A checklist to keep in mind when writing.
Advanced Writing Skills is our most popular training programme at Formative Communications. Writing is a difficult skill and many people find writing and drafting texts frustrating. Often people have difficulties with the structure of their sentences.
So, here is a simple checklist that you can use when you proofread your emails, reports, position papers or news stories. (You do proofread – don’t you?).
We hope you find this useful.
| Check point | Detail |
| Use active sentences more than the passive voice | The simplest form of the sentence is Subject + Verb + Object. The passive is ok for writing about processes, but does not carry much emphasis. |
| Avoid splitting your subject from your verb and object | A common problem with writing is that there is too much happening between the subject (the who) the what they did (verb) to who (object). Sentences that are split pose a challenge to your readers. |
| Use Topic sentences | Start each paragraph with a short, summary topic sentence that sums up the whole paragraph. Think of this as your headline. |
| Use Short sentences | Your sentence length should be 16 – 20 words. Your sentences should not have more than three things (verbs) happening. If you have more to say, start a new sentence. |
| Write without commas | Try to write short sentences that do not contain too many additional details. Information (clauses) that needs to be contained within commas makes sentences too long. |
| Use simple connecting words | “But”, “however”, “in addition” are ok to use to connect ideas between different sentences. But avoid elaborate, complicated linking words (herewith, indeed, moreover). |
| Writing with verbs and nouns | Reduce use of adverbs that carry no meaning (actually, fundamentally). |
We organise tailor-made writing skills courses for companies, associations and institutions in Brussels.
You can improve if you practise and get feedback on your writing from a trainer. We are the only training company that gives you pre-course writing tasks that we review with ‘tracked changes’ comments and recommendations.
For more details and a quote please contact us
Tel: +32 473 391890 or at info@formativecoms.com
