Clarity
Sentence Structure
Generally, the best way to write a clear and direct sentence is to use the Subject-Verb-Object sentence format.
You want the agent (subject), their action (verb), and their goal (object) to be immediately clear. Don't make the reader sort through words to find this information.
Avoid unnecessary passive verbs
While there are times when a passive structure will serve our meaning well, active verbs are often clearer.
Limit nominalizations
Nominalization- a noun created from a verb or an adjective.
Nominalizations can muddy sentence structure. When you use a nominalization, have to add extra (and empty) words to make the sentence work, and its more difficult to figure out who the agent is, what they're doing, and why.
Try to replace nominalizations with specific verbs and supply a clear agent.
Spotting nominalizations
Word forms can clue us into whether a noun is a nominalization. Here are some common word endings for nominalizations:
- (t/s)ion
- ence
(i)ty - ment
- ness
When should I use nominalization?
Nominalization can be useful! We can use nominalizations to refer back to previous information and build connections between sentences.
Play around with sentence construction to see what works best. In a clear sentence, every word will serve a specific purpose. The ultimate goal is to cut out empty or vague words.
Avoid long noun phrases
Does your sentence have a string of consecutive nouns? If so, you might have a long noun phrase. Try to turn some of the nouns (especially nominalizations) into verbs to create a standard phrase.
Choose your words carefully
Take care to choose the best word possible. Use a thesaurus to locate the precise meaning you would like to achieve. Stay away from vague words. If you don't use precise language, you will either waste space trying to explain your meaning or your reader will have difficulty following your argument.
Sentence Structure
Generally, the best way to write a clear and direct sentence is to use the Subject-Verb-Object sentence format.
You want the agent (subject), their action (verb), and their goal (object) to be immediately clear. Don't make the reader sort through words to find this information.
Avoid unnecessary passive verbs
While there are times when a passive structure will serve our meaning well, active verbs are often clearer.
Limit nominalizations
Nominalization- a noun created from a verb or an adjective.
Nominalizations can muddy sentence structure. When you use a nominalization, have to add extra (and empty) words to make the sentence work, and its more difficult to figure out who the agent is, what they're doing, and why.
Try to replace nominalizations with specific verbs and supply a clear agent.
Spotting nominalizations
Word forms can clue us into whether a noun is a nominalization. Here are some common word endings for nominalizations:
- (t/s)ion
- ence
(i)ty - ment
- ness
When should I use nominalization?
Nominalization can be useful! We can use nominalizations to refer back to previous information and build connections between sentences.
Play around with sentence construction to see what works best. In a clear sentence, every word will serve a specific purpose. The ultimate goal is to cut out empty or vague words.
Avoid long noun phrases
Does your sentence have a string of consecutive nouns? If so, you might have a long noun phrase. Try to turn some of the nouns (especially nominalizations) into verbs to create a standard phrase.
Choose your words carefully
Take care to choose the best word possible. Use a thesaurus to locate the precise meaning you would like to achieve. Stay away from vague words. If you don't use precise language, you will either waste space trying to explain your meaning or your reader will have difficulty following your argument.