Write Clear Sentences

Write for understanding

Help your readers see what you see clearly.

Write in positive
- Tell readers what things are, not what they are not
- Example:
  - Negative: The case was not well understood by some 30 percent of prospects.
  - Positive: About 30 percent of prospects said they did not understand the case.
Keep modifiers next to words they modify
Avoid confusion with linking verbs
Use series
Express similar ideas with similar construction
Use consistent style and punctuation--defined by your organization

Examples

Help your readers see clearly what you see clearly.
- Issue: Where does clearly belong? What do you intend?
The volunteer said she feels (good/well) enough to be interviewed for the annual fund brochure Tuesday.
- Issues: She might now feel good if she had been upset with the school. She would feel well if she had been ill. About Tuesday: Did she make the comment Tuesday? Will the interview be Tuesday?
Our office provided personnel to design the program, suggested segmentation strategies and recommended ask amounts.
- Issues: This series and its parallel presentation add power to the sentence. A series of three related items is strong construction in English. Since the items are similar, they should be written in similar form --provided, suggested and recommended.

You try it

Build power sentences	Roger Gafke, CFRE Fund-raising, public relations & training services for non-profit organizations
Index:	Home page	Return to sentences index	Power writing index
Write for understanding Help your readers see what you see clearly. Write in positive Tell readers what things are, not what they are not Example: Negative: The case was not well understood by some 30 percent of prospects. Positive: About 30 percent of prospects said they did not understand the case. Keep modifiers next to words they modify Avoid confusion with linking verbs Use series Express similar ideas with similar construction Use consistent style and punctuation--defined by your organization Examples Help your readers see clearly* what you see clearly.* Issue: Where does clearly belong? What do you intend? The volunteer said she feels (good/well) enough to be interviewed for the annual fund brochure Tuesday. Issues: She might now feel good if she had been upset with the school. She would feel well if she had been ill. About Tuesday: Did she make the comment Tuesday? Will the interview be Tuesday? Our office provided* personnel to design the program, suggested segmentation strategies and recommended ask amounts.* Issues: This series and its parallel presentation add power to the sentence. A series of three related items is strong construction in English. Since the items are similar, they should be written in similar form --provided, suggested and recommended. You try it
[Home][Services] [ Experience] [ Writing Exercises] Phone or FAX: (573) 881-5446, E-mail:roger@gafke.com, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd., Columbia, MO 65202, updated: 7/03/2007