Company literature such as brochures and website content also create impressions about your business, so it’s important to pay close attention to what your documents are saying about your company. Watch for Misplaced Phrases One of the key elements of effective communications is clarity. One of the best webinars presented by AAA (or any other organizations for that matter.) He or she does not have to stop, go back, and re-read a sentence to clearly understand it. Lucas Offers Principles for Effective Writing, Definition and Examples of Correctness in Language, Definition and Examples of Interrupting Phrases, Scheme (Rhetoric): Definition and Examples, Loose Sentence in Grammar and Prose Style, Definition and Examples in Rhyme in Prose and Poetry, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York, "When asked what qualities they value most in writing, people who must read a great deal professionally put, "All men are really attracted by the beauty of, "It is bad manners to give [readers] needless trouble. By comparison, this revised sentence is much clearer: I believe that Mr. Smith, having been a member of the association for decades, deserves to be named emeritus. They provide context. And when writing essays on virtually any topic, you may be trying to convey complex ideas to your readers. ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/what-is-clarity-composition-1689847. Always take a few seconds at the beginning of a writing session to evaluate what exactly you want to accomplish; maybe even jot down a short list that will also serve to get you into a good writing flow. After all, you may be dealing with symbolism and metaphors for your English and literature essays—and these literary devices are, by definition, indirect ways of saying something. 5. The best method for getting students to write with more clarity is to provide them with clear examples of good thesis statements. Clarity “clarity in writing depends on more than grammar. But they aren’t effective unless the majority of readers understand your references, so only use them if you think at least 95 percent of your audience will understand them. Note: Being concise does not mean that all your sentences must be brief. 9. Therefore. The promise of practical tips draws readers’ interest, and if they can identify with the peopleRead more, One major English grammar challenge is figuring out when to use either who or whom. Clarity in writing goes out the window when your reader is trying to understand what information applies to which noun. There are several rhetorical strategies to achieve clarity, but here are three techniques that best sweep away the bloat to let your ideas shine. Example: “After reviewing the articles you’ve written for us, I’ve concluded that you are one of the most talented writers on our team.” Concise writing, like that in the above example, helps maintain clarity by avoiding unnecessary details or overly complicated sentence structures. In writing, being clear can get difficult. Clarity in Business Writing. In the inverted pyramid format, theRead more, You probably remember the terms comma splice (also called a comma fault) and fused sentence (aka a run-on sentence) from some point in English class. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Boost Your Business Value – Get Published! When you know a subject really well, it’s easy to forget that most of your readers don’t have access to the same information. An effective introduction captures your reader’s attention and sets expectations for what to expect in the essay. The chances of your having said it are only fair.”, Getting articles published is an excellent way to establish yourself as an expert and gain the recognition of peers, customers, and superiors. Clarity in writing is established when the reader is aware of the author’s statement and his or her purpose. Effective use of language. An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. Step 4. It … Given the purpose of your message, what information should you give them? What do the best authors do? For example, I’ve read Oni’s blog for a long time and know that none of the people who leave comments here have ever professed to being atheists. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-clarity-composition-1689847 (accessed January 22, 2021). If you want them to write, call, remember your products or expect your call, then say so. After waiting and listening to their answers, I’ll reinforce the idea of . As a rule, aim for an average sentence length of 12-25 words. Simple words get your point across more quickly than complex words, and using the active voice makes it obvious who did what to whom (or what). We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Let’s take a closer look at these areas through some examples of mistakes candidates make when writing their letter. Many times writers will confuse the reader by injecting opinion into the piece; this can trip up the reader and cause the reader to misunderstand the point of the message. Specificity and exactness are the writer’s friends here. Poorly written documents that include misspellings and bad grammar send the wrong message about your business. 2. Example: It runs like a well-oiled machine (simple verb, active voice) works better than it operates like a well-oiled machine (more complex verb) or it is run like a well-oiled machine (passive voice). Example: Originally selected students… has a different meaning than Originally, selected students…. 1: Precision Use the right words. Make Sure Your Points Always Support Your Position The book has 50 examples seen in films from the 1970s up to their 21st Century counterparts. Example: It runs like a well-oiled machine (simple verb, active voice) works better than it operates like a well-oiled machine (more complex verb) or it is run like a well-oiled machine (passive voice). Examples and Observations "When asked what qualities they value most in writing, people who must read a great deal professionally put clarity at the top of their list. Let us know in the comments. Provide Context Example: Having been a member of the association for decades, I believe that Mr. Smith deserves to be named emeritus. Use Familiar Words Clarity in business communication can’t be left to chance. Below is a real-life email I received at some point in my life. Style and clarity go together. At school, we received praise for using complicated words. