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Results 51 to 60 of 321 (page 6 of 33)
Using verbs with flair!
An English blog post about dull verbs and how to replace them in your writing.Can you solve this riddle? “I can express an action, an event or a state of being. What am I?” You guessed it! I’m a verb: an essential part of a sentence! “Conjugated,” “irregular,” “transitive,” “intransitive,” “reflexive,” “auxiliary,” “attributive” and “impersonal” are all terms that people use to describe types of verbs and verb groups. But let’s put grammar aside and consider dull, weak verbs for a moment. Spectacularly dull verbs The sky, a person’s complexion, colours can appear dull or lacklustre. According to Antidote’s English dictionary, “dull” refers to something that isn’t interesting or exciting. A dull verb is a catch-all that is dull because it’s overused. I remember one of my high school teachers going over the three verbs that people use for just about anything: “to have,” “to be” and “to do.” But they aren’t the only dull verbs out there! Here are a few others: to come to go to make to hold to put to get to move Elimination of dull verbs: a slam dunk? Should we banish all dull verbs from our writing to make it more lively and exciting? Of course not! Besides, that would be impossible. However, there are many advantages to replacing some weak verbs with stronger ones. More specific meanings When you have more than one verb to choose from, it’s better to choose the most specific one. Compare these two sentences: She put sauce on her noodles. She heaped sauce onto her noodles. To heap one thing onto another means to lay large amounts of something on something else. “Heap” has a more specific meaning than “put” does. Greater effect Imagine you’re in a theatre. An actor stands on stage performing a role. The actor’s performance is dull; the voice intonation, flat. Lines are simply being recited. A text with dull verbs is like that actor’s performance: the words aren’t wrong, but they don’t convey any enthusiasm or conviction either. Instead of writing “The hotel is beside Lake Louise,” you could rephrase the sentence to give it some depth. For example, you could say “The hotel overlooks Lake Louise.” This version makes it easier for the reader to visualize the magnificent view from the hotel. Concise writing Many dull verbs require direct objects. However, by replacing dull verbs with more concise and precise ones, you eliminate the need for a direct object and shorten your sentence. For example, “to have a chat with someone” can become “to chat with someone.” Instead of saying “I’ll make a stop at their place,” why not say “I’ll stop by their place”? Instead of writing “to have trouble doing something,” you can use the verbs “to struggle” or “to toil,” depending on the context. A good impression Overusing dull verbs takes away from the text and will bore the reader. Enhance your writing by choosing more specific verbs (for example: “this person exudes energy,” instead of “this person has a lot of energy”), or liven up your texts by using action verbs (for example: “she’s whipping up a dessert,” instead of “she’s making a dessert”). Sometimes, you’ll have to reword your sentences. Compare the following examples. An example of a sentence with a weak verb, and its revised version Dull version Revised version She is not happy with the way things have gone and wants to leave. Unhappy with the turn of events, she decides to leave. No more boring texts Once you’ve written your text, set it aside and let the ideas settle. Fresh eyes will help you spot dull verbs. As with most things, remember to practise moderation! Instead of crossing out every dull verb, try changing a few of them. To find alternatives, you can look for inspiration in thesauruses, dictionaries and books on difficult points of English. Replacing dull verbs requires real mental gymnastics. However, the more you practise, the better and faster you’ll be able to identify and replace these dull verbs. You might even find that reading more helps. After all, as writers know, reading is a great way to improve your writing. No matter what method you choose, though, your style will improve with practice for everyone’s reading pleasure. Adapted by Nicholas Vaughan, Language Portal of CanadaSource: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)
Number of views: 1,906
inasmuch as, insofar as
Insofar as (also spelled in so far as) means “to the extent that.” That’s the end of the story insofar (or in so far) as the citizens of Nanaimo are concerned. Inasmuch as, written in two words, is usually used as a long and very formal synonym for because or since. Inasmuch as you have expressed your desire to marry, we shall not oppose your wishes. However, inasmuch as can also be used to mean “to the extent that” and can thus be used interchangeably with insofar as in some contexts. The meeting went ahead in the absence of quorum, and the issues were dealt with inasmuch as possible (or insofar as possible) under the circumstances.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 1,897
