Blog: Intellectual Writing
By Evan Papamichael
Good writing allows you to adapt to a method of communication which is easy to read by your audience.
Plain English is simple to read and does not use jargon or abbreviation.
K – Keep
I – It
S – Short
A – And
S – Sweet
Remember your audience and that you are doing something intellectually stimulating.
Write words that are fewer than three syllables. It is easier for the brain to recognize the use of two or three words instead of a long sentence.
But sometimes you need one big word so as to not insult the intelligence of your reader.
Sentences should be 15 – 20 words in length.
Do not write all in short sentences otherwise your writing will look like staccato.
Try to have a bit of mixture and variety in your words and sentences.
Do not use Clichés. They are tiring and boring. They do not have a precise meaning.
Common Clichés Possible Alternatives
Acid Test: deciding point
Gut Reaction: first thought
Few and far between: rare, unusual
The power that be: senior managers, government
Bright eyed and bushy tailed: enthusiastic, keen, eager
To the letter: exactly
An uphill battle: a difficult task
Hard on the hills of: straight after
Optimum: best
At all costs: no matter what the consequences are
Injection of funds: more money invested
At this point in time: now, today, this month
Vogue Words: words used at present which have a different meaning today compared to the past when these words actually entered the English Language. Use common sense and be selective in your written expression.
Ambiguity: “not clear who is doing what” i.e.: who is taking action in a sentence.
Using words that sound the same but have different meanings or words that do not match.
Topic Sentences are very important in paragraphs. They join words together and link or expand an idea.
Common Clichés Possible Alternatives
Air of expectation: sense, feeling
Dimmed the spirits: feeling low
Shouting from the rooftops: making it clear
Had our blokes operate on: prepare for a game
Got to put their hand up: show initiative
Britain’s bombshell: surprise decision
A week’s a long time: time passes slowly
He is not cutting and running: he will be careful before proceeding
Recipe for disaster: plan will fail
Star is rising: successful outcome
Goes under the knife: life or death situation
Real – deal winner: true success story
Left in tatters: resulting in a shamble
Reduced to a ghost town: lifeless
Skeletons in the cupboard: embarrassing past
Bald truth: true facts or face the facts
Rock-like exterior: invincible