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-clarity-composition-1689847. Write to express, not to impress ~ Gregory Ciotti. Acronyms and jargon are communication shortcuts. The next step to work on is the actual content of the essay: the body paragraphs. Everyone has their own preferred techniques, but here are a few I’ve learned: 1. This page describes how you can structure sentences and paragraphs to achieve clarity and ‘flow’ in your writing. Does your reader understand you? A sentence without unnecessary words can still be relatively lengthy, and an interesting text typically has a variety of sentence lengths. Writing tips: improving clarity on the sentence level | zarlab. Examples of clarity in a sentence, how to use it. Also called perspicuity. BREVITY! Business Writing Clarity Strategy #1: Unsmother Your Verbs. Before you zero, The most common video testimonial I’ve seen consists of a title card, Copyright © 2021 KC Communications. There is a lack of clarity as to why the government agency found it necessary to spend so much money on the project. Style and Clarity. Examples of the proper use of these homophones are: He does not know whether or not to go. Clarity, on the other hand, refers to making your message as clear as it can possibly be. ... Do the same thing with your own writing—note examples of instances in which you’ve captured a concept or described a methodology, for example, in a particularly effective way. Examples helped clarify issues presented. A strong topic sentence introduces the main point of the paragraph, and supporting information and examples follow. The Purdue Online Writing Lab suggests first giving readers information they already know so that they can link it to new information as they progress through your text (if you use this tactic, you’ll have to be careful that your old information does not weigh down the pace and clarity of your copy by becoming “throat clearing”). And the moment of clarity is found in every one. The more specific you are, the more likely people are to understand you. The following example sentence is clear and understandable because it uses old information to lead to new information: Every semester after final exams are over, I'm faced with the problem of what to do with books of lecture notes (new information). Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. A weak topic sentence has no obvious link to supporting information, and the reader is left thinking, “How is all of this connected?” Strategy 10: Have colleagues read your manuscript. In it, the authors write, “… a badly worded road sign … a misplaced phrase in a well-intentioned letter … think of the tragedies that are rooted in ambiguity … When you say something, make sure you have said it. Other options include spatial (using geographical location or physical size), cause and effect, problem and solution, compare and contrast, order of importance or step-by-step instructions. For example, when I sat down to type this blog, my goal was to explain to other academic writers the importance of clarity in writing. Most people are busy and distracted; they might not be sure what’s expected of them unless you tell them. Your persuasiveness, accuracy or interesting subject matter cannot achieve your objectives if the audience is struggling to understand your message. In general, the qualities of clearly written prose include a carefully defined purpose, logical organization, well-constructed sentences, and precise word choice. Clarity is paramount. A Digest on the 7cs of Written Communication 1170 Words | 5 Pages. Henry takes more risks. Record those examples, and refer to them when writing. The reader is confident of the authority of knowledge in the text. SAT Writing: Sentence Clarity and Structure Chapter Exam Instructions. Clarity means writing clearly so that the reader understands you. Common sources of clarity-reducing ambiguity in fiction include: Poorly structured sentences with ambiguous modifying clauses (more on this … Usually, the following 4 problems that are usually met in relation to the clarity of a written essay: Use of two words when one word is enough. If you don’t have a subject newsworthy enough  for a release, try sendingRead more, With our hectic schedules, tactics for trimming time off or even getting started on a writing project can be invaluable. Keys for success: liveliness and simplicity. Make sure that your copy is organized in a way that allows your audience to progress smoothly from point A to point B, and on to point C. According to Crawford Killian, author of Writing for the Web, you can make the order chronological or narrative (as in a story progression), logical or categorical (arranging points into specific groupings). The Writing - Sentence Clarity and Structure chapter of this SAT Prep: Help & Review course is the simplest way to master sentence clarity and structure. Organize Your Text These can include testimonials, study results, guarantees, comparisons, observations or just details about your product or service. 4. PRACTICE. Clarity. Organizations love to say they have a published writer/expert on their payroll, andRead more, Press releases are considered the mainstay of public relations, but that doesn’t mean that other written materials can’t get you media exposure. You’ll know how to address them, what approach to take, what sort of examples to use etc. Simplify your words. LetRead more, While editing a client’s proposal, I noticed that the program’s agenda was described as “complimenting” the public school curriculum. I’ve given you 10 principles to help you cut through ambiguity and reach the heart and mind of your reader. (Maxine C. Hairston, Successful Writing. 100 examples: To set such a song is not easy, requiring a subtle blend of sadness and… Use outlines to help you decide the best way to order your material. RELATED TEAS KNOWLEDGE OF LANGUAGE CONTENT: Using Grammar to Enhance Clarity in Writing (Currently here) Distinguish Between Formal and Informal Language The ideas are organized and easy to follow. The placement of phrases can obscure or clarify the meaning of your sentence. However, some storytelling advocates suggest that  the traditional  writing structure of the inverted pyramid  is a thing of the past. Do you sound like yourself when you write? Does your reader want to keep reading? There are four common problems that interfere with clarity: Examples and Observations "When asked what qualities they value most in writing, people who must read a great deal professionally put clarity at the top of their list. 2. F.L. They (old) might be useful some day, but they just keep piling up on my bookcase (new). Unnecessary words dilute the meaning of your message, so read through your drafts in order to look for sentences or words that are redundant (needlessly repetitive) or otherwise not required. The expression at this point in time can be replaced with the word now. Missing or superfluous commas can change the meaning of a sentence. first giving readers information they already know so that they can link it to new information. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our. Keep in mind that every message needs a context in order to be clearly communicated: 6. In the phrase connect together, the word together is   redundant. 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