How to Write The Prologue - When to Use One

Foreword, Preface, Introduction, or Prologue – Which One?

Many authors get trumped up starting their book because they can’t decide which they need—a foreword, a preface, a prologue, or an introduction–or maybe it’s some combination of these?

Here’s the difference.

• Foreword

  Foreword is a short introduction to your book written by a 3rd party, such as a well-known celebrity or another author in your field. A Foreword basically is a credible opinion from someone else that your book is worthy of reading. When do you need a Foreword? When you are unknown in the business and you want to show your readers that someone with knowledge and experience endorses your book.

• Preface

  A preface is written by the author of the book – YOU. The goal of the Preface is to acquaint readers with any interesting background about the book before they jump into it. It often contains an explanation of how you, as author, came to write the book, such as your growing concern about an issue, or a personal incident that happened to you. It often also includes a section on who the book is for, and how to use the book if you want your readers to be aware of any specific recommendations. Some authors, for instance, tell readers which sections are most useful to various circumstances, or to read the book twice, or to go get a journal to write in while reading the book. Be aware that one rule of thumb is, you can’t assume that your readers will read your preface. So don’t get into any significant content issues in your preface. Assume readers may have skipped it.

• Introduction

  An introduction to a book is often used to take the place of a Preface, precisely because we know that many readers skip the Preface. By labeling nearly the same content an Introduction, it leads readers to believe they should read it. So basically, an Introduction serves the same purpose as a Preface, but just relabeling it makes it seem more pertinent and required reading. However, another difference is that an Introduction can begin to get into the actual content of your book. For instance, you might begin discussing the thesis of your book and the challenges we face in getting solutions for it. In this way, the Introduction serves to open up Chapter 1.

• Prologue

  A prologue is similar to an Introduction, and in my view it is really exactly the same. The difference is simply that if you write a Prologue, it makes sense to also write an Epilogue, while with an Introduction you don’t expect any type of closing to the book other than the last chapter. Prologues and Epilogues go together like book ends. So if you think your book could use some type of short ending beyond your last chapter, covering final thoughts on the topic or perhaps a glance into the future of your topic, you therefore want an Epilogue. And if you want an Epilogue, you want a Prologue rather than an Introduction. "A prologue should reveal significant facts that contribute to our understanding of the plot. It should be vivid and entertaining in its own right (who wants to read a boring prologue, no matter how much of the background it explains?) It should make us want to read on.”

A prologue is used mainly for two reasons.

1. To outline the backstory quickly and economically, saving the author from having to resort to flashbacks or ruses such as conversations or memories to explain the background to the reader. This is commonly done in science fiction and fantasy to show why a certain quest is being undertaken or what will happen in the future. The prologue is a better option than a first chapter bogged down in detail.

2. To hook the reader and provide the story question right up front, giving them a reason to keep turning the pages to find out the answer. Quite often the prologue relates to a scene near the end of the story, and the story itself then shows what has led up to this moment. When is this justified? Perhaps when you want to introduce your characters in a more leisurely fashion, and your reader's experience with 'meeting' them will be enhanced by some sort of foreshadowing of what is to come.

Apart from these two reasons, a prologue can be used to introduce a certain character's viewpoint on one occasion only. The rest of the book may be told from just one other viewpoint, or from several different viewpoint characters that are in some way removed from the one you've used in the prologue. The prologue can bypass the danger of viewpoint violation.

Do You Need a Prologue?

The points raised above will probably give you a good idea already of whether you really need a prologue. If you're still not sure, then simply ask:

• What if I just call the prologue Chapter 1? Will the story flow smoothly from that point anyway? (If the answer is "yes", ditch the prologue.)

• Do I need to give the readers a fair bit of background information for the story to make sense? (If "yes", the consider doing it in a prologue before the 'real' story starts.)

• Am I thinking of using a prologue just to hook the reader? (If "yes", then ask yourself why you can't do this just as effectively in Chapter 1 anyway. Do you need to brush up on your technique for creating suspense and conflict? Does your plot need revising? Are you starting your story too early?)

Perhaps the best way to illustrate the use of a prologue is to actually show one. I've chosen a prologue to a fantasy novel I've written so go ahead a check it out I'll wait. The need for a prologue tends to be more obvious in science fiction - but a contemporary novel, may require one also.

Prologue Uses

1. Do not use a prologue as a way of dumping a massive amount of information on your reader.
2. Do not use a prologue if it doesn’t directly tie in to the main story. How can you tell if it does or doesn’t? If you can remove the prologue and the story still makes sense, then the prologue does not belong.
3. Do not just copy a scene verbatim from later in the book and call it a prologue. That’s lame. There can be good reasons for using action that takes place later in the book in a prologue, but you shouldn’t use the same passage word-for-word. Choose a different angle on that later event, and make sure you have a really good reason for doing this.

In my view, all of the reasons not to prologue can be summed up thusly: "A prologue should also not be used to convey information that could just as easily be worked into the novel elsewhere, or that would function adequately as Chapter 1."

After the prologue, the story begins: Chapter 1. We are happy to settle in and get to know all these characters - because in my example prologue, it has promised us that they will be worth getting to know.

A Final Test

Before you make a final decision about whether to write a prologue for your book, do this.

Spend some time at the library (or at your bookshelves at home, if they are extensive). Pluck books from the shelves, looking for prologues. Read through at least a dozen. More if you can. The time will be well spent.

Which prologues worked well? Which pulled you into the story? Which cleverly outlined the backstory, getting it out of the way before the story started?

Which dragged? Which didn't need to be there at all? Which were weighed down by the load of the information they had to carry, and bored you? How could they be fixed?

Analysis of published work is an excellent way of deciding what works and what doesn't. You are a reader as well as a writer; you know a lot about what readers like. Make sure you're a writer that gives your readers what they need, as well as what you want.

Prologues and Epilogues go together like book ends. So if you think your book could use some type of short ending beyond your last chapter, covering final thoughts on the topic or perhaps a glance into the future of your topic, you therefore want an Epilogue. And if you want an Epilogue, you want a Prologue rather than an Introduction.

Intoxcy8me's favorite pastime is creating fictional worlds and falling hopelessly in love with his characters. His work occasionally crops up over the internet, in the form of short stories, poetry and articles. He is the author of over twenty books and the proud owner of an entensive collection of different genre books.

How to Find Your Own Unique Writing Style

Tips for Finding Your Own Writing Style

The pursuit of finding your own original writing style can take some time. Our writing skills improve with every literary piece we create. In this article we are going to discuss:

How to Find Your Unique Writing Style.

Think about who you’re writing for Another really important element of writing style is being able to adapt your style to suit different audiences. Again, this is something that sometimes comes instinctively – just as you probably don’t speak to your mother in the same way you speak to your best friend, you wouldn’t write a Facebook status in the same style you’d use for a job application or a scholarly article. In terms of blogging, styles will vary from blog to blog, but, for the most part, blogs tend to be a fairly informal medium, which is why I use a very “conversational” tone when I write here.

Don’t try to mimic another writer.

You can’t develop your own style if you’re trying to imitate someone else’s. Read other writers and observe their style as inspiration, but don’t copy them.

What governs the way you write?

Writing for yourself is totally different from writing for an audience, and it’s a good way to find your voice and develop your style.

There is no easy or quick way to find your own unique style. It takes a lot of practice and effort. Here are some tips to help you along.

• Consistency in style, tone, grammar, and punctuation is essential to an enjoyable blog experience.
• The chaotic results of content without rules make the strongest case for the value of a style guide. If you need more convincing, here are three specific ways in which style guides help.
  1. Create the perception of quality and professionalism
  2. Foster consistency in style and tone
  3. Solve problems and settle disputes
• Let your writing flow.
Don’t overthink style. Just go with the flow. Style is a mix of conscious and unconscious decisions. Write naturally, letting your unique personality and instincts guide you.
• Write and write some more.
The more you write, the more you’ll be able to discover and develop your own style.
• Follow your intuition.
Lean on your background, experience, and personal preferences as you decide how to describe characters and settings, and add details and dialogue. Use the sensibility of a poet to select just the right word. Consider connotation and avoid clichés. These decisions all add up to create your unique style.
• Listen to the voice of your inner editor.
During the revision process, watch for sentences or word choices that don’t seem natural or harmonious. These places that don’t “sound” right are signs that they go against your natural style.

Here are quick tips to help you find your style:

Style springs from voice and tone. Voice is the authorial personality you assume. To find the right voice for a particular assignment, think about who you are as you're writing and about your imagined relationship to your audience. Tone encompasses word choice, sentence structure, even grammatical and punctuation issues. The tone must match your voice and your imagined audience. Try to settle on a tone that fits you best. You might vary it according to the assignment at hand, but only in degree.

An authentic style develops organically. Hone your craft by learning about all aspects of writing and your style will naturally evolve.

How to Get More Mileage from Your Blog Using Twitterbites

A few years ago, I wanted to write a blog post that was perfectly promotable on Twitter. Now, when most people think about promoting a post on social media, it's all about coming up with a really clever title that grabs attention. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s not quite the direction I was going.
My goal was to write an entire post that could be shared on twitter. Every word. This was the result.
Did I accomplish what I set out for? Arguably, I did. Every paragraph makes a point and is less than 140 characters; perfect for a tweet. I didn’t always leave room for a short URL linking back to the post, but that was beside the point. Besides, I just wanted to see if it could be done (kind of like a scientist, or a Hollywood exec). I wanted to show that we have to embrace a new way of thinking, especially for social media.
I made the point in the that post but I’ll make it again here: Not every sentence you write needs to be tweetable. However… we need to write tweetable content. The soundbite has become the twitterbite.
It might be worth the effort, while reviewing blog posts prior to publication, to see if you can change any sentence structures to be more tweetable.
For example, two paragraphs above originally read “I made the point in the linked post that not every sentence you write needs to be tweetable. But we do need to write tweetable content. The soundbite has become the twitterbite.” A slight modification made everyting after the colon tweetable in multiple forms:
Tweet: Not every sentence you write needs to be tweetable. However… We need to write tweetable content. The soundbite has become the twitterbite.
Tweet: Not every sentence you write needs to be tweetable. However… We need to write tweetable content.
Tweet: We need to write tweetable content. The soundbite has become the twitterbite.
Most of my changes were merely cosmetic for copy/paste… making sure sentences start with a capital letter and all that. It probably wasn’t necessary, but I’m a perfectionist about such things.
When you push out blog post titles, you’re being promotional. When you push out portions of content from your blog post, you’re being helpful. It’s up to you if you want to link each tweet back to the original post. Again, it’s a promotion vs. help issue. I suggestion finding a good balance.
Of course, this type of promotion works with more than just blog posts. Presentations, ebooks and other content can also just as easily be broken down into tweets. Some of those may link back to the source and some will just be for educational purposes only. Either way you’re providing value to your readers, just in different forms.

Characteristics of Good Writing

There are many characteristics of good writing, no matter what type, and in this article, you will learn some of the elements of good writing. By offering you some strategies for making your writing more effective, helping you to write with accuracy and clarity.
<h1>CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD WRITING</h1>
<ul>Knowing the characteristics of good writing is important if you need to explain a variety of topics. Use KISS
<li>Keep it clear - it avoids unnecessary detail;</li>
<li>Impartial - it avoids making assumptions (Everyone knows that ...) and unproven statements (It can never be proved that ...). It presents how and where data were collected and supports its conclusions with evidence;</li>
<li>Simple - it uses direct language, avoiding vague or complicated sentences. Technical terms and jargon are used only when they are necessary for accuracy;</li>
<li>Structured logically - ideas and processes are expressed in a logical order. The text is divided into sections with clear headings;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Developing good writing!</h2><p> To reflect the characteristics of good writing in your own work, you need to think about the way that you write and the language that you use. A good author will have given consideration to the following choices in writing, making decisions that improve the effectiveness of the writing.</p>
<h3>Choosing the words</h3><p> To make your writing clear, accurate and concise you should consider carefully the words that you use, and the ways in which you use them.</p>
<h3>Technical terms</h3><p> In most scientific writing you will need to use some scientific or technical terms in order to be clear and unambiguous. However, use such terms only when you need to do so and do not try to impress the reader by using unnecessary technical jargon or lengthy words.</p>
<h3>Abbreviations</h3><p> Abbreviations can be a very useful way of saving time and avoiding repetition, but they can be confusing and might not be understood by everyone. Use standard abbreviations where these exist, and reduce your use of abbreviations to an absolute minimum; they are rarely essential.</p>
<h2>Choosing a 'voice'</h2><p>Scientific writers have a tendency to use passive rather than active expressions; stating that a was affected by b uses the passive voice while stating that b did something to a uses the active voice. The following example shows a sentence written in both the passive and active voices.</p><ul>
<li>passive</li><p>     The experiment was designed by the research officer</p>

<li>active</li><p>        The research officer designed the experiment</p>

<p>The passive voice is particularly useful when you wish your writing to be formal and depersonalised:</p>
<li>passive</li><p>     It was agreed that the experiment should be... </p>    

<li>active</li><p>       We agreed that the experiment should be...</p>

<p>information about the agent is obvious or unimportant:</p>
<li>passive</li><p>    Extra solvent was added to the flask            

<li>active</li><p>      The technician added extra solvent to the flask;

<p>you do not know the identity of the agent:</p>
<li>passive</li><p>   The water pipe was broken in three places      

<li>active</li><p>      Something/someone had broken the water pipe in three places</p>

<p>However, the use of the passive voice can lead to clumsy and overcomplicated sentences.</p>

<li>passive</li><p>  Difficulty was experienced in obtaining the product in a high state of purity</p>

<p>is rather convoluted way of saying</p>

<li>active</li><p>    The product was difficult to purify</p>

<p>which is a much clearer and more straightforward statement.</p>

<p>In general, the active voice is clearer, more direct and easier to read, but the passive voice can be more appropriate in particular circumstances. What is most important is for you to be aware of how you are writing, and how the voice that you choose affects the tone and the meaning of your words.</p></ul>
<h2>Personal or impersonal?</h2><p>Writers often try to avoid the use of personal expressions or statements in order to make their writing seem more impartial and formal. The following sentence has been written with both personal and impersonal expressions to highlight the contrast between the two writing styles.</p>
<ul>
<li>impersonal</li><p>The explanation for this phenomenon may be found in…  </p>
<li>personal</li><p>We/I believe that the explanation for this phenomenon may be found in...</p>
<p>However, used indiscriminately, writing impersonally can result in clumsy statements through an excessive use of the passive voice. This can lead to ambiguity or inaccuracy in your written work, for example:</p>
<li>impersonal & passive </li><p>It was decided that the temperature should be raised gives no information about the identity of the people who made the decision.</p>
<li>personal & active</li><p>We decided that the temperature should be raised avoids ambiguity and makes the sentence sound more direct, but uses the personal and rather informal we.</p>
<li>impersonal & active </li><p>The research team decided that the temperature should be raised is clear and direct.</p>
<p>Think carefully about your use of impersonal and personal expressions, taking care to ensure that your writing is always clear and unambiguous.</p>
<h2>Using tenses</h2><p>Scientific writing frequently uses the past tense, particularly when the main focus of the writing is to describe experiments or observations that took place prior to the time of writing, for example:</p>
<ul><li>
The data were analysed. </li>
<li>
The solution was decanted.</li>
<li>
The temperature was recorded.</li></ul>
<p>
However, the past tense may not be appropriate for everything that you write and sometimes you will need to combine different tenses in the same piece of writing. For example, the use of different tenses can help to clarify what happened or what you did in the past (past tense), what you conclude (present tense) and what will be an issue for the future (future tense). The following sentences show how different tenses can be used to achieve clarity in your written work.</p>
<h2>Sentence length</h2><p>Sentences that are too short and poorly connected can be irritating to read. Conversely, sentences that are too long and rambling are difficult to follow and are likely to be confusing. Use a sentence length that allows your thoughts to flow clearly. As a general rule there should be no more than 20-25 words in any one sentence. You may be able to reduce your sentence length by:</p>
<ul><li>
cutting out unnecessary words</li><p>
like might replace along the lines of</p>

<p>now may be just as appropriate as at the present time</p>

<p>we can now turn our attention to could perhaps be cut out entirely;</p>

<li>dividing complex sentences into separate phrases or sentences.</li><p>
If a breakdown occurs it is important that alternative supplies are available and the way that this is done is for the power stations to be linked through the high voltage transmission lines so that all of them contribute to the total supply of energy and an unexpectedly large demand can be handled.</p>

<li>can be re-written thus:</li></ul><p>

If a breakdown occurs it is important that alternative supplies are available; this is done by linking power stations through the high voltage transmission lines. All of them thus contribute to the total supply of energy and an unexpectedly large demand can be handled.</p>

<p>The experiment was carried out in a sterile environment (past tense for a statement of what happened). It is particularly important to avoid contamination (present tense for a statement that is a general 'truth'). It will be necessary to ensure that the same conditions are replicated in future experiments (future tense for a recommendation for the future).</p>

<p>An appropriate use of past, present and future tenses can contribute to a clear and unambiguous writing style.</p>

<ul>I like to use a shortcut code I made up when writing. Keep it <b>SIMPLE.</b>
<li><b>S</b>ubstantive process  (the steps of the writing process, such as taking notes to use while
writing or creating a story map to plan it out)</li>
<li><b>I</b>rrrelevant information (information offered by the authors that didn’t relate to the
questions; unsurprisingly, this was found to have no impact on their writing skill)</li>
<li><b>M</b>otivation (the role of effort in strong writing and ways to maintain effort in the face of
challenges)</li>
<li><b>P</b>roduction processes (the mechanics of good writing, such as writing neatly and spelling
words correctly)</li>
<li><b>L</b>earn to enjoy the tidying process. I don't like to write (I like to have written). But I love to rewrite. I especially like to
cut: to press the DELETE key and see an unnecessary word or phrase or sentence vanish into the electricity. </li>
<li><b>E</b>ngage your reader. (Continue to build.) Every paragraph should amplify the one that preceded it. Give more thought to adding solid detail and
less to entertaining the reader. But take special care with the last sentence of each paragraph—it's the crucial springboard to the next paragraph. Try to give that sentence an extra twist of humor or surprise, like the periodic "snapper" in the routine of a standup comic. Make the reader smile and you've got him for at least one more paragraph.</li></ul>
<h2>Summary</h2><p>
Writing well requires as much care and thought as the experiments or research that are written about. This study article has defined a number of characteristics of good writing, and has highlighted some of the key choices that authors must make if they are to write with accuracy and clarity. I hope you find it useful and enjoyed reading it.</p>

What Makes Up the Characteristics of Good Writing

What Makes Up the Characteristics of Good Writing There are many characteristics of good writing, no matter what type, and in this article, you will learn some of the elements of good writing. By offering you some strategies for making your writing more effective, helping you to write with accuracy and clarity.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD WRITING

Knowing the characteristics of good writing is important if you need to explain a variety of topics. Use KISS
• Keep it clear - it avoids unnecessary detail;
• Impartial - it avoids making assumptions (Everyone knows that ...) and unproven statements (It can never be proved that ...). It presents how and where data were collected and supports its conclusions with evidence;
• Simple - it uses direct language, avoiding vague or complicated sentences. Technical terms and jargon are used only when they are necessary for accuracy;
• Structured logically - ideas and processes are expressed in a logical order. The text is divided into sections with clear headings;

Developing good writing!

To reflect the characteristics of good writing in your own work, you need to think about the way that you write and the language that you use. A good author will have given consideration to the following choices in writing, making decisions that improve the effectiveness of the writing.

Choosing the words

To make your writing clear, accurate and concise you should consider carefully the words that you use, and the ways in which you use them.

Technical terms

In most scientific writing you will need to use some scientific or technical terms in order to be clear and unambiguous. However, use such terms only when you need to do so and do not try to impress the reader by using unnecessary technical jargon or lengthy words.

Abbreviations

Abbreviations can be a very useful way of saving time and avoiding repetition, but they can be confusing and might not be understood by everyone. Use standard abbreviations where these exist, and reduce your use of abbreviations to an absolute minimum; they are rarely essential.

Choosing a 'voice'

Scientific writers have a tendency to use passive rather than active expressions; stating that a was affected by b uses the passive voice while stating that b did something to a uses the active voice. The following example shows a sentence written in both the passive and active voices.

• passive

The experiment was designed by the research officer

• active

The research officer designed the experiment

The passive voice is particularly useful when you wish your writing to be formal and depersonalised:

• passive

It was agreed that the experiment should be...

• active

We agreed that the experiment should be...

information about the agent is obvious or unimportant:

• passive

Extra solvent was added to the flask

• active

The technician added extra solvent to the flask;

you do not know the identity of the agent:

• passive

The water pipe was broken in three places

• active

Something/someone had broken the water pipe in three places

However, the use of the passive voice can lead to clumsy and overcomplicated sentences.

• passive

Difficulty was experienced in obtaining the product in a high state of purity

is rather convoluted way of saying

• active

The product was difficult to purify

which is a much clearer and more straightforward statement.

In general, the active voice is clearer, more direct and easier to read, but the passive voice can be more appropriate in particular circumstances. What is most important is for you to be aware of how you are writing, and how the voice that you choose affects the tone and the meaning of your words.

Personal or impersonal?

Writers often try to avoid the use of personal expressions or statements in order to make their writing seem more impartial and formal. The following sentence has been written with both personal and impersonal expressions to highlight the contrast between the two writing styles.

• impersonal

The explanation for this phenomenon may be found in…

• personal

We/I believe that the explanation for this phenomenon may be found in...

However, used indiscriminately, writing impersonally can result in clumsy statements through an excessive use of the passive voice. This can lead to ambiguity or inaccuracy in your written work, for example:

• impersonal & passive

It was decided that the temperature should be raised gives no information about the identity of the people who made the decision.

• personal & active

We decided that the temperature should be raised avoids ambiguity and makes the sentence sound more direct, but uses the personal and rather informal we.

• impersonal & active

The research team decided that the temperature should be raised is clear and direct.

Think carefully about your use of impersonal and personal expressions, taking care to ensure that your writing is always clear and unambiguous.

Using tenses

Scientific writing frequently uses the past tense, particularly when the main focus of the writing is to describe experiments or observations that took place prior to the time of writing, for example:

• The data were analysed.
• The solution was decanted.
• The temperature was recorded.

However, the past tense may not be appropriate for everything that you write and sometimes you will need to combine different tenses in the same piece of writing. For example, the use of different tenses can help to clarify what happened or what you did in the past (past tense), what you conclude (present tense) and what will be an issue for the future (future tense). The following sentences show how different tenses can be used to achieve clarity in your written work.

Sentence length

Sentences that are too short and poorly connected can be irritating to read. Conversely, sentences that are too long and rambling are difficult to follow and are likely to be confusing. Use a sentence length that allows your thoughts to flow clearly. As a general rule there should be no more than 20-25 words in any one sentence. You may be able to reduce your sentence length by:

• cutting out unnecessary words

like might replace along the lines of

now may be just as appropriate as at the present time

we can now turn our attention to could perhaps be cut out entirely;

• dividing complex sentences into separate phrases or sentences.

If a breakdown occurs it is important that alternative supplies are available and the way that this is done is for the power stations to be linked through the high voltage transmission lines so that all of them contribute to the total supply of energy and an unexpectedly large demand can be handled.

• can be re-written thus:

If a breakdown occurs it is important that alternative supplies are available; this is done by linking power stations through the high voltage transmission lines. All of them thus contribute to the total supply of energy and an unexpectedly large demand can be handled.

The experiment was carried out in a sterile environment (past tense for a statement of what happened). It is particularly important to avoid contamination (present tense for a statement that is a general 'truth'). It will be necessary to ensure that the same conditions are replicated in future experiments (future tense for a recommendation for the future).

