Definition Simplicity is Simplicity in style doesn’t necessarily mean simplicity in content. Simplicity does not imply a diminution of complexity or richness in thought. Invariably, some writing projects are incredibly complex and decipherable only by other experts. Thus, texts that users describe as “simple” can be incredibly complex! What sets these sorts of highly prized ...
What is Vague Language? Ambiguous Language? Vague Language (aka Ambiguous Language) is Examples of vague language are Vague Language may also be called Related Concepts: Concrete Language, Sensory Language; Description; Given to New Contract; Reader-Based Prose Style; Register; Writer-Based Prose Why Does Vague Language Matter? Vagueness undermines interpretation. Readers, listeners, users . . . will ...
What is Word Form? What is a wrong word form? Word Form refers to ways the form of a word in English conveys different meanings. 3 Common Word Form Examples: -s, -ing, -ed The third person singular verb in English has an -s on the end: “He sits on the bus, while I stand, and ...
Choppy writing uses short words and simplistic diction. short, primer-style sentences (i.e., sentences that don’t connect to each other). How can I improve choppy writing? Connect some of your ideas together with conjunctions and/or segues. Make two short sentences into one longer one. Writing feels choppy when the sentences are very short, and the sentences ...
What are Contractions? Contractions are two words that are joined by an apostrophe. Examples: Writers, speakers, knowledge workers . . . cannot join any two words with an apostrophe. Instead, convention dictates that only a certain number of words can be joined as contractions. Wikipedia provides an exhaustive list of English contractions. Related Concepts: Diction; ...
What is Space? Space from the perspective Design Studies and Writing Studies is the unmarked portion of a text, including margins, spaces between lines or columns, and unused spaces in graphics and charts. Space may be called The use of space as a design essential element affects not only the aesthetics of the document, but ...
What are The Elements of Style? The “Elements of Style” refer to a cluster of linguistic and rhetorical conventions (also known as discourse conventions). For example, teachers and editors may refer to any of the following intellectual strategies as “the elements of style”: Despite the broad range of stylistic elements, certain elements of style play ...
Writers enhance flow by repeating key words or phrases in a text to invoke recall and pathos. Repetition is key to improving a paragraph’s flow, connecting related ideas and keeping the reader on track. Still, there is a difference between obvious and boring repetition and intriguing and effective repetition. Consider this paragraph: My brother is ...
What is Clarity ? Clarity refers to a judgment on the part of audience that a text is clear, lucid, and understandable. Synonyms Works that are described as being clear may also be described as lucid, understandable, and devoid of any ambiguities. Clarity may also be associated with Accessibility, Usability, or Readability. Related Concepts: Rhetorical ...
What is Diction? Diction is a writer or speaker’s choice of words the appropriateness of words given the rhetorical situation, especially audience and topic a scale, a measure, of the formality of the occasion: It’s commonplace to categorize discourse into three measures of formality: formal, standard, informal the accent, pronunciation, or speech-sound quality of a ...
