Common Places: Integrated Reading and Writing Revising for Clarity Common Places: Integrated Reading and Writing Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education.  All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Good writing is clear writing. Good sentences are clearly written. For a sentence to be clear, a reader must be able to understand it without having to read it twice. Good writing does not need to be full of complex sentences. Sometimes simple, short sentences are exactly what you need to communicate your point. Don’t make the mistake of thinking college-level writing should consist of long sentences, big words, and complex structure. Clarity should be your number one concern! We will consider some ways to write clearer sentences.

1. Make sure pronouns have clear antecedents. Sloppy use of pronouns can cause sentences to be unclear. A pronoun (he, she, it, you, they, their, etc.) must have an antecedent. If readers don’t know what the antecedent to a pronoun is, readers will likely be confused. EXAMPLE In the debate about legalizing marijuana for recreational use, some people claim it will lead to more marijuana users, and some people claim that taxing it will increase states’ revenues exponentially. Problem: What does “it” refer to? Does “it” mean “legalizing marijuana” or does “it” refer to the marijuana itself? CLEARER In the debate about legalizing marijuana for recreational use, some people claim legalization will lead to more marijuana users, and some people claim that taxing marijuana will increase states’ revenues exponentially. 1. Make sure pronouns have clear antecedents.

2. Use “little words” correctly. Using words that may seem minor (on, in, to, from, etc.) incorrectly can cause confusion. Read over your sentences carefully to determine if you have chosen the most appropriate “little words.” EXAMPLE Angry citizens wrote letters to the issue of marijuana. These letters were for their views regarding legalization. Problem: “To” and “for” are not appropriate words for the writer’s meaning. CLEARER Angry citizens wrote letters on the issue of marijuana. These letters expressed their views regarding legalization. 2. Use “little words” correctly.

3. Avoid long sentences that contain several complete thoughts. It is possible to write a very long sentence that is grammatically correct (is not a run-on or comma splice). But is it wise to do so? If you are cramming multiple ideas into one sentence, rethink your writing. Use one complete sentence for each complete thought. Problem: This long sentence contains several different ideas that can be formed into complete thoughts. Notice how forming these ideas into their own sentences produces more clarity: CLEARER States that legalize marijuana for recreational use have had to work out a variety of issues. First, they have had to determine how marijuana will be grown and who will be allowed to grow it. They have also had to consider how to police the sale of marijuana. Protecting children from purchasing and using marijuana is another factor states have debated. Even more complex that these issues, legislators have had to figure out how to use tax revenues from marijuana sales. The issue of federal law is another . . . . 3. Avoid long sentences that contain several complete thoughts. EXAMPLE States that legalize marijuana for recreational use have had to work out a variety of issues such as how marijuana will be grown, who will be allowed to grow it, how the states will police the sale of marijuana, how children will be protected from purchasing and using it, and other more complicated issues such as how tax revenues will be used and how the state will interact with the federal laws that prohibit the sale, distribution, and use of marijuana.

4. Use concrete language when you can. Use concrete words (grandfather clock) instead of abstract words (a mechanism) when you can to help readers envision or more clearly imagine your point. 4. Use concrete language when you can. EXAMPLE Certain financial decisions can become obstacles to educational success. Problem: It’s difficult to figure out what this sentence means. CLEARER Financial choices such as going into debt to buy a car or using student loan money on a new smartphone can affect your success in college. These debts can result in increased work house and decreased study time.

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