An appropriate use of past, present and future tenses can contribute to a clear and unambiguous writing style.

I like to use a shortcut code I made up when writing. Keep it SIMPLE.
• Substantive process (the steps of the writing process, such as taking notes to use while writing or creating a story map to plan it out)
• Irrrelevant information (information offered by the authors that didn’t relate to the questions; unsurprisingly, this was found to have no impact on their writing skill)
• Motivation (the role of effort in strong writing and ways to maintain effort in the face of challenges)
• Production processes (the mechanics of good writing, such as writing neatly and spelling words correctly)
• Learn to enjoy the tidying process. I don't like to write (I like to have written). But I love to rewrite. I especially like to cut: to press the DELETE key and see an unnecessary word or phrase or sentence vanish into the electricity.
• Engage your reader. (Continue to build.) Every paragraph should amplify the one that preceded it. Give more thought to adding solid detail and less to entertaining the reader. But take special care with the last sentence of each paragraph—it's the crucial springboard to the next paragraph. Try to give that sentence an extra twist of humor or surprise, like the periodic "snapper" in the routine of a standup comic. Make the reader smile and you've got him for at least one more paragraph.

Summary

Writing well requires as much care and thought as the experiments or research that are written about. This study article has defined a number of characteristics of good writing, and has highlighted some of the key choices that authors must make if they are to write with accuracy and clarity. I hope you find it useful and enjoyed reading it.

Meaningful Content Various Ways To Create It

What Makes Up the Characteristics of Good Writing There are many characteristics of good writing, no matter what type, and in this article, you will learn some of the elements of good writing. By offering you some strategies for making your writing more effective, helping you to write with accuracy and clarity.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD WRITING

Knowing the characteristics of good writing is important if you need to explain a variety of topics. Use KISS
• Keep it clear - it avoids unnecessary detail;
• Impartial - it avoids making assumptions (Everyone knows that ...) and unproven statements (It can never be proved that ...). It presents how and where data were collected and supports its conclusions with evidence;
• Simple - it uses direct language, avoiding vague or complicated sentences. Technical terms and jargon are used only when they are necessary for accuracy;
• Structured logically - ideas and processes are expressed in a logical order. The text is divided into sections with clear headings;

Developing good writing!

To reflect the characteristics of good writing in your own work, you need to think about the way that you write and the language that you use. A good author will have given consideration to the following choices in writing, making decisions that improve the effectiveness of the writing.

Choosing the words

To make your writing clear, accurate and concise you should consider carefully the words that you use, and the ways in which you use them.

Technical terms

In most scientific writing you will need to use some scientific or technical terms in order to be clear and unambiguous. However, use such terms only when you need to do so and do not try to impress the reader by using unnecessary technical jargon or lengthy words.

Abbreviations

Abbreviations can be a very useful way of saving time and avoiding repetition, but they can be confusing and might not be understood by everyone. Use standard abbreviations where these exist, and reduce your use of abbreviations to an absolute minimum; they are rarely essential.

Choosing a 'voice'

Scientific writers have a tendency to use passive rather than active expressions; stating that a was affected by b uses the passive voice while stating that b did something to a uses the active voice. The following example shows a sentence written in both the passive and active voices.

• passive
The experiment was designed by the research officer

• active
The research officer designed the experiment
The passive voice is particularly useful when you wish your writing to be formal and depersonalised:

• passive
It was agreed that the experiment should be...

• active
We agreed that the experiment should be...
information about the agent is obvious or unimportant:

• passive
Extra solvent was added to the flask

• active
The technician added extra solvent to the flask;
you do not know the identity of the agent:

• passive
The water pipe was broken in three places

• active
Something/someone had broken the water pipe in three places
However, the use of the passive voice can lead to clumsy and overcomplicated sentences.

• passive
Difficulty was experienced in obtaining the product in a high state of purity
is rather convoluted way of saying

• active
The product was difficult to purify
which is a much clearer and more straightforward statement.
In general, the active voice is clearer, more direct and easier to read, but the passive voice can be more appropriate in particular circumstances. What is most important is for you to be aware of how you are writing, and how the voice that you choose affects the tone and the meaning of your words.

