http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/effWrite.asp
Effective Writing Rules
Rule 1
Use concrete rather than vague language.
Vague:غامض
The weather was of an extreme nature on the west coast.
The weather was of an extreme nature on the west coast.
Concrete:واضح
California had very cold weather last week.
California had very cold weather last week.
Rule 2
Use active voice whenever possible. Active voice means the subject is performing the verb.
Examples:
Active:
Barry hit the ball.
Barry hit the ball.
Passive:
The ball was hit.
Notice that the responsible party may not even appear when using passive voice.
The ball was hit.
Notice that the responsible party may not even appear when using passive voice.
Rule 3
Avoid overusing there is, there are, it is, it was, and so on.
Example:
There is a case of meningitis that was reported in the newspaper.
There is a case of meningitis that was reported in the newspaper.
Correction:
A case of meningitis was reported in the newspaper.
A case of meningitis was reported in the newspaper.
Even better:
The newspaper reported a case of meningitis. (Active voice)
The newspaper reported a case of meningitis. (Active voice)
Example:
It is important to signal before making a left turn.
It is important to signal before making a left turn.
Correction:
Signaling before making a left turn is important.
OR
Signaling before a left turn is important.
OR
You should signal before making a left turn.(Active voice)
Signaling before making a left turn is important.
OR
Signaling before a left turn is important.
OR
You should signal before making a left turn.(Active voice)
Example:
There are some revisions which must be made.
There are some revisions which must be made.
Correction:
Some revisions must be made.
Some revisions must be made.
Even better:
Please make some revisions. (Active voice)
Please make some revisions. (Active voice)
Rule 4
To avoid confusion, don’t use two negatives to make a positive.
Incorrect:
He is not unwilling to help.
He is not unwilling to help.
Correct:
He is willing to help.
He is willing to help.
Rule 5
Use similar grammatical form when offering several ideas. This is called parallel construction.
Correct:
You should check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
You should check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Incorrect:
You should check your spelling, grammar, and punctuating.
You should check your spelling, grammar, and punctuating.
Rule 6
If you start a sentence with an action, place the actor immediately after or you will have created the infamous dangling modifier.
Incorrect:
While walking across the street, the bus hit her.
While walking across the street, the bus hit her.
Correct:
While walking across the street, she was hit by a bus.
OR
She was hit by a bus while walking across the street.
While walking across the street, she was hit by a bus.
OR
She was hit by a bus while walking across the street.
Rule 7
Place modifiers near the words they modify.
Incorrect:
I have some pound cake Mollie baked in my lunch bag.
I have some pound cake Mollie baked in my lunch bag.
Correct:
In my lunch bag, I have some pound cake that Mollie baked.
In my lunch bag, I have some pound cake that Mollie baked.
Rule 8
A sentence fragment occurs when you have only a phrase or weak clause but are missing a strong clause.
Example of Sentence Fragment:
After the show ended.
After the show ended.
Example of Sentence:
After the show ended, we had coffee
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق