Part I: Part I: Principles of Effective Writing Kristin Cobb, Phd principles of Effective Writing

Principles of Effective Writing Parallelism

• Not Parallel:
• This research follows four distinct phases: (1) establishing measurement instruments (2) pattern measurement (3) developing interventions and (4) the dissemination of successful interventions to other settings and institutions.
• Parallel:
• This research follows four distinct phases: (1) establishing measurement instruments (2) measuring patterns (3) developing interventions and (4) disseminating successful interventions to other settings and institutions.

Principles of Effective Writing

• Some Exercises

Principles of Effective Writing

• Let’s dissect this sentence:
• “It should be emphasized that these proportions generally are not the result of significant increases in moderate and severe injuries, but in many instances reflect mildly injured persons not being seen at a hospital.”

Principles of Effective Writing

• It should be emphasized that these proportions generally are not the result of significant increases in moderate and severe injuries, but in many instances reflect mildly injured persons not being seen at a hospital.

• Dead weight!!

• Can we use a more informative adjective than a pronoun? What’s important about “these” proportions?

• More dead weight.
• Ask yourself, what does the sentence loose without this qualifier?

Principles of Effective Writing

• It should be emphasized that these proportions generally are not the result of significant increases in moderate and severe injuries, but in many instances reflect mildly injured persons not being seen at a hospital.

• “The result of”due to
• “In many instances”often

• Use positives.

• Watch out for awkward uses of “to be”