Conversational tone in writing
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This document provides tips for writing conversationally and concisely. It advises the writer to consider their audience and tailor their writing to what the audience expects and will find interesting. Some key tips include using active voice, specific rather than general language, brevity by avoiding repetition and unnecessary words, and choosing simple words and sentence structures for clarity. The overall message is that conversational writing is brief, clear and tailored to the audience.
Conversational tone in writing
- 2. WHOM DO YOU CONVERSE WITH? • With whom do you converse? • With whom do you talk? • Whom do you talk to? • Who do you talk to? (?)
- 3. IT’S A MATTER OF AUDIENCE
- 4. YOUR ENGLISH CLASS DID YOU WRONG You thought you were writing for this guy…
- 5. HE’S DEAD, SO… What can your audience do? Content sophistication Writing sophistication What does your audience expect? Does serious = competent? Does clever = likeable? Does funny = interesting? What does your audience like?
- 6. GENERALLY SPEAKING • Active is better than passive • Specific is better than general • Accurate is #1. Always. • Shorter is better.
- 7. BREVITY
- 8. BEING BRIEF Don’t say the same thing twice. Allied Churches is not just important to students, but to the community as well. “It is important to the community,” said Allied Churches Director Dudley Schmedlapp.
- 9. BEING BRIEF Don’t say the same thing twice. Allied Churches is not just important to students, but to the community as well. “It is important to the community,” said Allied Churches Director Dudley Schmedlapp.
- 10. GET RID OF WASTED MODIFIERS The girl was very distraught over her grade.
- 11. GET RID OF WASTED MODIFIERS The girl was very distraught over her grade.
- 12. IF IT’S OBVIOUS, DON’T SAY IT The dance instructors, who are teaching the routine, hope to have a run-through by Friday. My mom, who was making Thanksgiving dinner, took the turkey out of the oven.
- 13. IF IT’S OBVIOUS, DON’T SAY IT The dance instructors, who are teaching the routine, hope to have a run-through by Friday. My mom, who was making Thanksgiving dinner, took the turkey out of the oven.
- 14. USE SPECIFICS The room was crowded. The sale is at a local store.
- 15. USE SPECIFICS The room was crowded. More than 300 people were crowded in the auditorium that seats 255 The sale is at a local store. The sale is at the Schobles on Elm St.
- 16. AVOID COMPLICATED PHRASES The couple utilized a unique approach when deciding to endow the building — they structured their large lead gift as a challenge grant intended to motivate the charity to raise additional support.
- 17. AVOID COMPLICATED PHRASES The couple utilized a unique approach when deciding to endow the building — they structured their large lead gift as a challenge grant intended to motivate the charity to raise additional support. The couple promised $100,000, which will pay half the costs. To get these matching funds, the charity must get gifts from others, too.
- 18. CHOOSE SIMPLE WORDS “opportunity” “physician” “committed manslaughter” “survey instrument”
- 19. CHOOSE SIMPLE WORDS “opportunity” chance “physician” doctor “committed manslaughter” killed “survey instrument” questionnaire
- 20. SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT ORDER The speech was given in the gym. “Wear sunscreen,” according to the speaker.
- 21. SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT ORDER The speech was given in the gym. The author spoke in the gym. “Wear sunscreen,” according to the speaker. The speaker said “Wear sunscreen.” “Wear sunscreen,” the speaker said.