Writing with accuracy and style

1
Writing with accuracy and style

• Sentence boundaries
• Punctuating quotations
• Additional punctuation
• Common spelling errors
• Fluency and tone
• Finding your own voice

2
Sentence boundaries

• Every sentence needs to be grammatically
  complete.
• Where are the sentence boundaries in the
  following?
• This is a complex argument there are several
  aspects that need to be explored the first is
  that of analysing ways in which Said defines the
  term oriental what exactly does he mean by this
• There are three key metaphors in this scene the
  first is the association of Hamlets world with
  an unweeded garden this phrase suggests
  disorder and a growing threat

3
Sentence boundaries

• Correct punctuation
• This is a complex argument. There are several
  aspects that need to be explored. The first is
  that of analysing ways in which Said defines the
  term oriental. What exactly does he mean by
  this?
• There are three key metaphors in this scene. The
  first is the association of Hamlets world with
  an unweeded garden. This phrase suggests
  disorder and a growing threat.
• However, a semi-colon (not a comma!) can be used
  instead of a full stop, to link two related
  statements.
• This is a complex argument there are several
  aspects that need to be explored.

4
Punctuating quotations

• In Elliss view it was vital that these women
  conformed to contemporary norms which had
  shiftedtowards an ideal of delicate, innocent
  and essentially decorative womanhood (199523).
• Ellis concludes that
• The steady migration of women into the towns
  was the logical consequence of conventional
  perceptions of femininity and of correct female
  behaviour (199532).
• This is a convincing conclusion because

5
Additional punctuation

• The possessive apostrophe
• Where are the apostrophes in the following?
• Orwells travels in Paris and London were
• The writers argument is not convincing here.
• Womens attitudes changed during
• The childrens response to this is
• He refers to the ladies anxieties in the face
  of change.
• The two writers arguments are equally
  convincing

6
Apostrophes

• The possessive apostrophe always comes after the
  name of the owner
• Orwells travels in Paris and London were
• The writers argument is not convincing here.
• Womens attitudes changed during
• The childrens response to this is
• He refers to the ladies anxieties in the face
  of change.
• The two writers arguments are equally
  convincing

7
Additional punctuation

• Punctuation is changing. Colons () and
  semi-colons () are used less commonly than they
  used to be.
• The writer makes a convincing argument it is
  based on clear evidence.
• There are three main areas of focus
  behaviourism cognitive psychology and
  humanistic psychology.
• Or (more modern style)
• There are three main areas of focus
  behaviourism, cognitive psychology, and
  humanistic psychology.

8
Combating spelling errors

• Use a computer spellcheck wisely
• Keep a special list of key subject/specific
  technical terms
• Make a note of your own typical errors and learn
  the correct spellings for these
• Read with your eyes open to spelling detail

9
Combating spelling errors (2)

• Watch out for similar words such as
• Practice or practise?
• He practises every day/ The practice has been
  cancelled. Practise is the verb, practice the
  noun.
• Compare
• She advises us that/The advice is helpful.
• Effect or affect?
• This evidence affects the strength of the
  argument./ The effect of this analysis is
• But effect can also be used as a verb with the
  meaning to bring about, as in They effected
  change

10
Fluency and tone

• Academic tone is formal, but fluent rather than
  stilted
• Think about link words and phrases, and use them
  wisely e.g. and/also/as well as
  but/however/although because/since so/therefore
• Express yourself with a certain amount of
  academic caution It may be said that The
  evidence suggests that On balance,

11
Finding your own voice

• Work towards developing an individual style
• Vary sentence structures
• Vary lengths of paragraphs, for effect
• Select and emulate aspects of style you admire
  from other writers
• Create your own, individual voice

12
Further reading

• Two books to help you further with writing
  skills
• Chambers, E and Northedge, A (1997) The Arts Good
  Study Guide The Open University, Milton Keynes
• Drew, S and Bingham, R (1997) The Student Skills
  Guide Gower, Aldershot