simple sentence
A simple sentence (or independent clause) is a word group that contains a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought: The girls rowed past the dock. In this example, girls is the subject, rowed is the verb, and the entire word group forms a complete thought—that is, it makes sense by itself. Simple sentence structures The examples below show the many different structures that can appear in a simple sentence: 1 subject, 1 verb: The girls rowed past the dock. 2 subjects, 1 verb: Sarah and Tiffany raised the sail. 1 subject, 2 verbs: The wind had fallen but was rising quickly by late afternoon. 2 subjects, 2 verbs: Gulls and terns circled overhead or floated on the water. Verb before subject for effect: Across the waves to the island sped the boat. Verb before subject in a question: Was the island inhabited? Verb before and after subject in a question: Had anyone gone there before? There + verb before subject: There are no people on the island. Here + verb before subject: Here is a small harbour. Command verb with subject you omitted: Lower the sail. Row to shore. Use Simple sentences are grammatically correct, but too many can make your writing less interesting. Use them sparingly, therefore. A few well-placed simple sentences can create a stylistic effect when combined with longer compound and complex sentences. In the following passage, the two simple sentences at the end emphasize the speed of events and the sudden danger: The storm broke with a fury before they could reach shelter. Slipping and stumbling on the muddy ground, they dragged the canoe farther up the shore; then, wet and exhausted, they battled their way to the cabin. Suddenly, lightning struck. The roof was on fire!Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 1,889
Plain language: It’s not just for children
An English blog post about using plain language in writing to help readers understand a text easily and quickly.Everyone seems to struggle to implement the concept of using plain language in their writing. So what does plain language really mean? It’s not, as some seem to think, writing so children can understand the words. We’re writing for adults (usually well-educated adults) who are very busy and who have to deal with many issues over the course of their day. The ease with which they read your text helps them to make decisions more quickly and easily. The goal of plain language is to enable the reader to read your text once and immediately understand it, so they can then complete an associated task. No one reads at work for fun! Everyone has a purpose in reading: a decision to make or an action to take. Your text is there to guide them; so the more quickly and easily they can understand exactly what you’ve written, the more quickly and easily they can make a decision or take action. Word length One of the key factors in readability is the use of shorter words. Did you know that 98 of the 100 most common words in the English language have five or fewer letters? Yes! And those other two words are “because” and “people.” These 100 words are common because people know exactly what they mean. No one has to think about what they might mean. Shorter words help readers understand your key points and the implications of your key points quickly. Let’s look at an example: “onomatopoeia.” That’s a word that resembles the sound it makes. Think “meow” or “whoosh.” It might sound very impressive to use the word “onomatopoeia,” but it won’t impress a reader who doesn’t know what it means. Just use the word that resembles the sound. Consider a word that you’ve perhaps used repeatedly: “endeavour.” It means “try.” Granted, “try” isn’t as flashy as “endeavour,” and “try” certainly doesn’t roll off your tongue the way “endeavour” does. For readers, that doesn’t matter. What’s important to them is that they immediately know what you’re telling them. Comprehension with speed matters to readers. Verbs, verbs, verbs! A second key factor in readability is the use of active voice verbs. Your sentences are clearer when you use active voice verbs and you stay away from passive voice. Active voice verbs clearly indicate who is performing the action in the sentence, making those sentences easier to read and faster to understand. Further, translators find sentences with active voice verbs much easier to translate accurately than sentences with passive voice verbs. A third key factor in readability is the use of dynamic and precise verbs. If you’re serious about wanting the reader to actually read your whole document, you have to give them a reason to. Make it interesting, not dry! Use verbs that evoke images. The more precise you can be with your verbs, the more engaging and clearer your writing is. Yes, you can obfuscate. (Do you like that verb? It means “to hide or confuse or cover up.”) But that won’t get you what you need. Readers are pretty smart; they usually have a fairly good sense about text that’s hiding something, and they aren’t impressed by that text. Verbs with clear meanings make your text easier to understand. Sentence length While there are about 10 other key factors in readability, I’ll leave you with just one more: Keep your sentences under 25 words each, and vary the length of sentences in a paragraph. The longer the sentence is, the harder it is for the reader to go from the capital letter to the period and retain the important parts. Shorter is clearer. Long sentences can lose the reader, because they’re not easily readable. In this post, we’ve discussed plain language and why it’s important. We’ve also discussed four ways to increase the readability of your text. Use them and let us know what kind of feedback you receive!Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)
Number of views: 1,882
clear communication: use clear words and expressions
(A similar topic is discussed in French in the article Communication claire : choisissez des mots clairs.) To make your texts easy to understand, you must have not only an excellent grasp of your topic but also an idea of how much your readers already know. Whenever possible, choose words that the readers are familiar with. If you need to use more complex words, there are techniques you can use to make them easier to understand, as you will see below. On this page Use simple, familiar words and phrases Use appropriate expressions and references Avoid jargon and unfamiliar acronyms or expressions Explain complex terms and ideas Use concrete examples Use comparisons Avoid chains of nouns Use simple words and phrases In the list below, the column on the right gives a more straightforward and often shorter way to express the same idea: Ways to replace long expressions Instead of Use After this is accomplished Then at an early date soon facilitate help, make possible five in number five in the absence of without It would be appropriate for me to begin by saying that First, owing to the fact that because, since Use appropriate expressions and references For example, the expression la langue de Molière in a French document would make perfect sense to Francophone readers. But the concept may not translate as well into an English document for Anglophone or allophone readers. In this case, it would be more straightforward, and less likely to cause confusion, to say French instead of the language of Molière. Also, keep in mind that some terms can refer to different concepts. For example, in Canada, college refers to a post-secondary technical or vocational institution that confers diplomas or certificates, while university refers to a post-secondary institution of advanced learning that confers degrees. In the US, college refers to post-secondary educational institutions in general (both colleges and universities). Therefore, if you are writing for a Canadian audience, be sure to make the distinction between college and university. In short, your readers will find your texts easier to understand if you eliminate the guesswork. Try to imagine any questions your readers might have, and answer them in your text. Avoid jargon and unfamiliar acronyms or expressions This is especially important when you are writing for the public. Even for internal documents, consider using an alternative expression if some of your readers may not know the specialized term. Expressions such as roll out, stakeholder and re-engineering may be unclear except to a specialized audience and tend to be overused. Administrative jargon and officialese can cloud the message and make it incomprehensible to many readers. Instead of this: The challenges of the position involve ensuring the provision of delivery of the program in the most efficient manner possible in light of an ever-changing client profile which is impacted on by the adjustments to the programs necessitated by changing federal legislation and by the incidence of federal cutbacks in resource allotments. Write this: The challenges of the position include delivering the program as efficiently as possible in light of an ever-changing client profile, changes in federal legislation and resource cutbacks. Explain complex terms and ideas Make sure that complex notions or subtle distinctions are clarified. The following sentence requires specialized knowledge on the reader’s part: Holders of locked-in RRSPs, currently limited to purchases of life annuities with those funds, will be allowed to purchase life income funds. Is it clear to the reader how “locked-in RRSPs” differ from other RRSPs and what the distinction between “life annuities” and “life income funds” is? If not, explain these notions before going on. In some cases, adding a few words is enough to help the reader: Your request concerns paragraph 14(2)(a), which deals with privacy issues. The family doctor will refer her patient to a nephrologist—a kidney specialist. This process destroys anaerobic micro-organisms, in other words, organisms that can survive without oxygen. Use concrete examples Here are some examples: A stereotype is a false or exaggerated preconceived opinion about an