the ideas (crossing out some ideas, introducing new ideas,
rearranging ideas…)
- Final
draft.
Type of texts
- Descriptive
- Argumentative
- Letters
(personal and business letters)
- Cause and effects…
