About the book:
Many people have to write, yet they don’t really
like to write; some even hate it! Despite their aversion to writing, they may
have to write letters, memos, proposals, reports, or e-mails in their work.
Whether they like it or not, writing may be a part of their daily task. Are you
one of them? If yes, why not make a virtue out of necessity, and learn the
basic skill of effective writing?
Writing is about the written word. Not only is the written word part and parcel of daily life, but also has continued to hold its place in the contemporary world—just as Byron, the famous English poet, once said:
But words
are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling
like dew, upon a thought produces
That which
makes thousands, perhaps millions
Think.
According to Byron, words are all powerful. But you have to make them powerful, and this is what effective writing is all about. Writing is basically a communication skill—just like any other life skills. Why not master it to give yourself personal satisfaction in being able to communicate your ideas effectively so others will understand exactly what is on your mind?
Is writing such a difficult and daunting task? Not really. Is writing skill learnable? Absolutely!
Today, many books on how to write effectively are readily available. If you walk into any bookstore, you will find a collection of books on how to write well.
What separates EFFECTIVE WRITING Made Simple from other books on how to improve your writing skill?
First, this book is presented in a simple and easy-to-follow format: it is easy to read and understand. Second, this book is comprehensive: it covers every aspect of good writing—from basic grammar, correct sentences, effective use of words, paragraph development, to style and usage. With many examples and illustrations, this book is like a handy manual at your fingertips for easy reference. Effective writing is an essential communication skill in inter-personal relationships and in almost every profession.
A sample from the book:
Appropriate
Words and Phrases
Appropriate words and phrases can make a great difference in the quality as well as the effectiveness of your writing.
Selecting words with the right connotation and denotation
Denotation is the precise meaning of a word; connotation is the association of a word, which can be positive, negative, or neutral.
e.g. slender with a positive connotation, suggesting “tall” and
“thin”
e.g. thin with a neutral connotation
e.g. skinny with a negative connotation of being “too thin”
Using
words in their right parts of speech
e.g. occupational hazard NOT occupation hazard
(using noun for an adjective)
e.g. sleep well NOT sleep good (using an adjective
for an adverb)
Well, not good,
is generally used in a compound word to form a compound adjective:
e.g. A person who behaves well is well-behaved.
e.g. A person with good intentions is well-intentioned.
e.g. A person who speaks well is well-spoken.
BUT “a person with good looks is good-looking.” (NOT well-looking, possibly because well-looking may suggest “looking healthy”.
Idioms are accepted expressions in the English language. They add elegance to your writing. But incorrect idioms can make your writing look sloppy. The following are examples of incorrect use of idioms:
e.g. according to NOT according with
e.g. aptitude for NOT aptitude toward
e.g. capable of doing NOT capable to do
e.g. complain to NOT complain with
e.g. comply with NOT comply to
e.g. conclude by saying NOT conclude in saying
e.g. conform to or with NOT conform in
e.g. die of NOT die from
e.g. different from NOT different to or different than
e.g. every now and then NOT ever now and then
e.g. except for NOT excepting for
e.g. identical with NOT identical to
e.g. in accordance with NOT in accordance to
e.g. incapable of doing NOT incapable to do
e.g. in my opinion, NOT to my opinion
e.g. in search of NOT in search for
e.g. in sight into NOT in sight of
e.g. intend to do NOT intend on doing
e.g. in the year 2010 NOT in the year of 2010
e.g. on the whole NOT on a whole
e.g. outlook on life NOT outlook of life
e.g. plan to do NOT plan on doing
e.g. prior to NOT prior than
e.g. regardless of NOT regardless to
e.g. relate to NOT relate with
e.g. similar to NOT similar with
e.g. super to NOT superior than
e.g. try to see NOT try and see
e.g. type of NOT type of a
e.g. what to do about this NOT what to do with this
Avoiding wordiness or unnecessary words
Do not use a phrase if a word will do:
e.g. Many students have
a tendency to skim through
the instructions on the test.
e.g. Many students tend
to skim through the instructions on
the test. (better)
e.g. I will show you the
way in which to do
it.
e.g. I will show you the way to do it.
(better)
e.g. I will show you how to do it. (better)
e.g. The Senate did not pass the
bill due to the fact that it was unconstitutional.
e.g. The Senate did not pass the bill because it was unconstitutional. (better)
e.g. You should take the advice
given to you by your doctor.
e.g. You should take your
doctor’s advice. (better)
e.g. I was supportive
of your decision.
e.g. I supported your
decision. (better)
e.g. The man conducted
himself with irrational behavior.
e.g. The man behaved irrationally. (better)
Do not say the obvious:
e.g. Her hat was red in color.
e.g. Her hat was red. (better)
e.g. The basketball player was tall in
height.
e.g. The basketball player was tall. (better)
Avoid unnecessary adjectives, nouns, or adverbs:
e.g. These are vital
essentials of life.
e.g. These are essentials of life. (better)
e.g. Do not question his technique employed.
e.g. Do not question his technique. (better)
e.g. There is too much danger involved.
e.g. There is too much danger. (better)
e.g. The Congress would make
decisions about changing the Constitution.
e.g. The Congress would decide on changing the
Constitution. (better)
e.g. You committed an act of violence.
e.g. You committed violence. (better)
e.g. It took a long period of time.
e.g. It took a long time.
(better)
e.g. It was clearly evident that he
took the money.
e.g. It was evident that he took the money.
(better)
e.g. Evidently, he took the money. (better)
Avoid constructions with
it is … and there are …
e.g. It is truth
that will prevail.
e.g. Truth will prevail.
(better)
e.g. There were many
people inside the cinema when the bomb exploded.
e.g. Many people were inside the
cinema when the bomb exploded. (better)
However, it is and there are may have
their legitimate uses in emphasizing
an idea.
e.g. It is the truth that we are seeking, not the myth.
e.g. Fortunately, there
were only two persons inside the cinema when the bomb
exploded.
Avoid excess use of abstract nouns
e.g. The effectiveness
of writing requires an element
of conciseness.
e.g. Effective writing requires conciseness. (better)
Avoid flowery or high-sounding language.
e.g. now NOT at this point in time
e.g. nowadays NOT in this day and age
This also includes the use of clichés
(overused catch phrases and figures of speech)
e.g. busy NOT busy as a bee
e.g. confront the truth NOT face the music
e.g. everyone NOT each and every one
e.g. finally NOT last but not the least
e.g. firstly NOT first and foremost
e.g. gentle NOT gentle as a lamb
e.g. infrequent or seldom NOT few and far between
e.g. obviously NOT it goes without saying
e.g. seldom NOT once in a blue moon
Avoid weakling modifiers. Most of the following weakling modifiers can be removed without changing the meaning of a sentence:
e.g. actually
e.g. both
e.g. certainly
e.g. comparatively
e.g. definitely
e.g. herself, himself, itself, themselves
e.g. needless to say
e.g. particularly
e.g. per se
e.g. really
e.g. relatively
e.g. very
To use these weakling modifiers occasionally is permissible, but to use them frequently makes your writing ineffective.
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