Personal or impersonal?

Writers often try to avoid the use of personal expressions or statements in order to make their writing seem more impartial and formal. The following sentence has been written with both personal and impersonal expressions to highlight the contrast between the two writing styles.

• impersonal
The explanation for this phenomenon may be found in…

• personal
We/I believe that the explanation for this phenomenon may be found in...
However, used indiscriminately, writing impersonally can result in clumsy statements through an excessive use of the passive voice. This can lead to ambiguity or inaccuracy in your written work, for example:

• impersonal & passive
It was decided that the temperature should be raised gives no information about the identity of the people who made the decision.

• personal & active
We decided that the temperature should be raised avoids ambiguity and makes the sentence sound more direct, but uses the personal and rather informal we.

• impersonal & active
The research team decided that the temperature should be raised is clear and direct.
Think carefully about your use of impersonal and personal expressions, taking care to ensure that your writing is always clear and unambiguous.


Using tenses

Scientific writing frequently uses the past tense, particularly when the main focus of the writing is to describe experiments or observations that took place prior to the time of writing, for example:

• The data were analysed.
• The solution was decanted.
• The temperature was recorded.
However, the past tense may not be appropriate for everything that you write and sometimes you will need to combine different tenses in the same piece of writing. For example, the use of different tenses can help to clarify what happened or what you did in the past (past tense), what you conclude (present tense) and what will be an issue for the future (future tense). The following sentences show how different tenses can be used to achieve clarity in your written work.


Sentence length

Sentences that are too short and poorly connected can be irritating to read. Conversely, sentences that are too long and rambling are difficult to follow and are likely to be confusing. Use a sentence length that allows your thoughts to flow clearly. As a general rule there should be no more than 20-25 words in any one sentence. You may be able to reduce your sentence length by:

• cutting out unnecessary words
like might replace along the lines of
now may be just as appropriate as at the present time
we can now turn our attention to could perhaps be cut out entirely;

• dividing complex sentences into separate phrases or sentences.
If a breakdown occurs it is important that alternative supplies are available and the way that this is done is for the power stations to be linked through the high voltage transmission lines so that all of them contribute to the total supply of energy and an unexpectedly large demand can be handled.

• can be re-written thus:
If a breakdown occurs it is important that alternative supplies are available; this is done by linking power stations through the high voltage transmission lines. All of them thus contribute to the total supply of energy and an unexpectedly large demand can be handled.
The experiment was carried out in a sterile environment (past tense for a statement of what happened). It is particularly important to avoid contamination (present tense for a statement that is a general 'truth'). It will be necessary to ensure that the same conditions are replicated in future experiments (future tense for a recommendation for the future).
An appropriate use of past, present and future tenses can contribute to a clear and unambiguous writing style.

I like to use a shortcut code I made up when writing. Keep it SIMPLE.
• Substantive process (the steps of the writing process, such as taking notes to use while writing or creating a story map to plan it out)
• Irrrelevant information (information offered by the authors that didn’t relate to the questions; unsurprisingly, this was found to have no impact on their writing skill)
• Motivation (the role of effort in strong writing and ways to maintain effort in the face of challenges)
• Production processes (the mechanics of good writing, such as writing neatly and spelling words correctly)
• Learn to enjoy the tidying process. I don't like to write (I like to have written). But I love to rewrite. I especially like to cut: to press the DELETE key and see an unnecessary word or phrase or sentence vanish into the electricity.
• Engage your reader. (Continue to build.) Every paragraph should amplify the one that preceded it. Give more thought to adding solid detail and less to entertaining the reader. But take special care with the last sentence of each paragraph—it's the crucial springboard to the next paragraph. Try to give that sentence an extra twist of humor or surprise, like the periodic "snapper" in the routine of a standup comic. Make the reader smile and you've got him for at least one more paragraph.

Summary

Writing well requires as much care and thought as the experiments or research that are written about. This study article has defined a number of characteristics of good writing, and has highlighted some of the key choices that authors must make if they are to write with accuracy and clarity. I hope you find it useful and enjoyed reading it.

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