Writing Skills

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Writing Skills
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Be straight-up!

• Use straightforward language.
• Take care with grammar and sentence construction.
  
• Avoid using a note-style of writing.

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Be yourself!

• Try not to use pompous language.
• For example use "find out" rather than
  "endeavour to ascertain".
• Try not to use jargon or clichés

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Explain it!

• Provide definitions. Include explanations of
  technical or unusual terms, unless you can
  reasonably expect your reader to know them.

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Be professional.

• Use impersonal language.
• Essays and reports should be written in the third
  person singular.
• Avoid personal terms such as 'I' or 'We' the
  word 'It' should be used instead
• For example "I decided to interview the Tourism
  Planning Officer..." should read"It was decided
  to interview the Tourism Planning Officer..."The
  only exceptions to this may be where you are
  asked to link theory to your own professional
  practice. .

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Be precise!

• Avoid using terms such as 'nice', 'good' or
  'excellent' that lack a precise meaning
• One person's idea of what is meant by 'good' is
  not necessarily another's.

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Be concise!

• Be concise and to the point.
• For example Use 'now' or currently' instead of
  phrases like 'at the time of writing' or 'at this
  point in time'.

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Dont generalize.

• Try not to make generalizations.
• For example "Everyone agrees that cold calling
  does not produce results".
• While this may be true you can only make such
  statements if supported with evidence.
• Instead you should write "According to the Mori
  Report (2000), cold calling does not produce
  results."

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Be cautious!

• Use cautious language. This means that
  statements cannot easily be challenged
• "Cold calling may not produce results."

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Watch tenses!

• Use appropriate verb tenses.
• Reports often use the present tense in the
  introduction and the past tense when discussing
  findings.
• Introduction "This report examines..."
• Findings "Results showed that..."

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Be careful!

• Be careful when using acronyms.
• The use of acronyms is allowed if you also write
  the words out in full the first time you write
  the letters.
• For example curriculum vitae (C.V.)

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Use Transition Words.

• Ensure you are linking points together
• When using a lead sentence make sure that the
  points that follow on link to this
• Incorrect example
• This style of CV creates the opportunity to
• Can highlight skills and achievements
• Identifies personal attributes.
• Correct example
• This style of CV creates the opportunity to
• highlight skills and achievements
• identify personal attributes.

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Avoid the pitfalls!

• Other writing pitfalls to avoid
• Do not address the reader directly or use
  questions
• For example Does this mean that some strategies
  are better than others?
• Be careful not to use redundant phrases. For
  example 'various differences'.
• Various implies different so you do not need both
  words.
• Do not start sentences with linking words. Such
  as but, and, or yet.
• Use contractions CORRECTLY. For
  example'they're' for 'they are'. Should have
  shouldve'etc' and 'ie' should also be avoided.

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Be positive

• Avoid making negative statements.
• For exampleCalling firms directly should not
  be discouraged.
• This can hide the meaning.
• Instead write positive statements.
• Calling firms directly should be encouraged.

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Be brief

• Try to avoid making sentences overlong and
  complicated.
• Wordiness and padding can hide meaning.

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DOUBLE CHECK and EDIT

• Read the prompt!
• Brainstorm!
• Read the prompt!
• PREWRITE.
• READ THE PROMPT!
• WRITE DRAFT!
• READ THE PROMPT!
• REVISE and EDIT!
• READ THE PROMPT!
• WRITE FINAL DRAFT!
• READ THE PROMPT!
• PROOFREAD!
• READ THE PROMPT!