Whether your first language is English or whether it is a second language, it can feel difficult when trying to master the art of English usage. It doesn’t matter what level you are currently at, when undertaking written communication, the correct use of English vocabulary might seem a little daunting. On a positive and encouraging note, however, it is not difficult to pick up the fundamentals of good writing and the use of accurate English. It just takes a little effort, guidance and the assistance of some tools (such as writing software).
There are a number of fundamentals and tips that should be adopted when writing. These techniques will ensure that what you’ve written is of high quality and provides a foundation that lends itself to using correct English.
Writing Tips and Techniques
Larkins (2001) discusses a number of ways to ensure your writing is of high quality. Avoid verbosity; an excessive amount of words can turn readers off. It can make a writing piece hard-to-read; cause readers to question your abilities; and result in a piece that is long-winded and incomprehensible. Larkins (2001) also suggests that the use of an active voice rather than a passive voice will often decrease words and produce high-quality writing. That is, action words are power words and can get the same message across while using fewer words.
Apart from implementing specific techniques into your writing projects, good writing results from the way you approach a writing project. In other words, good writing starts well before you put pen to paper or finger to keyboard.
How to Approach a Writing Project
The use of the POWER technique – that is, planning; organizing; writing; editing; and rewriting – when approaching a writing project will promote effective and efficient communication (Rice, 1997). It will ensure that the message you’re trying to convey is actually what is being read and that it involves correct English usage.
Planning is the first and most important step in writing. You need to consider what it is you are trying to say and who the audience will be. What type of language should be used and what style guidelines should be followed? Without concentrating and spending time on this initial stage, a writing project can turn into a train wreck.
Organizing – the second stage of a writing project – involves gathering information and data. It also includes working out where and into what category this information belongs. Only keep relevant information. Once it’s gathered and categorized, write the section that it belongs to.
Writing is the next stage and starts with the first draft. This part of the writing project involves writing about the information that you’ve collected and grouped. It is important that this part of the process is not a stop-and-go affair. It needs to be continuous. At this stage, don’t consider writing and editing guidelines. Correct English usage is not important in this phase of the project. It is important that you just write down all your ideas and thoughts.
The next stage of a writing project is editing. This involves revising and reworking the original writing piece. Editing consists of the details, where spelling, punctuation and grammar are examined. It also involves looking at the bigger picture and ascertaining whether the piece conveys the message. Does it achieve what it sets out to achieve? Does it flow and make sense? Is data presented to backup broad statements?
Rewriting is the final stage when approaching a writing project. This step will be required if the editing process has significantly altered the writing piece.
An Invaluable Tool: Software for Writers
When writing to achieve correct English usage, you can’t go past using editing software to help you achieve your goals. StyleWriter is the most credible and one of the most popular pieces of editing software around.
References
Larkins, E. R. (2001) ‘Developing a clearer and stronger writing style’, The National Public Accountant, 46 (7): 42-44.
Rice, R. B. (1997) ‘Beating those business writing blues’, Resource, 4 (3): 13-14.