There are certain tricks and secrets to writing like a pro. When writing, using big words that make your paper harder to understand does not make you smarter. On the contrary, complex writing makes you sound small-minded. To sound smart when writing requires simplicity. Plus, simple writing is accurate and brilliant writing. Also, writing accurately is delivering relevant ideas clearly and concisely.
Academic writing should be clear and contain accurate information. Also, in academic writing, a high premium is placed on carefully thought-out and well-constructed contents. Writing lengthy sentences makes the text harder for readers. Plus, long sentences also affect comprehension; therefore, it is not a feature of accurate writing.
Writing accurately does not mean using a lot of complex words and sentences. Plus, the purpose of writing accurately is to communicate complex ideas as simple as possible. Also, accurate writing is meant to make your paper less likely to be challenged.
As an academic or a scientist, whether you love it or not, writing is an essential part of your career. Also, the way you write is sometimes more important than what you are writing. Plus, a paper or report that is very readable and understandable has more impact than those that are difficult to understand.
Therefore, as an academic or scientist, if you cannot effectively communicate with your colleague or the general public, your work might be perceived as less important.
Optimizing the Length of Your Sentences for Writing Like a Pro
As long sentences are not a feature of accurate writing, it is important to know how to avoid long sentences when writing. Here are a few tips to help optimize your sentences
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Ideal sentence length
Readability formula formulas use the number of words in a sentence as a measure of its difficulty. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the average length of your sentences to about 20-25 words. The ideal length of words varies per field.
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Dynamic sentence length
Make sure you don’t follow a strict length for all the sentences in your paper. It should be a mixture of short, medium, and long sentences. Dynamic sentence length helps to incorporate emphasis when needed. Also, it will help readers understand the connections between various points.
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A message per sentence
It is not advisable to cram two or three ideas in one sentence. Try to break down your main point into smaller sentences. Plus, each sentence should focus on your message to avoid having drawn-out sentences.
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Combine short sentences
Use coordinating conjunction to combine short sentences into a longer sentence. This will avoid a series of short sentences and sentences that are vaguely related. Also, you can use subordinating conjunctions to connect sentences effectively.
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Break long sentence
When a sentence contains excessive coordinating conjunctions, it is advisable to break them using a full stop and to start a new sentence. Also, try to avoid a sentence plagued with commas (Where to use commas) as well as sentences starting with qualifiers.
Other Tips for Accurate Writing
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Thorough preparation
Before you begin to write, start by reading through your note and sources, identify text that is worth quoting or paraphrasing. Also, come up with a detailed outline and make sure all the information needed for a proper citation is available. Ultimately, decent planning will lead to an accurate write-up.
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Follow a specific format
When writing an academic or scientific paper, be sure to determine the format required for the type of paper you are writing. Plus, be sure to follow the format to its last detail. Each format describes how numbering, citation, references, and so on are done.
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Focus on your reader
When writing, much focus should be placed on the audience of the paper. Try to tailor the write-up to your reader. Before writing your paper, find answers to the following questions, who are your audience? Are they experienced in the subject of matter? How strong is their understanding of the subject matter? What is likely to be their attitude towards the paper? Are they interested in the paper? Getting the right answer to this question can lead to an accurate write-up.
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Have a compelling opening paragraph and conclusion
People tend to remember the beginning and end of something. Therefore, if you wish for your paper to have the highest impact possible, make sure you have a compelling opening paragraph. Plus, make sure your conclusion and recommendation are at the end of the paper.
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Avoid the use of slang, jargon, and contraction
The use of contractions and slang allows your writing to run the risk of sounding informal. Plus, the over usage of jargon can make it difficult for laypeople to understand the idea or message you are trying to pass across. If there is a need to use a term only people in your field understand, then it is important to define it on first use.
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Direct and precise writing
It is important when aiming to write accurately to eliminate unnecessary words and use clear and direct words. Being formal does not necessarily translate to overly wordy and complex, as complex writing makes it harder for readers to understand you. Therefore, it is important to make your writing as clear, direct, and concise as possible.
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Only proper nouns should be capitalized
When writing your paper, you may be tempted to capitalize the name of a theory or other important terms. However, you are to note that only proper nouns are capitalized, common nouns should not be capitalized. Also, when using abbreviations, you should provide the meaning of first use.
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Correct verb tenses
It is important to use the correct tense for a verb in your paper. That is when describing an already completed work, use the past tense. Also, when describing a work that is yet to be conducted, use the future tense. (Get a copy editor to correct your writing)
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Well-structured sentence and paragraphs
Each and every one of your sentences must have a subject and a predicate making it a complete sentence. Also, avoid the use of run-on sentences that makes the sentence hard for the readers to understand. Furthermore, make sure your paragraphs focus on the main idea as unconnected ideas in a paragraph can confuse the reader.
Useful sources
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