individual or group. For example, the notion that all adolescents are drug users is a stereotype. Please show the clerk two pieces of ID (e.g. driver’s licence, passport, birth certificate). Use comparisons Here are some examples: The hard drive is the brain of a computer. He bought a lot measuring 12,000 square metres (about the size of two football fields). Avoid chains of nouns Nouns can modify other nouns in English, but three or more nouns in a row can obscure the meaning: the reader has to differentiate between the concepts and decide how the nouns are interrelated. Examples of noun chains abound in administrative writing: departmental expenditure increase review investment income deferral advantage post-selection feedback session employment insurance premium rate increases It is easier for the reader to understand the message if some of the nouns are linked by prepositions such as of, for, to and in. The first example could be reformulated as “a review of increases in departmental expenditures.” Although the revised version uses more words, it is clearer and simpler to read.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 1,881
More secrets of syntax
Some Secrets of Syntax introduced ways of playing with the basic subject + verb + object syntax of the English sentence to build anticipation and emphasis. This article looks at how rearranging syntax can make a document, be it a report, newsletter or website, more readable by boosting rhythm and adding variety. Rhythm Why think about rhythm? "A writer’s pursuit of stylistic fluency is not complete without attention to the music created by words and sentences—to the rhythm of language." (Doug Babington and Don LePan, Broadview Guide to Writing) Rhythm is by no means the sole province of poets and musicians. Anyone who encounters a prose passage that pleases the ear as well as the mind knows the satisfaction that comes from the rhythm of words. With the possible exception of user manuals and other instructions, writing that has a spring in its step (to mangle a metaphor) stands a far greater chance of being read than prose that plods doggedly along. Rhythm and syllabic stresses In language, rhythm arises largely from alternating stressed and unstressed syllables. Strict rhythm that follows a definable meter may be overkill in most workplace writing, but in the right situations—opening or closing sentences, headings, tag lines, speeches—it can be the secret to a memorable sentence. I remember several years ago writing a promotional blurb for my punctuation workshop. Most of the description was finished, but I was struggling with the opening line. Here’s what I had: As the old saying goes, God is in the details. For reasons I couldn’t articulate, I wasn’t satisfied with the sentence. As a lead-in to capture readers’ attention, it seemed flat and (through no fault of the content) not quite right. I tinkered, then tinkered some more, then came up with this: God is in the details, the old saying goes. Suddenly, the sentence came alive. It had rhythm. Specifically, it had trochee, a pattern that switches between stressed and unstressed syllables (think of pick-up hock-ey). Trochee is an easy rhythm to overuse—too much of it and your report will sound like a Mother Goose tale—but for this one important sentence, it did the trick. Here is another example of how tighter rhythm can lift a sentence to a new level: A few were lucky enough to escape the fire. A lucky few escaped the fire. The second sentence relies on iamb, a pattern that, in a reversal of trochee, alternates unstressed and stressed syllables (in-tense re-lief). As brief as it is, this second sentence has music in it. Rhythm and intonation Rhythm also comes from intonation, the way the voice naturally rises and falls as it moves through a sentence. The easiest way to create this kind of rhythm is to repeat a series of parallel phrases or clauses, a technique Tom Wolfe masterfully wields in his novel A Man in Full: "He loved all those board meetings too much, loved being up on the dais at all those banquets too much, loved all those tributes to Inman Armholster the great philanthropist, all those junkets to the north of Italy, the south of France, and God knew where else on Armaxco’s Falcon 900, all those minions jumping every time he so much as crooked his little finger." Variety Why think about variety? "This writing is boring. Boring!" (Or so nearly every reader—even you—may think at one time or another) No one, no matter how disciplined or earnest or technically minded or scholarly, really wants a steady diet of monotonous sentences. And monotony is exactly what we get with an unending cascade of subject + verb + object sentences. Take note of the length and structure of your sentences and don’t be afraid to mix them up from time to time, even in formal, businesslike writing. The only risk you run is that readers might find the material (heaven forbid) appealing. Variety and sentence length Are your sentences all the same length? That’s one recipe for monotony. Most writing