1 / 16

Style for Readability

Style for Readability. Blay Whitby 2005 blayw@sussex.ac.uk. Style for Readability. Look back in fond remembrance Structure - yet again Micro-structure Sentences Use and abuse of sentences. Layout. Aim: Ease of Reading Techniques: Don't overfill the page Leave space around titles

lavernen
Download Presentation

Style for Readability

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Style for Readability Blay Whitby 2005 blayw@sussex.ac.uk

  2. Style for Readability • Look back in fond remembrance • Structure - yet again • Micro-structure • Sentences • Use and abuse of sentences Technical Communications

  3. Layout • Aim: Ease of Reading • Techniques: • Don't overfill the page • Leave space around titles • Clear print • Title page • Contents • Page numbers • Names, Dates, Addresses, email, www. Technical Communications

  4. Pace • The rate at which the printed page presents information to the reader In technical writing it should maintain the interest of the T.A.Rathbone(1966) • 'Enables the reader to keep his mind working just a fraction of second behind his eye as he reads along' • See Rathbone's examples Technical Communications

  5. Sections & Paragraphs • Length should be adjusted to meet: • The level of complexity of the topic • The technical level of the T.A. • The position in the report • A good paragraph will convey just one idea Ideally this will stated in a topic sentence, then developed logically • Too long is a far more frequent mistake than too short Technical Communications

  6. Sentences • Just as a well-structured report is easier to read than a poorly-structured one, so a well-structured sentence is easier to read than an unstructured or confused one. Technical Communications

  7. Style for Readability • The ideal sentence should convey just one thought, which should be its primary clause. • Any subordinate clauses should be closely related ideas. • The first and last words are in emphasized positions. • Non-sentences will be penalized. Grammar alone does not a good sentence make. Technical Communications

  8. How many sentences? • Live And Let Die • The Man With The Golden Gun • The Spy Who Loved Me • For Your Eyes Only • You Only Live Twice • On Her Majesty’s Secret Service • From Russia With Love • Never Say Never Again • Tomorrow Never Dies • A View To A Kill Technical Communications

  9. How many sentences? • Live And Let Die √ • The Man With The Golden Gun • The Spy Who Loved Me • For Your Eyes Only • You Only Live Twice • On Her Majesty’s Secret Service • From Russia With Love • Never Say Never Again • Tomorrow Never Dies • A View To A Kill Technical Communications

  10. How many sentences? • Live And Let Die √ • The Man With The Golden Gun • The Spy Who Loved Me • For Your Eyes Only • You Only Live Twice √ • On Her Majesty’s Secret Service • From Russia With Love • Never Say Never Again • Tomorrow Never Dies • A View To A Kill Technical Communications

  11. How many sentences? • Live And Let Die √ • The Man With The Golden Gun • The Spy Who Loved Me • For Your Eyes Only • You Only Live Twice √ • On Her Majesty’s Secret Service • From Russia With Love • Never Say Never Again √ • Tomorrow Never Dies • A View To A Kill Technical Communications

  12. How many sentences? • Live And Let Die √ • The Man With The Golden Gun • The Spy Who Loved Me • For Your Eyes Only • You Only Live Twice √ • On Her Majesty’s Secret Service • From Russia With Love • Never Say Never Again √ • Tomorrow Never Dies √ • A View To A Kill Technical Communications

  13. Voices • Most technical writers over-use the passive voice e.g.   • 'The identification of the of the components in the module is by colour codes.' • The active voice is usually shorter and clearer. • 'Colour codes identify the components in the module'. Technical Communications

  14. Personal and Impersonal Forms • Many authorities (eg. Turk and Kirkman, 1982) suggest using the personal form in preference to the impersonal e.g. • 'I feel that you should continue using JAVA for this task.‘ • Compare:   • 'JAVA would appear to be the most suitable language for this task.' Technical Communications

  15. Personal and Impersonal Forms • Impersonal forms may be becoming old-fashioned. However, don't make it too personal - a technical report is not a letter. • Readability for the T.A. must be the overriding decision criterion - do not make changes just because you suspect something is 'good style'. Technical Communications

  16. Usage of Words • Consider the T.A. Follow the accepted rules of 'good English‘. • Use words accurately - are you sure it means exactly what you want to say (dictionary). • Use words sparingly - is there a simpler, better word? (thesaurus). • Do not use 10 words where one will do. Technical Communications

More Related