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Chapter 11

Chapter 11. Editing for a Professional Style and Tone. Technical Communication, 12 th Edition John M. Lannon Laura Gurak. Writing Style. The way you construct each sentence The length of your sentences The way in which you connect sentences The words and phrases you choose

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Chapter 11

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  1. Chapter 11 Editing for a Professional Style and Tone Technical Communication, 12th Edition John M. Lannon Laura Gurak

  2. Writing Style • The way you construct each sentence • The length of your sentences • The way in which you connect sentences • The words and phrases you choose • The tone you convey

  3. Edit for Clarity • Avoid ambiguous pronoun references • Avoid ambiguous modifiers • Unstack modifying nouns • Arrange word order for coherence and emphasis • Use active voice whenever possible • Use passive voice selectively • Avoid overstuffed sentences

  4. Edit for Conciseness • Avoid wordy phrases. • Eliminate redundancy. • Avoid needless repetition. • Avoid there sentence openers. • Avoid some it sentence openers. • Delete needless prefaces. • Avoid weak verbs. Continued …

  5. Edit for Conciseness • Delete needless to be constructions. • Avoid excessive prepositions. • Fight noun addiction. • Make negatives positive. • Clean out clutter words. • Delete needless qualifiers.

  6. Edit for Fluency • Combine related ideas. • Vary sentence construction and length. • Use short sentences for special emphasis.

  7. Find the Exact Words • Use simple and familiar wording. • Avoid useless jargon. • Use acronyms selectively. • Avoid triteness. • Avoid misleading euphemisms. • Avoid overstatement. • Avoid imprecise wording. • Be specific and concrete. • Use analogies to sharpen the image.

  8. Adjust Your Tone • Use an occasional contraction. • Address readers directly. • Use I and we when appropriate. • Prefer the active voice. • Emphasize the positive. • Avoid an overly informal tone. • Avoid personal bias. • Avoid sexist usage. • Avoid offensive usage of all types.

  9. Other Tips to Consider • Remember cultural context. • Remember legal and ethical implications of word choice. (You are accountable for what you say and write) • Use automated editing tools effectively, but DON’T DEPEND UPON THEM ENTIRELY! Know your grammar and spelling.

  10. Any Questions? For additional help reviewing this chapter, please visit the Companion Website for your text at http://www.pearsonhighered.com/lannon.

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