Reading and
Writing
Skills
Properties of Well-written Text
01
Language Use
Writing is a rigorous activity. No matter how
good and substantial the content of a document
is, if it’s not carefully written as to how you, as
the writer, would like to present it to your
readers, your purpose will not be served
wisely. Hence, you have to bear in mind that
aside from considering the organization of your
ideas and the coherence and cohesion of your
sentences and paragraphs, you also have to
regard the style, tone and clarity of your
writing.
Language is a
powerful tool.
There are five major issues
with appropriate language
that should be avoided in
an effective and well-
written text, as identified
by (Purdue Online Writing
Lab 2020):
First, the formality of the
language one uses should depend
on how formal the situation is
and how the writer and the reader
are related to one another.
Second, jargons or specialized
language used by groups of
individuals in the same field,
should only be used if the target
readers belong to the same group.
Third, slangs and idioms should be avoided. Slangs
are words, phrases, or expressions that do not
literally mean what they express (like “frenemy” to
describe someone who is both a friend and an
enemy) while idioms or expressions whose
meaning is different from the meanings of the
individual word it contains (like “to kill two birds
at one stone”, which means to get two things done
with a single action.
Fourth, euphemisms or words that
veil the truth shall also be avoided.
Examples of which are “virtually
challenged” for someone who is
short; “passed away” instead of
died, and other deceitful language.
Fifth, avoid using any biased
language including those
associated with any racial, ethnic,
group, or gender.
Characteristics of an
Effective Language
Use concrete words, not vague and
abstract
• Concrete words are specific words.
• They form sharp, clear meanings and stand
for what the reader easily perceives using
our five senses.
• Abstract words have general meanings.
EXAMPLE
Significant increase vs.
50% increase
In the near future vs. on
Monday or at 8:00 am
Use concise words, not verbose
• Short and simple
• Avoid redundancy
EXAMPLE
✘ We collaborate together on the project.
✔ We collaborate on the project.
✘ The other alternatives is to eat healthy
food.
✔ The alternatives is to eat healthy food.
Use familiar words not highfalutin
• Use words that are almost in everyone’s
vocabulary.
EXAMPLE
Instead of: Better:
The machine has a The machine tends
tendency to develop to get noisy when it
excessive and unpleasant
runs hot.
audial symptoms when
operating at elevated
temperatures.
Use precise and clear words, not
obscure
• Precise means exact and accurate
• Don’t change the word as the way you
empress people.
EXAMPLE
House
cabin, cottage, duplex, condo
Avoid sexist language
• As we practice the gender equality, we
valued men and women. Avoid male
dominated language.
EXAMPLE
✘ Reading makes a full man. (Francis Bacon)
✔ Reading makes a full person.
✘ chairman - ✔ chairperson
✘ spokesman - ✔ spokesperson
Use of constructive language
• It is how we response to anyone.
• We response to others not to harm/hurt
them but in constructive language it can
boost their confidence.
EXAMPLE
On behalf of the company, I
regret to inform you that you
have been terminated. As a
supervisor, it was a pleasure
to work with you.
Use of formal and informal language
• Formal and informal language is not the
difference between correct and incorrect but a
difference of what is known as register.
• Register is a variety of language related to a
particular subject matter or area of activity, a set
of words and expressions that may be said to
characterize that specific area of language.
Informal Formal Informal Formal
ask enquire seem appear
tell inform also moreover
but however buy purchase
get receive have to must
bad negative chance opportunity
EXAMPLE
This is to tell you. (informal)
This is to inform you. (formal)
I wanna go to the market. (slang)
THANK
YOU!
DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS?
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