Writer-Based Prose

What is a Writer-Based Prose? Writer-Based Prose Style is Discourse — aka a composition, prose, or texts — may be called writer-based when it A writer-based prose may also be described as abbreviated, self-centered, vague, developmental, or underdeveloped. Writer-based prose is the antithesis to reader-based prose. It is self-centered, based on the whim of the ...

Reader-Based Prose

Reader-Based Prose Style is a style of writing that accounts for the emotions, knowledge, interests, and needs of the reader as opposed to the writer. Unlike writer-based prose, which is self-centered, reader-based prose is reader centered. Texts classified as reader-based prose use Key Words: Sweet Language The term reader-based prose was coined by Linda Flower (1979): [A Reader-Based ...

Sentence Fragment

A sentence fragment is a word, phrase, or dependent clause that is punctuated as a sentence, but the subject, verb, or both may be missing. A sentence fragment is a sentence that’s missing some key piece to complete it grammatically. In order to be a complete sentence, a group of words needs to contain a ...

Comma Splice

What is a Comma Splice? A comma splice is Related Concepts: Common Sentence Error; Coordination & Subordination; Register; Sentence; Parts of a Sentence; Independent Clauses, Dependent Clauses & Phrases Comma Splice Examples A comma splice divides two independent clauses with a comma. John ran quickly toward the exit, he was trying to avoid his ex-girlfriend. In the above example, the clauses on either ...

Strong Verbs

Strong verbs are verbs that convey a lot of precise meaning without the help of modifiers or qualifications. Using strong verbs is usually an appropriate stylistic choice. Strong verbs make your writing more concise, help you avoid vague descriptions, and can keep your readers interested. When you don’t use a variety of strong verbs, you ...

The Elements of Style – The DNA of Powerful Writing

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 ...

Creating Flow via Repetition

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 ...

Nominalizations

In English, a nominalization refers to the grammatical construct whereby a verb, adjective, or adverb functions as a noun. Examples: Noun/Nominalization Verb, adjective, or adverb Action Act Administration Administer Cessation Cease Invention Invent exploration explore justification justify To avoid nominalizations, make sure to use more action verbs in your sentences. To do this, you should: ...

Clarity is like this riverbed: it's illuminated

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

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 ...

Substantive Prose

Substantive Prose is a style of academic and professional discourse. Prose that is characterized as substantive tends to be People who can produce substantive prose are thought leaders, knowledge workers, rhetorician, symbol analysts. Key Words: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning Substantive Prose tends to However, those stylistic attributes are not what actually defines Substantive Prose. In ...