THE PRACTICAL WRITER By AMAN MEHRA

This article discusses how to achieve effective, clear style through careful word choice, using active voice instead of passive, and using concrete words instead of abstract ones whenever possible.

 Writing is to communicate  Writing often fails to because message does not get through  Writing is like cooking where one cooks and the rest eat  Muddled messages in the writing can confuse people

A careful writer must be a careful thinker  Writing must be done thoroughly and conscientiously  Writing and thinking are hard and inseparable  People don’t think when they write  A careful writer has to be a careful thinker

The right word will almost tell you where it should go  Be specific  Be brief  Grammar and syntax are important  Right words make writing an intelligent expression

Vocabulary is usually the least of a writers problems  An ample vocabulary is an asset in conveying meaning  Too much vocabulary used can confuse the message in writing  Usage of common and exact words helps simplify writing  Prefer the active voice to the passive