U SING R EADER -O RIENTED L ANGUAGE Chapter 8

O VERVIEW In this presentation we’ll discuss why we Use Active Voice Use specific, unambiguous language Use only words that readers need Use simple words Use positive language Use technical terminology consistently and appropriately Use gender free language

U SING A CTIVE V OICE You will be able to keep your writing in the active voice by Keeping the actor in the subject position Keeping the actor near the beginning of your sentence Keeping the actor close to the action Keeping the action in the verb Using the imperative mood with an implied “you”

U SING SPECIFIC LANGUAGE Is Clear Is Precise Eliminates questions your readers might have Includes details and examples (“such as” and “for example”) Is unclear Is always imprecise Often contributes to questions from the reader Specific LanguageVague Language

A VOIDING A MBIGUOUS L ANGUAGE Misplaced Modifiers Dangling Modifiers Faulty Word Choice

A VOIDING M ISPLACED M ODIFIERS Misplaced modifiers appear to modify the wrong referent. Our manager suggested to the vice president that we register for the class in San Francisco. Is the vice president in San Francisco? Do we go to San Francisco to register? Is the class in San Francisco? To eliminate the ambiguity, place modifiers as close to the referent as you can.

A VOIDING D ANGLING M ODIFIERS Dangling modifiers have no referent in the sentence. Trying to put out the fire, the fire extinguisher broke. To link to other Web sites and topics, the green keywords should be clicked on. To identify dangling modifiers, you can often look for passive voice construction.

A VOID F AULTY W ORD C HOICE Stacked nouns Vague words/words with double meanings Redundancies Unnecessary words Inflated words Gender-specific words Negative language Culturally inappropriate language

A VOID U SING “S TACKED N OUNS ” Noun stacks occur when you use 3 or more nouns back-to-back The consultant suggested the manager allow time for a fitness center member evaluation. Are the members evaluating the fitness center? Is the fitness center evaluating the members? Is the manager evaluating the members of the fitness center? Is someone else evaluating the fitness center members? Where possible, avoid using a noun to modify a noun To revise noun stacks, you can usually insert a prepositional phrase

A VOID U SING V AGUE W ORDS Avoid using words with more than one meaning (usually a literal meaning and a figurative/conventional meaning) We were held up at the bank. The seventh graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” in the school auditorium on Friday. Parents are invited to attend this tragedy.

U SE T ECHNICAL T ERMINOLOGY APPROPRIATELY Only if your readers have detailed knowledge of the topic Only for expert readers Consistently use jargon, when you use it

A VOID R EDUNDANCIES Two words have the same meaning, combined by “and” Thought and consideration Totally and completely Figure 8.1, page 222 Words that imply other words End result Very unique Absolutely free Figure 8.2, page 223 Doubled WordsRedundant Modifiers

A VOID U SING U NNECESSARY W ORDS Eliminate any words not absolutely necessary to convey your meaning and purpose Replace them with specific words (“phrase for a word”) Eliminate them completely As a matter of fact, there is an old warehouse that the emergency relief groups can use to house the hurricane victims at this point in time. The emergency relief groups can now use the old warehouse to house the hurricane victims. Figure 8.3, page 225 Figure 8.4, page 227

A VOID U SING I NFLATED W ORDS Eschew Obfuscation! Resist the temptation to use words you wouldn’t normally use “if you wouldn’t say it, don’t write it” or “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” Figure 8.5, page 228

A VOID U SING G ENDER -S PECIFIC W ORDS Use words that are inclusive, not exclusive Use words that don’t promote stereotypes or gender roles

A VOID U SING N EGATIVE L ANGUAGE Tell readers what something is, instead of what it is not Tell readers what to do, rather than what not to do Focus on solutions, rather than problems

U SE C ULTURALLY A PPROPRIATE L ANGUAGE Avoid idioms (expressions whose meaning is different from the standard/literal meaning of the words they contain [sum is greater than the parts]) Use workplace and technical language with which international readers will be familiar (metric measurements, for example) Avoid localisms (phrases understood by only people living in a specific area) Avoid brand names Avoid metaphors and allusions

U SE C ULTURALLY A PPROPRIATE L ANGUAGE ( CONTINUED ) Explain any language you must use than an international audience might misunderstand Write simple, clear, complete sentences (relatively short sentences containing only one idea) Avoid abbreviations, contractions, and acronyms When referring to disabilities, focus on the disability rather than the person, and avoid using non-PC terms, such as handicapped), page 232

Do not discontinue taking medicine until none of the medicine is left.