Fluently Composing Fluently Composing Sophisticated Documents Sophisticated Documents

orWriting With Style

Melissa NoelLafayette High School

Orwellian NotesOrwellian Notes

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

“The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.”

-- Gloria Steinem

Never use a long word where a short one will do.

“Don’t expect your reader to accept a piece of writing that you wouldn’t accept yourself.”

-- Donald Ross

If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

“In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have written; you have no idea what vigor it will give your style.” -- Sydney Smith

Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

“Suit the action to the word, the word to the action.”

-- William Shakespeare

Never use the passive where you can use the active.

Active: The partners => broke => the agreement

Passive:The agreement <= was broken <= by the

partners.

Three PassagesThree PassagesA new method for the

decomposition of toxic by-products of refinery processes has been discovered by Genco Chemical. Estimates of savings of up to 40% of recovery cost have been made but no details of the process have been released.

Genco Chemical has discovered a new method for the decomposition of toxic by-products of refinery processes. Genco has made estimates of savings of up to 40% of recovery costs but has not yet released any details of the process.

Genco Chemical has discovered a new method to decompose toxic by-products of refinery processes. It has estimated that refineries will save up to 40% of recovery costs but has released no details of the process.

Take NotesTake NotesUsually, compress what you

mean into the fewest words.Don’t state what your reader can

easily infer.Leave out meaningless modifiers,

such as: kind of, really, generally, for all intents and purposes, etc.

Avoid pompous diction if it’s not appropriate for your purpose, audience, and/or subject.

Avoid excessive details.Don’t belabor the obvious.

Abstract vs. ConcreteAbstract vs. ConcreteAbstract diction – figurative

language; diction that can be perceived with one of the five senses

Concrete diction – names or describes items in the physical world

Works ConsultedWorks ConsultedOrwell, George. “Politics and the English

Language.”Trimble, John R. Writing with Style: Conversations

on the Art of Writing. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000.

“The indispensable characteristic of a good writer is a style marked by lucidity.”

-- Ernest Hemingway