benefits from a framework of medium-length sentences with some longer and shorter ones hammered on for good measure. It can be especially effective to follow a long sentence with a short one so as to highlight the short sentence: Many scientists hail Dr. Spudnik’s research as groundbreaking, stressing its relevance to both the practice and study of tuber cultivation. We disagree. Variety and sentence type Most writing relies on the declarative sentence (statement). To change it up, try an occasional interrogative (question) or imperative (command). Besides adding variety, the switch changes the emphasis and speaks directly to the reader: According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the world consumes roughly 3.5 billion cubic metres of wood each year. How much wood is that? Coal-burning plants harm the environment in various ways, one of which is contributing to acid rain. But consider the alternatives. Another way to liven up prose is to mix cumulative and periodic sentences. If your response to that advice is "Huh?" you’re not alone. These sentence types are virtual strangers outside the world of grammar and rhetoric. The cumulative sentence, also known as the "loose" sentence, is the more common type in English. It begins with the main idea in an independent clause, then tacks on elaborating details. The cumulative sentence mirrors how we speak: we usually first articulate our main idea, then add caveats and embellishments afterward. This similarity gives cumulative sentences a conversational feel: One company that has readied itself for climate change is Trees & Such, a family-owned forest products company with a long history in western Canada. "Perfectionism will ruin your writing, blocking inventiveness and playfulness and life force (these are words we are allowed to use in California)." (Anne Lamott) The periodic sentence, on the other hand, builds up to the independent clause, which appears at the end. Because periodic sentences delay the main message, they seem carefully composed, unlikely to have hurried off the tongue. Their ordered, writerly flavour makes a nice counterpoint to cumulative sentences. They are also the perfect structure when your main message is striking or surprising: Thanks to the combined efforts of government and industry, and with funding from the largest research unit in eastern Canada, the 3G (Garbage Going Green) program has developed dozens of new uses for recycled materials. "Early one morning, under the arc of a lamp, carefully, silently, in smock and leather gloves, old Doctor Manza grafted a cat’s head onto a chicken’s trunk." (Dylan Thomas) Variety and sentence openings If all your sentences begin the same way (with the subject, for instance), readers soon become hypnotized, and not in a good way. Snap them out of it by varying your sentence openings. Transitional words and phrases The boy’s elders said that young warriors build strength and wisdom by making mistakes, by learning from failure. Yet what did they know about fighting dragons? She barely escaped being swept away in the icy mountain stream. After that, her outlook on adventure changed drastically. Adjectives and adverbs Weak but elated, the climbers hoisted themselves onto the rocky peak. Surprisingly, no one disputed Leo’s self-proclaimed title of Gyroscope Guru. Phrases and dependent clauses Sitting in the window and surveying the lavender fields below her, Aimee felt happy and lucky to be alive. To qualify for flight training, you must be in good physical condition and pass a written test. As the soothsayer had foretold, the crops withered and a pestilence struck the livestock. Reading these sentences, did you notice their beat? The minute you diversify sentence structure, you also diversify rhythm. And that’s the beauty of paying attention to syntax. A small shift here and there creates a ripple through the document, and the reader is buoyed pleasantly along.Source: Peck’s English Pointers (articles and exercises on the English language)
Number of views: 1,865
knot, knots per hour
Because a knot is a unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile (1.85 km) per hour, it is redundant to say or write knots per hour. The cruising speed of a Boeing 747 is about 490 knots (not knots per hour). Winds of up to 75 knots (not knots per hour) are forecast on Lake Michigan. While it has been traditional to measure the speed of ships, aircraft and wind in knots, the metric (SI) measurement of kilometres per hour is preferred in Canada. Even with her sails furled, the Bluenose II can travel at 14.8 km/h (or 8 knots), thanks to her powerful engines. For the sake of clarity, when knot is used as a modifier, a hyphen is inserted between the numeral and knot (e.g., a 75-knot wind). A violent 70-knot gust shredded jibs and mainsails in the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 1,864
Filipino, Pilipino, Tagalog
