I found this article very helpful in honing my technical writing skills. I copied it from a post in the facebook by one of my friends. Then I dug deeper into the definitions and examples to fully elaborate the recommended dos and donts in writing... and come up with a good writeup.
Here it goes...
1.
Avoid alliteration. Always.
Alliteration is when you have multiple words with the same
sounding prefix. Or it means beginning words with the same letter in a sentence.
It is a figure of speech wherein the same
sound is repeated in a sentence for comical effect or simply to gain the
attention of the reader.
Example: Bob Bought Big Blue Balls.
Ralph rarely ran
round rugged rocks.
2.
Prepositions are not words to end sentences
with.
A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other
words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is
called the object of the preposition. It usually indicates the temporal,
spatial or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence as in
the following examples:
·
The book is on the table.
·
The book is beneath the table.
·
The book is leaning against the table.
·
The book is beside the table.
·
She held the book over the table.
·
She read the book during class.
In each of the preceding sentences, a preposition locates
the noun "book" in space or in time.
A prepositional phrase is made up of the preposition, its
object and any associated adjectives or adverbs. A prepositional phrase can
function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. The most common prepositions
are "about," "above," "across,"
"after," "against," "along," "among,"
"around," "at," "before," "behind,"
"below," "beneath," "beside,"
"between," "beyond," "but," "by,"
"despite," "down," "during," "except,"
"for," "from," "in," "inside,"
"into," "like," "near," "of,"
"off," "on," "onto," "out,"
"outside," "over," "past," "since,"
"through," "throughout," "till," "to,"
"toward," "under," "underneath,"
"until," "up," "upon," "with,"
"within," and "without."
3.
Avoid clichés like the plague. (They’re old
hat.)
A trite expression, often a figure of speech whose
effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity.
·
Live and learn.
•
Stay the course.
•
What goes around comes around.
•
"That's the way with these directors:
they're always biting the hand that lays the golden egg." (Samuel Goldwyn)
4.
Employ the vernacular.
Noun
·
The standard native language of a country or
locality.
·
a. The everyday language spoken by a people as
distinguished from the literary language. b. A variety of such everyday
language specific to a social group or region.
·
The idiom of a particular trade or profession:
in the legal vernacular.
·
An idiomatic word, phrase, or expression.
·
The common, nonscientific name of a plant or
animal.
Adjective
·
Native to or commonly spoken by the members of a
particular country or region.
·
Using the native language of a region,
especially as distinct from the literary language: a vernacular poet.
·
Relating to or expressed in the native language
or dialect.
·
Of or being an indigenous building style using
local materials and traditional methods of construction and ornament,
especially as distinguished from academic or historical architectural styles.
·
Occurring or existing in a particular locality;
endemic: a vernacular disease.
·
Relating to or designating the common,
nonscientific name of a plant or animal.
5.
Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
Ampersand is the symbol (&) representing the word and.
In formal writing, the ampersand is primarily used in the names of some
companies, such as "Johnson & Johnson."
Abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase, such
as Jan. for January.
6.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are
unnecessary.
1)
Either or both of the upright curved lines, ( ),
used to mark off explanatory or qualifying remarks in writing.
2)
The insertion of some verbal unit that
interrupts the normal syntactic flow of the sentence.
7.
It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
A verbal--usually preceded by the particle to--that can
function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. An infinitive will almost always begin with to followed by the simple form of the
verb. An infinitive will lose its to
when it follows certain verbs.
Question: What is a "split infinitive" and what's wrong
with it?
Answer: The so-called split infinitive is a construction in
which one or more words come between the particle to and the verb--as in
"to boldly go where no man has gone before." And there's nothing
wrong with it.
8.
Contractions aren’t necessary.
A shortened form of a word or group of words, with the
missing letters usually marked by an apostrophe. Contractions are commonly used
in speech and in colloquial forms of writing. Words containing two
contractional clitics marked with apostrophes (such as shouldn't've) are called
double contractions. Double contractions are rarely seen in contemporary writing.
9.
Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
The following list is a sampler of commonly used French
phrases in modern English.
