4. YOUR ENGLISH CLASS DID YOU WRONG
You thought you were writing for this guy…
5. HE’S DEAD, SO…
What can your audience do?
Content sophistication
Writing sophistication
What does your audience
expect?
Does serious = competent?
Does clever = likeable?
Does funny = interesting?
What does your audience like?
6. GENERALLY SPEAKING
• Active is better than passive
• Specific is better than general
• Accurate is #1. Always.
• Shorter is better.
8. BEING BRIEF
Don’t say the same thing twice.
Allied Churches is not just important to students, but to the
community as well. “It is important to the community,” said
Allied Churches Director Dudley Schmedlapp.
9. BEING BRIEF
Don’t say the same thing twice.
Allied Churches is not just important to students, but to the
community as well. “It is important to the community,” said
Allied Churches Director Dudley Schmedlapp.
10. GET RID OF WASTED MODIFIERS
The girl was very distraught
over her grade.
11. GET RID OF WASTED MODIFIERS
The girl was very distraught
over her grade.
12. IF IT’S OBVIOUS, DON’T SAY IT
The dance instructors, who are teaching the routine,
hope to have a run-through by Friday.
My mom, who was making Thanksgiving dinner, took
the turkey out of the oven.
13. IF IT’S OBVIOUS, DON’T SAY IT
The dance instructors, who are teaching the routine,
hope to have a run-through by Friday.
My mom, who was making Thanksgiving dinner, took
the turkey out of the oven.
15. USE SPECIFICS
The room was crowded.
More than 300 people were
crowded in the auditorium that
seats 255
The sale is at a local store.
The sale is at the Schobles on
Elm St.
16. AVOID COMPLICATED PHRASES
The couple utilized a unique approach when deciding to
endow the building — they structured their large lead gift as
a challenge grant intended to motivate the charity to raise
additional support.
17. AVOID COMPLICATED PHRASES
The couple utilized a unique approach when deciding to
endow the building — they structured their large lead gift as
a challenge grant intended to motivate the charity to raise
additional support.
The couple promised $100,000, which will pay half the costs.
To get these matching funds, the charity must get gifts from
others, too.
21. SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT ORDER
The speech was given in the gym.
The author spoke in the gym.
“Wear sunscreen,” according to the
speaker.
The speaker said “Wear sunscreen.”
“Wear sunscreen,” the speaker said.