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Writing so readers can understand you

Writing so readers can understand you. Good writing. Arouses the reader’s interest Stirs the reader’s imagination Makes the reader feel the text is aimed directly at him/her Presents believable evidence Gives good reasons for action. KIS MII. K eep I t S imple M ake I t I nteresting.

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Writing so readers can understand you

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  1. Writing so readers can understand you

  2. Good writing • Arouses the reader’s interest • Stirs the reader’s imagination • Makes the reader feel the text is aimed directly at him/her • Presents believable evidence • Gives good reasons for action

  3. KIS MII • Keep It Simple • Make It Interesting *

  4. Easy-to-read writing • Use short, simple words • Anglo-Saxon, not French or Latin • Use short, varied sentences • Average = 17 words • Use short paragraphs • 3-5 sentences each

  5. “The best way to be boring is to leave nothing out” —Voltaire 1694–1778

  6. Easy-to-read writing • Be conversational • Write like you talk • Read it out loud • Use personal words • I, you, we, our (not one, policy makers, scientists)

  7. Easy-to-read writing • Write in a logical order • State the main point in 1 sentence • Say why it is important • Give the details • Check your grammar

  8. Short words are better than long words • NumerousMany • IndividualPerson, man or woman • RemainderRest • InitialFirst • To implementTo do • AttemptTry • SufficientEnough • Referred to asCalled

  9. Use Anglo-Saxon, not Latin or French • Facilitate Help • Utilize Use • Demonstrate Show • Initiate, commenceBegin • In close proximity toNear • Despite the fact thatAlthough • EndeavourTry

  10. Use Anglo-Saxon, not Latin or French • Exerts a lethal effectKills • For the purpose ofTo • In view of the fact thatBecause • Is equipped withHas • MagnitudeSize • Prior to Before • Subsequent toAfter • Until such time asUntil • RemuneratePay

  11. Use words the reader can understand • The region has an annual surplus of water • The region has more than enough water • Women are involved in the disposal of the output of rice production • Women sell the rice • Long aeroplane trips may lead to transmeridianal dyschronism • After a long plane trip you may have jet lag

  12. Cut out words • The rural poor face multiple problems which are interlocking in nature • The rural poor face multiple, interlocking problems • He initiated and facilitated in the conduct of meetings and workshops... • He helped conduct meetings...

  13. Use short sentences • This cooperative of vegetable growers in the rural village of Paliparan located in the municipality of Dasmariñas, Cavite province in the Philippines, was initiated as an interest group of 17 vegetable growers in 1982 (31 words) • The cooperative is located in Paliparan village, about 40 km south of Manila, the Philippine capital. It began in 1982 when 17 vegetable growers formed an interest group (25 words, 2 sentences)

  14. Use active verbs, not passives • The coop was initiated by the villagers… • The villagers started the coop… • It was decided by the governor that the assistance to the project was to be suspended • The governor stopped supporting the project

  15. Avoid weak verbs • Am, is, are, was, were • Conduct, provide • Promote, implement • Take place

  16. Avoid weak verbs • She was a student of Indian history • She studied Indian history • They conducted a study of the movement • They studied the movement • They promoted the sale of medicinal plants • They sold medicinal plants • IIRR implemented a strategy that resulted in the formation of 22 cooperatives • IIRR helped form 22 cooperatives

  17. Avoid weak starts • There is… • There are… • It is important to note that… • Interestingly… • It is self-evident that… • It goes without saying that… • I might add… • It should be pointed out that…

  18. Turn abstract nouns into verbs Abstract nouns often end in -tion • Acquisition Acquire, get • Demonstration Demonstrate, show • Guidance Guide

  19. Turn abstract nouns into verbs • Clayey soil has maximum water retention ability • Find the noun that is built from a verb • Turn it into a verb • Retention ► Retain • Find the Anglo-Saxon equivalent • Retention ► Retain ► Hold • Clayey soil can hold the most water

  20. Turn abstract nouns into verbs • The group plans the acquisition of a new vehicle • The group wants to buy a jeep • The aim of the project was to... • The project aimed to... • His conclusion was that the funds had been misappropriated by the cooperative leader • He concluded that the coop leader had stolen the money

  21. Avoid inflated prepositions and conjunctions • With the possible exception of… Except • For the reason that… Because • He totally lacked the ability to… He couldn’t • She was unable to give any information beyond the fact that… She said

  22. Break up strings of nouns • The following innovative project implementation modes were effected • The project tested several new approaches • The vastness, remoteness and endemic drought have posed severe challenges to the pastoral production system • Pastoralists range over huge, remote, dry areas. That makes life for them difficult

  23. Get rid of prepositions • Especially of and by • The implementation of this project was undertaken by the project within the framework of the following objectives… • We aimed to do the following…

  24. Avoid unnecessary modifiers Adjectives and adverbs often carry no meaning Delete them, or make them specific • He ran quickly to the shop • He ran to the shop • The farmers successfully harvested 3 tons of maize • The farmers harvested 3 tons of maize • She earned a good income • She earned Rs 500

  25. Be precise (1) • Words without much information: • Fast, slow, good, bad, unusual, interesting… • Better to say how fast or slow, why something is good, bad, unusual or interesting

  26. Be precise (2) • Feed your baby frequently • Breast-feed your baby every 2 or 3 hours, or whenever he or she is hungry • Vegetable consumption rose slightly • People in St Kitts ate 5% more vegetables last year • January rainfall is normally heavy • The mean rainfall for January is 940 mm

  27. Avoid false precision Too many significant digits • The mean millet yield was 4.345 tons per hectare • …4.3 tons… • The average worker earns Rs 30.56 a day • …Rs 30… • The population is 34,965,865 • …35,000,000

  28. Add details if necessary… • …to make sure the reader understands clearly what you are saying • Use words that will build pictures in the reader’s mind • Construction of health infrastructure has the capacity to catalyse significant improvements in rural nutrition • New clinics can encourage rural people to eat better

  29. Provide enough information • The cooperative is located in the village of Paliparan in the municipality of Dasmariñas. • The cooperative is located in Paliparan village, about 40 km south of the Philippine capital of Manila • It borrows money from Pamana-ILCF and re-lends it to individual members of the coop at low interest rates • It borrows money from Pamana-ILCF, an IIRR-supported credit cooperative. It relends this money to members at 7.5% interest a year

  30. Remember KIS MII • Keep It Simple • Make It Interesting

  31. More information • Wikipedia: Weasel word • http://tinyurl.com/5wrdw8 • Ten quick tips to improve your writing • http://tinyurl.com/2h5e4h • Improve your writing: Your role as a writer • http://tinyurl.com/lty2rs

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