Exam 5: Basics of Writing and Editing

Good writers make sure that items presented in a series are used in parallel fashion: don't mix elements in a series or switch voice.

Active voice offers several benefits to the writer. It:

If a person's age, marital status, sexual orientation, or some other personal characteristic is relevant, then report it. But if it is superfluous, leave it out.

News and public relations writing is good precisely to the extent that it goes beyond individual writing style to display the look and feel of truly professional writing.

While adjectives and adverbs are useful in explaining and qualifying, they are at times overused by beginning writers, who thus risk losing the objectivity sought by media writers.

Follow the standard grammatical conventions of the language. If this makes the sentence sound stilted or confusing, that will occasionally happen and there's nothing that can be done about it.

Not every sentence should be written in the subject-verb-object pattern; variety in sentence structure makes for interesting reading.

"Journalese" is a trite form of writing, a sloppy style of generalities, clichés, jargon and overwriting. Don't!

A comma splice occurs when a comma is used to connect two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.

Avoid clichés like the plague.

Writers use nebulous terms and concepts. This covers them if it is later found that a source was misinformed and gave incorrect information.

The power of language lies not in overpowering readers, but easing them to a new awareness or a better understanding.

If you quote only a partial sentence, use a comma to introduce or conclude the quotation.

"Network standard" English is the measure of appropriate language for broadcasting in every part of the country.

Adverbs do for verbs what adjectives do for nouns: they provide a degree of nuance or detail.

Feature articles, some columns, newsletter articles, brochures, advertising copy, and broadcast scripts use

While conventional guidelines for English may be bent to achieve special effects, such bending should be done carefully and infrequently, with full knowledge of the rule and the reason for the bending.

Journalists and public relations practitioners use inclusive language because it makes writing more effective: no writer can afford to unwittingly alienate or offend people.