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Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences

writing.wisc.edu

31–40 of 75 posts

Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences

#31
post #7

Some of the comments I've read seem to misunderstand the purpose of this page. This isn't the objectively best writing style, this is a concise writing style. No, it might not be the most pleasant to read, because extremely to-the-point short sentences sound blunt. The guidelines provided for writing short and concise sentences are very useful, if that's the style you are aiming for.

Exactly. This is more for technical writing, not sales copy. That being said, a sales copy equivalent would be nice.

A lot of sales copy could benefit from a more concise, factual writing style too. There's a mountain of research to show that people react negatively when they feel they're being played, yet advertisers continue to make obviously inflated claims and use meaningless buzzwords. :-(

Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences

#32
You have to break rule number one to be a politician, corporation, or spokesperson for either. Passive voice is what you use to acknowledge that something fucked up, without placing the responsibility.

"There was a failure of communication."

Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences

#34

If you get the chance, read Orwell's "Politics and the English Language." Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never us a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Never use the passive where you can use the active. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday…

And then please read this essay from the Language Log in reply (or as a counter-point, at least): http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=992.

Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences

#36
post #19

This advice seems to mimic much of what's in _Style: Towards Clarity and Grace_, which I found out about from Richard Gabriel ( achievement unlocked: LISP connection ) and which is probably the most hacker-friendly writing book ever written.

I second the recommendation of this book.

Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences

#37

If you get the chance, read Orwell's "Politics and the English Language." Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never us a long word where a short one will do. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Never use the passive where you can use the active. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday…

I love The Economist's spartan (but cheeky) style guide, which opens with Orwell's six writing rules. This guide is based on the style book which is given to all journalists at The Economist.

http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/

And when you're ready, here is The Economist's style quiz: http://www.economist.com/diversions/quiz.cfm?quizname=styleq...

Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences

#39
post #11

One of the most cited books for better writing: Elements of Style: http://www.bartleby.com/141/ . It's available for free. There are many "manuals of style" available as well like: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html .

Alas, this version does not include the edits and commentary by E.B. White (thus, it came to be known as "Strunk and White"), but it's an interesting archive of the original work.

Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences

#40
post #2

I'm positive the second comma shouldn't be there. (I wouldn't normally comment on commas, but it seems on-topic...)

Unless the intent was: Writing clear sentences. and then 'concise' was added. As if to mean: Writing clear (concise) sentences.

Well, if that's the case, I don't want their advice in writing clear sentences.
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