As a writer, it is important not just to consider what you say, but how it is said by you. To communicate effectively, it is not adequate to have well organized ideas expressed in complete and sentences that are coherent paragraphs. You have to also think about the style, tone and clarity of his/her writing, and adapt these elements to the reading audience. Again, analyzing a person’s audience and purpose is key to writing effectiveness. So that you can pick the most reliable language, the writer must consider the objective of the document, the context in which it is being written, and who will be reading it.
Characteristics of Effective Language
Concrete language includes descriptions which create tangible images with details your reader can visualize. Abstract language is vague and obscure, and will not bring to mind specific visual images. Consider the two sets of statements below. The statement towards the top is abstract, but the statements become increasingly concrete and specific toward the base.
He is a bad roommate
He is lazy and discourteous
He could be untidy and unclean
He doesn’t tidy up his own messes
He leaves his dirty dishes on the kitchen counter
Your relationship with John is unacceptable
you don’t get along well with John
both you and John have a lot of arguments
You and John insult each other too much
You and John call one another derogatory names
Notice just how much more beneficial the statements become while the language gets to be more concrete and specific. The statements towards the top, which tend to be more abstract, can be interpreted in many ways that are possible and leave many questions answered. The statements at the bottom, that are more concrete, are less available to interpretations that are multiple.
A hallmark of effective writers could be the power to express the desired message in as few words that you can. Good writers, put simply, use language which is to-the-point and straightforward. Consider the following examples.
(1) it really is widely discussed by employees that many of those is likely to be forced to change jobs and take on responsibilities that are new the merger takes place between the two companies.
(2) before deciding about whether or not the person on trial is guilty or innocent in this case, the people in the jury should be certain to carefully think about, ponder and reflect on most of the important and testimony that is relevant the situation.
Notice how long-winded these sentences are, and just how easily they could be shortened and simplified. An essential part of revising and editing involves re-phrasing sentences to remove excessive wordiness. One way to reduce wordiness is always to eliminate words that are redundant phrases. Consider example one above. The phrases “to alter jobs” and “take on new responsibilities” are redundant, and may be combined into one phrase that is short be expressed more concisely.
Consider example two above. The phrase “. should be certain to carefully think of, ponder and reflect on. ” contains three ways of saying the thing that is same. This sentence could be improved by making use of only 1 of this key phrases: “. to reflect on. “
A second way to reduce wordiness is to eliminate “filler” words which serve no purpose within the sentence. Consider example one above. Replace the phrase “. when the merger takes place involving the two companies” with “. when the two companies merge.” Consider example two above. Spot the excessive wordiness in listed here phrase: “Before making a choice about whether or not the person on trial is guilty or innocent in this situation . ” This sentence could simply read: “Before determining the defendant’s guilt or innocence. “
Familiar language is that which the readers easily recognize and understand on a regular basis because they use it. Perhaps one of the most important functions of language would be to build “homophily” or a sense of commonality with an individual’s readers. Language that is foreign and unfamiliar to the reader tends to emphasize the differences between reader and writer, and makes the message hard to understand. The message is likely to have more impact by using language that is familiar to the reader.
Consider the following examples.
An assignment provided to a course of business students by their philosophy professor:
“The presently assigned paper necessitates an eloquently articulated analysis of the Existentialist essaywritersite.com/write-my-paper-for-me perspective as it pertains to contemporary living. You ought to adumbrate the true points which represent the sine qua non of one’s analysis.”
A letter sent to senior school students warning them regarding the risks of an unhealthy diet:
“Individuals who maintain a diet of high fat content are confronted with an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis, that will be a buildup of fat deposits on the inner walls associated with the arteries. This problem can lessen or cut the flow off of blood into the arteries serving the major organs associated with body. This could easily result in poor health.”
Both in examples above, the language that is used is unfamiliar towards the readers. The message loses its impact as a result.
Precise and Clear Language
The application of appropriate language is a tricky matter because the meaning of words is relative and situational. Put simply, words could be interpreted in various ways by differing people in numerous situations. For this reason, it is essential to choose language which is as precise and clear as possible. The more precise and one that is clear usage of language becomes, the fewer the amount of possible interpretations for a note. Look at the words that are following. What value that is numerical you assign to each of them? If something is “probable what percentage for the right time does it occur? P>
(1) probable
(2) doubtful
(3) certainly
(4) unlikely
(5) perhaps
Would other folks assign the same value to these words as you did? In fact, the range of values varies greatly because these terms are relative: they could mean things that are different different people in numerous situations. How could one become more precise in his/her utilization of these terms?
Think about the examples below. Observe that these terms can differ widely in the meaning to people that are different. The best way to make use of such relative terms, then, is always to compare them to something concrete and “known” into the reader. An expensive car?” is best answered with a comparison: “Compared to that Honda, the Acura is expensive for example: “Is that Acura. In comparison to that Lexus, it is inexpensive.”
expensive
hot
intelligent
good
spicy
Consider the following examples. Note the confusion that is potential ambiguity within these phrases.
(1) Why the student body should continue in this state of apathy is not actually understandable.
(2) Our student body is dull and slack-minded.
(3) The practice and theory of politics are studied into the classroom but political habits on campus try not to seem to benefit from such labor.
(4) he is an interesting individual.
(5) it is hard to estimate the number of people afflicted with AIDS.
All the following are actual headlines printed in newspapers. Notice their double meaning.
(1) Include your children when Baking Cookies
(2) Safety Experts Say School Buss Passengers must be Belted
(3) Bank Drive-in Window Blocked by Board
(4) Killer Sentenced to Die for Second Time in a decade
(5) Eye Drops Off Shelf
Simply speaking, it is advisable to think carefully regarding your range of words and their interpretations that are potential. To communicate effectively, precise and clear language is essential.