Write clear sentences

To achieve clarity at the sentence level you need to write sentences that are clear, concise and precise.

How to write clear sentences

At university it is important that your readers – in particular your assessors and fellow students – can easily understand your meaning and follow your line of reasoning. Click on the headings below for some helpful hints.


Note

Try applying the strategies presented in this module to your own writing. Re-read a current or past assignment and highlight the parts that could be rewritten more clearly.


How to write concisely

Academic writing should be concise; that is, you should use no more words than necessary to convey your meaning clearly. In some cases, the more words you include, the harder it is for the reader to understand your meaning. Most of us use more words in a first draft as we try to get our ideas down; therefore, achieving concise writing usually requires several revisions.

While this can take time, it will give your writing more impact – and also help you stay within the assignment word limit. Click on the headings below to learn more.


How to write precisely

In academic writing it is essential that your readers understand exactly what you mean, so you need to make sure that what you write is accurate and unambiguous. Writing precisely requires considerable thought and careful editing.

Click on the headings below for more information.

Note

  • Try applying the techniques presented in this module to your own writing. Re-read a current or past assignment and highlight the sentences, words or phrases that could be rewritten more precisely. Be careful though not to change the meaning.
  • Wait a few days before re-reading your work. This will give you an opportunity to approach your writing with fresh eyes and a clear mind. It can also be useful to change the way the writing looks. For example, change the font style, size or colour before reading.
  • Share your work with fellow students, your family or friends. If they understand what you mean without having to ask you to explain anything, especially if they are not familiar with the topic, then your writing is probably clear.

Back Next