Of all the aspiring writers and students throughout history, there have been an elite circle of literary geniuses with ultra enhanced brains who have disregarded universal rules of style and clarity in their work and been very successful. Members of this group can write 1,800 word sentences and use the poorest of grammar, yet still be regarded as brilliant artists.
Unfortunately for the vast majority, the experts have concluded that the ever-elusive style that enables one to write smoothly, rhythmically, and clearly cannot be taught. Reader, do not despair. There are some basic rules that, if followed, may improve your writing.
Basic Rule of Style #1- Consistent topics.
The most important part of your paragraph is its topic, or psychological subject. This means what your reader should be thinking about throughout the entire essay. If you have too many topics within a paragraph or body of information, this will confuse your reader. They will not know which is the most important, and they will lose focus and interest.
It would have been better to discuss the removal of Indians further and put the new idea (the part about spirituality and mythical realism ) in a new paragraph or essay.
Remember!
Paragraph= One idea + discussion of that idea.
Basic Rule of Style #2- Less is nearly always more.
The main goal when writing virtually anything is to be clear. Avoid using overly sophisticated words when unnecessary.
Revise for clarity. The phrases “the fact that” and “for the purposes of” are known as nominalizations and meaningless modifiers. Remove these, as they clog up your paper. Rework sentences to keep pronouns to a minimum. Clarify anything a reader may not know .
Keeping sentences short and simple is often the most direct approach.
Basic Rule of Style #3- Put the most emphatic ideas at the end of your sentences.
Put the most complex or emphatic ideas at the end of sentences. If you do this, you will keep your readers engaged. They will want to know what happens next. Sentences will seem logical and sequential.
Poor examples-
“During lunch the king was shot, though just prior all had been enjoying their finger sandwiches.”
“Hurricanes cause mass destruction and displacement, as well as making the air very hot and humid.”
Good examples-
“Oliver Cromwell was well known as a member of the House of Commons and English military, though most famous for overseeing King Charles’ beheading.”
“There have been multiple incidents where the government has subjected Americans, without their knowledge or consent, to dangerous and debilitating medical experiments.”
“Cedar Point offers water rides, an area for children, and some of the world’s fastest roller coasters.”
Basic Rule of Style #4- Explain to your readers, but not too much.
When discussing a subject in a piece of written work, the reader’s prior knowledge will have an enormous impact on their comprehension. As the author, you often have the advantage. It is important to explain ideas clearly to your audience.
However, a skilled writer always remembers that we are all part of a community. There is cultural information that is generally known and accepted. It is not necessary to explain these concepts, and you may alienate your reader if you do so.
Basic Rule of Style #5- Read your writing out loud to yourself.
If you read your writing out loud to yourself before finalizing it, you may hear things that do not sound fluid or are not clear. You may catch errors that your eye overlooked.
If you follow these rules, there is a good chance you may write sentences, paragraphs, and essays that work (or at least don’t end in headaches and confusion). Not all of us can have talent, much less genius. Nevertheless, if you practice structuring your sentences focusing on simplicity and clarity, you can refine your writing for the academic and professional world.
