writing style

P RAC T I C E S T O AVO I D I N F O R M A L W R I T I N G

WRITING STYLE

UNPARALLEL ELEMENTSTHE JO IN ING OF D ISS IM IL ARLY CONSTRUCTED ITEMS

LISTING

Incorrect• Please include

information about your family, location, current career, and what you plan to do with your degree.

Correct• Please include

information about your family, location, current career, and future plans for your degree.

LINKING

Incorrect• This module/week

introduces the Undo Advisor and how to manage undo data.

Correct• This module/week

introduces the Undo Advisor and the management of undo data.

Describe the primary components you need to be aware of and how you would determine proper sizing.

Describe the primary components of which you need to be aware and your method for determining proper sizing.

These systems have saved many aircraft and their occupants so it is very important that the pilot knows how the system is designed to work and how to test it prior to flight.

These systems have saved many aircraft and their occupants, and it is very important that the pilot knows how the system is designed to work and how it should be tested prior to flight.

EXPLETIVESA W O R D O R P H RA S E U S E D T O F I L L O U T A S E N T E N C E W I T H O U T

A D D I N G T O T H E S E N S E

ELIMINATING FILLERS

Weak• There is a clear thesis

statement.• There are clear

transitions between paragraphs and sections.• It is 500 words or

more.

Strong• A clear thesis

statement exists.• Clear transitions

between paragraphs and sections are present.• The word count is met

or exceeded.

AWKWARD CONSTRUCTIONSILL-F ITT ING SENTENCE PARTS

BUILDING FUNCTIONAL SENTENCES

Awkward• Risk management is

the idea that we can manage risk to within tolerable limits through redundancy, inspections and equipment like fire protection systems.

Functional• Risk management is

the idea that we can marginalize potential hazards through established routines, proper inspections, and fire protection systems. 

This module/week we will look at fasting, the basics, boldness, best practices, an effective spiritual leader.

This module/week we will look at fasting—the basics, boldness, and best practices—of an effective spiritual leader.

This module/week we will look at the basics, boldness, and best practices of fasting in an effective spiritual leader’s life.

In order to generate energy, make new cells, and produce, hormones, enzymes, and other constituents, our bodies must break down and absorb the nutrients from food.

Our bodies must break down and absorb the nutrients from food in order to generate energy; make new cells; and produce hormones, enzymes, and other constituents.

MIXED METAPHORSA COMBINAT ION OF INCONGRUOUS COMPAR ISONS

PROPERLY USING METAPHORS

Improper• His pen was a sword

dipped in the inkwell of truth.• Don’t burn bridges

until you come to them.• This module/week, we

will dive headlong into spiritual warfare.

Proper• His pen wrote as

though imbued by an inkwell of truth.• Don’t burn your

bridges.• This module/week we

will delve into spiritual warfare.

UNNECESSARY ELEMENTSANYTHING THAT DEV IATES FROM THE CENTRAL TOP IC

CREATING UNITY

Disunified• Grammar has been viewed

as essential to education for millennia. It is critical to understand how God made us as well as His special creation of human beings. In that vein, you will be introduced this module/week to the basics of what grammar is, where it comes from, and why it is important.

Unified• Grammar has been viewed

as essential to education for millennia. It is critical to understand how God made us to communicate as part of His special creation. In that vein, you will be introduced this module/week to the basics of what grammar is, where it comes from, and why it is important.

Lighting sets the mood for a party. Key light is the main lighting; fill light keeps the shadows from being too dark; and rim light provides those pretty reflections on the edges. Getting just the right combination of key light, fill light, and rim light is critical.

Lighting sets the mood for any atmosphere, and getting the right combination of key light, fill light, and rim light is critical.

This module/week will present elements that contribute to youth risk. These include stressors from political, social and economic change. Family life is one of change and transition. Healthy families are not exempt from distress associated with loss and typical life transitions. Dysfunctional families have few resources on which to draw, leaving the adolescent vulnerable and at-risk. Family interventions will conclude this chapter.

These include stressors from political, social, economic, and specifically domestic changes.

NON SEQUITURSCONCLUS IONS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE PREMISE

FOLLOWING THROUGH TO THE LOGICAL END

Illogical Logical• Bill lives in a large

building, and his apartment is spacious.• In my opinion, you

should buy Lucky Charms for your children to enhance their childhood.

• Since Bill lives in a large building, his apartment is spacious.• If you don’t buy Lucky

Charms for your children, you are denying them their childhood.

Thousands of Americans have seen lights in the night sky that could not be identified. The existence of life on other planets is fast becoming certainty.

Homeopathy comes in pretty bottles. Therefore, homeopathy can cure cancer.

AMBIGUITIESINEXACTNESS OF MEANING

CLARIFYING STATEMENTS

Unclear• We have sought our

satisfaction in other things and treated them as more valuable than God which is the essence of idolatry.

Clear• We have sought our

satisfaction in other things and treated them as more valuable than God—a practice which is the essence of idolatry.

The importance of the electrical system of a modern aircraft cannot be overemphasized.

The importance of a properly functioning electrical system in a modern aircraft cannot be overemphasized.

Do Christian animations measure up to secular animations? What is the difference between Christian animation and secular animation?

Do Christian animations measure up to secular animations? What is the difference between the quality of Christian animation and secular animation?