In this section, you will find many instructional materials we've developed for our Writing Center teaching.
However, there are limitations to these materials. Assignments vary, and different instructors want different things from student writers. Therefore, the advice here may or may not apply to your writing situation.
Finally, handouts can give only a fraction of the customized guidance that an individual conference with a Writing Center instructor can provide. If you have questions about the information in our handouts, please make an appointment to see a Writing Center instructor.
Writing Clear, Concise Sentences
Follow the principles below to write sentences that are clear, to the point, and easier to read.
- Use the active voice
- Put the action in the verb
- Put wordy phrases on a diet
- Reduce wordy verbs
- Reduce prepositional phrases
- Reduce expletive constructions
- Avoid using vague nouns
- Avoid unneccessarily inflated words
- Avoid noun strings
Download this handout
Last updated: Monday, 2 July 2012
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