Writing Style and Standards Use Clarity, Conciseness, & Coherence Paragraph Construction Sentence Construction Word Choice

Write Paragraphs That Are: Clear – easy to follow, easy to understand; use transitions Concise – avoid inessential information Coherent – begin with a main idea supported, explained, and developed by the rest of the paragraph

Write Sentences That Are: Clear – easy to follow, easy to understand; use subject/verb/predicate order Concise – avoid inessential information, subordinate clauses, or complex construction Coherent – state the main idea first, use one idea at a time

Use Words That Are: Clear – precise, specific, concrete, accurate Concise – avoid wordiness or terms unfamiliar to your audience Coherent – state definitions for terms early and stay consistent

Common Mistakes Comma Splices Two sentences joined with commas instead of conjunctions incorrect – The circuit operates at dc, Ohm’s law applies. correct – The circuit operates at dc; Ohm’s law applies. or – The circuit operates at dc, and Ohm’s law applies.

Common Mistakes Cont Fused Sentences Two sentences joined without punctuation incorrect – The workstation was not designed ergonomically it leaves much to be desired. correct – The workstation was not designed ergonomically. It leaves much to be desired.

Common Mistakes Cont Misplaced Modifiers Keep modifiers close to words they modify incorrect – Ignorance of science is a phenomenon in society that must be destroyed. correct – Ignorance of science is a phenomenon that must be destroyed in society.

Common Mistakes Cont Misplaced Modifiers Another example incorrect – The devices consists of a screw that is inside a barrel that is driven by an electric motor drive. correct – The devices consists of a barrel with a screw inside it that is driven by an electric motor drive.

Common Mistakes Cont Parallel Structure Use similar terms for similar ideas Incorrect – Microscopic mechanical systems (MEMS) can respond to a variety of inputs, including light, heat, and vibrating objects that cause stimulations. Correct – Microscopic mechanical systems (MEMS) can respond to a variety of inputs, including light, heat, vibrations.

Common Mistakes Cont Parallel Structure Another example Incorrect – The extruder is controlled by an Opto 22 control system, which controls temperature in the three heat zones, the die, and motor speed. Correct – The extruder is controlled by an Opto 22 control system, which controls the temperature of the three heat zones, the temperature of the die, and speed of the motor.

Common Mistakes Cont Verb Agreement Verbs must agree with their subjects incorrect – The implant, along with its associated circuits, were inserted in to the patient’s chest cavity. correct – The implant, along with its associated circuits, was inserted in to the patient’s chest cavity.

Common Mistakes Cont Pronoun Agreement Pronouns must agree with their antecedents incorrect – Everyone in the lab must replace their radiation badges. correct – singular: Everyone in the lab must replace his or her radiation badges. plural: All people in the lab must replace their radiation badges.

Common Mistakes Cont Wordiness Be Brief and Concise Wordy Concise owing to the fact that on the order of at the present time a very limited number of because (since) about now few

Commonly Misused Words Affect, verb, to influence Heat affects the surface. Effect, verb, to bring about A radical change was effected. Effect, noun, The Coriolis effect will be studied. Comprise, verb, contains or includes The text comprises all three modes of transfer. Compose, verb, made up of, constituted of The mixture is composed of sand and gravel.