·
aide-memoire (literally: help-memory): a
mnemonic device
·
ambiance (literally: surroundings): mood,
character, atmosphere (e.g. of a location)
·
au courant (literally: in the current; and yes,
the English word "current" is of French origin): up-to-date,
fashionable
·
au naturel (literally: in the natural state):
served plainly; nude
·
au poivre (French for "with pepper"):
as in steak au poivre (served with a lot of ground pepper)
·
avant-garde (French for "the front
guard"): a progressive artistic movement
·
bon voyage (literally: good journey!): farewell
·
bourgeois (French for "townsman"):
member of the middle class
·
compte rendu (literally: account rendered):
review, report, statement of account
·
cul-de-sac (French for "bottom of the
bag"): blind alley
·
double entendre (literally: double meaning):
ambiguity; an expression open to two interpretations, one of which is usually
indecent
·
enfant terrible (literally: terrifying child): a
person of unconventional, avant-garde behavior
·
entente (French for "understanding"):
the agreement between France and Britain in 1904 (the full French phrase being
"entente cordiale")
·
fait accompli (French for "accomplished
fact"): done deal, irreversible fact
·
femme fatale (literally: fatal woman): an
irresistibly sexy woman, a woman-siren
·
force majeure (literally: superior force):
irresistible force, unpredictable and uncontrollable event
·
je ne sais quoi (French for "I don't know
what"): used to describe an elusive impression or quality
·
laissez-faire/laisser-faire (UK variation)
(literally: let (the people) do): an individualistic approach to economic
regulation; avoiding interference in the affairs of others
·
noblesse oblige (literally: nobility obliges):
the belief that members of the upper classes are bound to honorable behavior
·
nom de plume (French for "pen name"):
(writer's) pseudonym, pen name
·
soi-disant (literally: saying (about) oneself):
so-called, self-styled, self-proclaimed
·
tour de force: a remarkable feat (plural: tours
de force)
·
volte-face (literally: turn-face): a reversal in
attitude, a U-turn in policy
10.
One should never generalize.
Transitive Verb
1.
a. To reduce to a general form, class, or law. b.
To render indefinite or unspecific.
2.
a. To infer from many particulars. b. To draw
inferences or a general conclusion from.
3.
a. To make generally or universally applicable. b.
To popularize.
Intransitive Verb
1.
a. To form a concept inductively. b. To form
general notions or conclusions.
2.
To deal in generalities; speak or write vaguely.
11.
Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Emerson once
said: “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”
The act of quoting. A passage quoted. An explicit reference
or allusion in an artistic work to a passage or element from another, usually
well-known work: "Direct quotations from other paintings are fairly
sparse" (Robert Hughes).
12.
Comparisons are bad as clichés.
A rhetorical strategy and method of organization in which a
writer examines similarities and/or differences between two people, places,
ideas, or things.
13.
Don’t be redundant; don’t use more words
than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
Redundancy means superfluity or using words unnecessarily or
using words for a second time.
Example-1:
•
If all of us cooperate together, we will
succeed.
In this sentence, the words cooperate and together have been
used. But both these words convey the same meaning. One of the two words should
be dropped in order to make the sentence a correct one.
•
If all of us cooperate, we will succeed.
•
If all of us work together, we will succeed.
Example-2:
•
The accused was guilty of false misstatement.
This sentence uses false and misstatement whereas both these
words convey the same meaning. The correct sentence is:
•
The accused was guilty of misstatement.
Example-3:
•
It was the general consensus of opinion that we
must go to the movie.
The two words which convey the same meaning are consensus
and opinion. One word should be removed to make this sentence correct one. The
correct sentence is:
•
It was the general opinion that we must go to
the movie.
Example-4:
•
The three brothers had nothing in common with
each other.
Here also two phrases in common and with each other have
been used to convey the same meaning. The correct sentence is:
•
The three brothers had nothing in common.
These examples might have made it clear for you how to avoid
Redundancy in your sentences.
Example-5:
•
I am enclosing herewith my bio-data.
Enclosing and herewith are the two words which convey the
same meaning. The correct sentence is:
•
I am enclosing my bio-data.
Example-6:
•
There was an ovation when the minister rose up
to speak.
The two words (rose and up) convey the same meaning. The correct sentence is:
•
There was an ovation when the minister rose to
speak.
Example-7:
•
Do not return back home without completing the
work.
In this sentence also, two words, conveying the same meaning
have been used. The correct sentence is:
•
Do not return without completing the work.
These examples might have made it clear for you how to avoid
Redundancy in your sentences.
14.
Profanity sucks.
Bad Words according to BBC Ranking
a.
Cunt
b.
Shit
c.
Motherfucker
d.
Dickhead
e.
Fuck
f.
Pissed off
g.
Wanker
h.
Arse
i.
Nigger
j.
Bugger
k.
Bastard
l.
Balls
m.
Prick
n.
Jew
o.
Bollocks
p.
Sodding
q.
Arsehole
r.
