The Writing Process

David Tuffley

Good writing is like a windowpane.

George Orwell

Published by David Tuffley at Smashwords

© Copyright 2011 David Tuffley

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

Contents

Introduction

1. Clear & effective communication

1.1 The five W’s and one H

2. No tired figures of speech

3. Short not long words

3.1 Economical appropriate & precise with words

3.2 Active not passive

3.3 Everyday English not foreign, jargon or scientific

3.4 Prefabricated language

3.5 Present tense not past/future

3.6 Avoiding overstatement

3.7 Adapting words to the reader

3.8 Never barbarous (advisory only)

4. Non sexist language

About the Author

Introduction

The Writing Process is a practical, plain English guide for people who are not experienced writers of non-technical prose. By diligently applying the principles outlined here, you will extend your writing capability towards a professional level. The examples in this eBook relate to computer user manuals, however the principles apply to all kinds of non-technical writing.

Clear, easy-to-understand writing can be achieved by following the simple principles outlined here. While these principles can be simply expressed, it can take a lifetime of effort fully master them. Not to worry though, the sooner you start, the sooner you will notice an improvement.

A note about simplicity; the Physicist Albert Einstein once famously observed that the greater the truth, the more simply it can be expressed. His formula E = mc2 illustrates the point. You know you have achieved mastery over a subject when you are able to explain it in really simple terms. This simplicity is not easily arrived at, it requires more effort than leaving the explanation in its complex form. Being a good writer has much to do with always making the effort to simplify rather than taking the easy way and leaving it complex.