Filipino (formerly called Pilipino) is the national language—and one of two official languages—of the Philippines; the other official language is English. Modern Filipino has incorporated many English and Spanish words. Note: Filipino is essentially the same language as Tagalog, a major language of the region. A native or inhabitant of the Philippines is known as a Filipino (masculine or inclusive) or a Filipina (feminine). Corazon Aquino was the first Filipina to serve as president of the Philippines. Rose met many other Filipino women when she moved to Vancouver. During the twentieth century, Filipinos emigrated from the Philippines in three great waves.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 1,840
missing gap, gap
Redundancies are words that unnecessarily repeat information. Because gap indicates the absence of something, the modifier missing in the familiar phrase missing gap is redundant. Site-specific research must be carried out to fill the gaps (not missing gaps).Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 1,823
clear communication: simplify your sentences
(A similar topic is discussed in French in the article Communication claire : clarifiez vos phrases.) Often without realizing it, we write long and complicated sentences, strung together with commas and other punctuation marks. If you really want to write for your reader, you need to write shorter and simpler sentences. Here are a few pointers on how to write clear and effective sentences: On this page Keep your sentences fairly short Tackle one main idea per sentence Divide long sentences Cut out unnecessary words to shorten sentences Put things in subject-verb-object order Keep the verb close to its subject and object Use linking words and punctuation Keep your sentences fairly short A target to aim for: 15 to 20 words. That’s usually long enough to get your point across without losing your reader. Sentences of more than 25 words are often difficult to understand on first reading. And even the most seasoned reader will struggle to make sense of sentences longer than 30 words. Of course, 15-to-20 isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. A document of only 17-word sentences will seem monotonous. And too many short sentences will sound choppy. Varying your sentence length will help keep your writing lively and your reader interested. Tackle one main idea per sentence This is an easy way to ensure that your sentences stay short and to reduce the risk of mistakes in your mechanics. Divide long sentences This 55-word sentence below is difficult to understand on first reading because it contains too much information: The amendment provides for pension benefits to be fully funded as they are earned by employees and for the basic pension accounts to be combined with the portion of the Supplementary Retirement Benefits Account that relates to each plan so that all future benefits, including all indexing payments, can be charged to the appropriate accounts. You could rewrite it this way: Under the amended policy, employees’ pension benefits will be fully funded as they are earned. Moreover, the basic pension account for each plan will absorb the portion of the Supplementary Retirement Benefits Account that applies to that plan. In this way, all future benefits, including indexing payments, can be charged to the appropriate accounts. Cut out unnecessary words to shorten sentences Instead of this : Slower labour force growth may attenuate somewhat the problem of unemployment over the next decade, since there will no longer be a need to absorb large numbers of new workers entering the labour market. Write this: With fewer younger workers entering the job market, unemployment may drop over the next decade. Put things in subject-verb-object order Standard sentence order is the easiest to understand. Instead of this: The following are the requirements that employees must meet. (object-subject-verb) Write this: Employees must meet the following requirements. (subject-verb-object) Keep the verb close to its subject and object It is distracting and confusing when non-essential information separates the verb from its subject or its object. Instead of this: The director, after a lengthy consultation process with the commissioner, decided to make some recommendations. (The verb, decided, is separated from the subject, director.) Or this: The director decided, after a lengthy consultation process with the commissioner, to make some recommendations. (The verb, decided, is separated from the object, to make some recommendations.) Write this: After a lengthy consultation process with the commissioner, the director decided to make some recommendations. Use linking words and punctuation Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) and certain punctuation marks (comma, semicolon, colon) can help connect ideas in two parts of a sentence. He missed the concert: tickets sold out before he got to the box office. I would have checked the file, but the cabinet was locked. Marie attends the meetings and writes the minutes. Writing short, simple sentences helps you express your ideas more clearly.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 1,735