Jesus Christ
s.
Paki
t.
Crap
u.
Shag
v.
Bloody
w.
Whore
x.
God
y.
Twat
z.
Piss off
aa.
Spastic
bb. Slag
15.
Be more or less specific.
16.
Understatement is always best.
A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately
makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is. Contrast with
hyperbole.
17.
Exaggeration is a billion times worse than
understatement.
A figure of speech (a form of irony) in which exaggeration
is used for emphasis or effect; an extravagant statement. Hyperbolic. Contrast
with understatement.
18.
One-word sentences? Eliminate.
Any command, which is an imperative with the subject (you)
understood.
19.
Analogies in writing are feathers on a
snake.
An analogy is "reasoning or explaining from parallel
cases." Put another way, an analogy is a comparison between two different
things in order to highlight some point of similarity. As Freud suggested, an
analogy won't settle an argument, but a good one may help to clarify the
issues.
20.
The passive voice is to be avoided.
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is
not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike
was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it. Sometimes a statement in
passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made,
but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).
Form of Passive: Subject + finite form of to be + Past
Participle
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the
following:
·
the object of the active sentence becomes the
subject of the passive sentence
·
the finite form of the verb is changed (to be +
past participle)
·
the subject of the active sentence becomes the
object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
Examples of Passive
Simple Present
Active: Rita writes a letter.
Passive: A letter is written by Rita.
Simple Past
Active: Rita wrote a letter.
Passive: A letter was written by Rita.
Present Perfect
Active: Rita has written a letter.
Passive: A letter has been written by
Rita.
Future I
Active: Rita will write a letter.
Passive: A letter will be written by
Rita.
Hilfsverben (Modal Auxiliaries)
Active: Rita can write a letter.
Passive: A letter can be written by
Rita.
Present Progressive
Active: Rita is writing a letter.
Passive: A letter is being written by
Rita.
Past Progressive
Active: Rita was writing a letter.
Passive: A letter was being written by
Rita.
Past Perfect
Active: Rita had written a letter.
Passive: A letter had been written by
Rita.
Future II
Active: Rita will have written a
letter.
Passive: A letter will have been
written by Rita.
Conditional I
Active: Rita would write a letter.
Passive: A letter would be written by
Rita.
Conditional II
Active: Rita would have written a
letter.
Passive: A letter would have been
written by Rita.
21.
Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
An informal expression that is more often used in casual
conversation than in formal speech or writing. A colloquialism is a linguine
phrase that is characteristic of or only appropriate for casual, ordinary,
familiar, and/or informal written or spoken conversation, rather than for
formal speech, standard writing, or paralinguistics. Dictionaries often display
colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier. Words
such as y'all, gonna, and wanna.
22.
Even if mixed metaphor sings, it should be
derailed.
A succession of incongruous or ludicrous comparisons. Although
many style guides condemn the use of mixed metaphors, in practice most of the
objectionable combinations (as in the examples below) are actually clichés or
dead metaphors.
A speech by Boyle Roche in the Irish Parliament: "Mr.
Speaker, I smell a rat. I see him floating in the air. But mark me, sir, I will
nip him in the bud." This sort of mixed metaphor may occur when a speaker
is so familiar with the figurative sense of a phrase ("smell a rat,"
"nip in the bud") that he fails to recognize the absurdity that
results from a literal reading.
·
•"That's awfully thin gruel for the right
wing to hang their hats on." (MSNBC, Sep. 3, 2009)
·
•"Her saucer-eyes narrow to a gimlet stare
and she lets Mr. Clarke have it with both barrels." (Anne McElvoy, London Evening
Standard, Sep. 9, 2009)
·
•“I conclude that the city’s proposal to skim
the frosting, pocket the cake, and avoid paying the fair, reasonable, and
affordable value of the meal is a hound that will not hunt." (a labor
arbitrator, quoted by the Boston Globe, May 8, 2010)
23.
Who needs rhetorical questions?
A form of rhetoric that describes a statement or word asked
merely for effect with no answer expected. Examples: Is the Pope Catholic? Do
bears live in the woods?
A question is "rhetorical" if it is asked merely
for effect with no answer expected. The purpose of this figure of speech is not
to secure a response but to assert or deny a point implicitly. A rhetorical
question may serve as a subtle way of insinuating an idea that might be
challenged by an audience if asserted directly.
Examples:
1.
Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who
would want to live in an institution?
2.
If practice makes perfect, and no one's perfect,
then why practice?
3. How many roads must a man walk down before you
call him a man?
