Effective Writing: Improving Scientific, Technical and Business Communication

Book Cover......Page 1
Half-Title......Page 2
Title......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
From the reviews of the First Edition......Page 7
Preface......Page 8
About the authors......Page 9
Writing as communication......Page 10
Causes of poor writing......Page 12
Authority and tradition......Page 13
First principles......Page 16
Models of communication......Page 17
Noise and redundancy affect communication......Page 19
Communication is never perfect......Page 20
Language as code......Page 21
Grammar is a code......Page 22
Making your writing more impressive......Page 23
References......Page 26
Identifying aim......Page 27
Identify your reader’s aim......Page 29
Who are the audience?......Page 30
What do they know?......Page 31
Readers’ attitudes......Page 32
Psychological and physical contexts......Page 34
Selecting information......Page 36
Arrangement of information......Page 38
Stage three— make a plan......Page 40
Stage four— discuss a synopsis......Page 42
Stage five— draft the text......Page 43
Stage seven— revise and edit......Page 44
The complete text......Page 46
The initial impact......Page 47
The front page......Page 48
Factors that give emphasis......Page 49
Wording of titles......Page 51
The body of the report......Page 53
Table of contents......Page 54
Introductory material......Page 56
Account of the work done......Page 58
Order of arrangement......Page 60
Pyramids of evidence......Page 61
Amount of detail......Page 62
Discussion and analysis......Page 63
Conclusions......Page 64
Acknowledgements......Page 65
References......Page 66
Citing references in the text......Page 67
Using superscript numbers......Page 68
Footnotes......Page 69
Placing of illustrations......Page 70
Structure for other types of documents......Page 72
References......Page 74
Formal and informative headings......Page 75
Systems of numbering......Page 76
6 Algorithms for complex possibilities and procedures......Page 79
References......Page 83
Functional style......Page 86
Readability research......Page 87
Long sentences......Page 88
Adjusting sentence length......Page 89
Flexible sentence length......Page 90
Using layout......Page 92
Long words......Page 93
Long words do not impress......Page 94
Long words confuse......Page 95
Jargon......Page 97
Ladders of abstraction......Page 98
Unnecessary words......Page 99
Redundant words......Page 100
Nominalization......Page 102
Passive......Page 103
Personal versus impersonal......Page 106
References......Page 110
Using a word-processor......Page 112
Using word-processors to plan and organize documents......Page 113
Disadvantages in word-processing......Page 114
Computer-aided writing......Page 117
In summary......Page 118
An extended title......Page 119
A ‘map’ of the paper......Page 120
A precis is not a summary......Page 121
Descriptive or informative......Page 122
Informative summaries are best......Page 124
Informative summaries use words efficiently......Page 125
Helpful approximations......Page 127
The organization of a summary......Page 128
What is a logical order?......Page 129
Getting the right balance......Page 130
Rules of thumb......Page 131
Place the summary first......Page 132
Style for summaries......Page 133
Telegraphese......Page 135
A summary of summaries......Page 136
Thinking about the task......Page 137
The resources and techniques available to the writer......Page 140
Tables......Page 142
Ruling......Page 143
Clarity and manageability......Page 147
Bar charts......Page 150
Pie charts and surface charts......Page 155
Graphs......Page 157
Flow charts......Page 160
Use of symbols......Page 161
Emphasis on flow and functions......Page 164
Skilful use of lines, shapes and tones......Page 167
A word of caution......Page 168
References......Page 170
11 Writing instructions......Page 177
Are the instructions complete?......Page 178
What assumptions do you make?......Page 179
Relative words......Page 180
Words with double meanings......Page 181
Unusual words, or unusual usages of familiar words......Page 182
Ambiguous grammar......Page 183
Instructions for driving a car......Page 184
Correct sequence for faultless operation......Page 185
The layout of instructions......Page 186
Sequence of sections in instructions......Page 188
The wording of warnings......Page 189
Numbering instructions......Page 190
Style for operating instructions......Page 191
Modal verbs......Page 193
Negative instructions......Page 195
12 Writing descriptions and explanations......Page 197
Write descriptions stage by stage......Page 200
Logical order in description......Page 201
Keep thinking of the reader......Page 203
13 Writing letters and memoranda......Page 205
Communication is a relationship......Page 207
Use personal pronouns......Page 208
Layout of the letter......Page 209
Start with the important point......Page 210
Ending......Page 212
Tactics for letters......Page 213
Writing memoranda......Page 214
Dictating letters......Page 216
References......Page 218
Minutes as memoranda......Page 219
Brief, formal records of decisions......Page 220
Summaries of discussion and decisions......Page 225
Style for minutes......Page 227
Reference......Page 228
Give the examiners what they want......Page 229
Simulating real-life situations......Page 230
Analysing the objective of the examination......Page 232
Examinations in Communication or Technical Writing......Page 233
Examinations in English......Page 234
Questions that ask for a report of direct speech......Page 240
Questions that ask you to write a letter or memorandum......Page 241
Reference......Page 242
The Gunning ‘Fog Index’......Page 243
Statements......Page 245
Questions......Page 246
Must......Page 247
Say and tell......Page 248
Index......Page 249