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Unit 11: Writing skills - Style of writing

  • Be clear and concise.
  • Avoid long sentences.
  • Use short simple words in preference to long obscure ones.
  • Eliminate unnecessary jargon.
  • Where you use abbreviations, explain them the first time you use them.
  • Consider choice of words, for example, use 'received' or 'acquired' rather than 'got'.
  • Do not constantly use the same words.
  • It is important to acknowledge the ideas and actual words you have taken from the sources you have used. This is known as citation.
  • Where you do use the words of others, ensure you place them in “quotations”.
  • Check the grammar - here are some tips
  • Here is some advice on impersonal writing from Dr Jane McKay of the School of Health and Life Sciences Learning Development Centre Can't see the video? You may need to change the settings on your browser. Here's how.

 

Your ‘voice'

Your lecturers want to hear your voice, not someone else's, so use your own ideas and words. You will need to back your ideas up with evidence from else where, but have confidence in your own expression of your ideas.
Follow the assignment instructions on whether you should be using an ‘active' or ‘passive' voice. Bear in mind that plain english guidelines recommend using the active voice whenever possible.

  • The active voice reads as follows: ‘I recommend ...'
  • The passive voice reads: ‘It is recommended that ...'

The active voice allows you to write short, punchy sentences. The passive appears more formal and considered and may be more suitable for academic writing. Avoid mixing the two voices. Now try this short quiz .

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SMILE by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License