What Contributes to Clear Writing: Use Active Voice, Shorter Sentences, Logical Organization and Plain Language

Introduction

Clear writing is a key part of effective communication in both personal and professional settings. It allows readers to quickly and easily understand the writer’s message, which can help build relationships, create trust, and convey ideas more effectively. But what exactly does it mean to write clearly?

In general, clear writing involves using language that is concise, direct, and easy to understand. It should be free from errors and unnecessary words or phrases, and should include strong transitions between ideas. Writing clearly also means being consistent in style, grammar, and formatting.

Use Active Voice

One of the most important elements of clear writing is using an active voice. In an active voice sentence, the subject of the sentence performs the action. In contrast, in a passive voice sentence, the subject of the sentence has the action performed on them.

For example, in the active voice sentence “The teacher wrote the lesson plan,” the subject (teacher) is performing the action (wrote). In the passive voice sentence “The lesson plan was written by the teacher,” the subject (lesson plan) is having the action (written) performed on it.

Using active voice helps make your writing more direct and concise. It also makes it easier to follow the logic of the sentence and identify the main point. Additionally, using active voice can help eliminate wordiness and make your writing sound more confident.

Utilize Shorter Sentences

Writing with shorter sentences can help make your writing clearer and more concise. Longer sentences can be difficult to follow, as they tend to contain more information and can make it harder to identify the main point. Additionally, long sentences often contain extra words that add no value to the sentence.

When possible, try to keep your sentences to 15 words or less. If you find yourself using longer sentences, consider breaking them up into two or more shorter sentences. Doing this will make your writing easier to read and understand.

Make Sure All Ideas are Organized Logically

Another important part of writing clearly is making sure that all your ideas are organized logically. This means presenting your ideas in a way that makes sense and flows naturally. To do this, start each paragraph with a topic sentence that states the main point, then provide evidence and examples to support it.

You should also use transition words and phrases to link your ideas together. These words and phrases can help guide readers through your writing, making it easier for them to follow your argument. Additionally, using transitions can help show the relationship between ideas and make your writing sound more cohesive.

Write in Plain Language

Writing in plain language is another key element of clear writing. Plain language is language that is simple and straightforward, and is easy for readers to understand. It avoids technical terms, jargon, and complex sentence structures, and instead focuses on using everyday words and phrases.

Writing in plain language makes it easier for readers to comprehend your message and can help prevent confusion. It can also help reduce the amount of time it takes to read and process your writing, allowing readers to quickly grasp the main points of your text.

Avoid Jargon and Technical Terms

Jargon and technical terms can make your writing difficult to understand, so it’s best to avoid them when possible. Jargon is language that is specific to a particular field or profession, while technical terms are words or phrases that have a specialized meaning within a certain context.

Using jargon and technical terms can make your writing sound overly complicated and can cause confusion for readers who are unfamiliar with the terms. When possible, try to use simpler words and phrases that everyone can understand.

Conclusion

Writing clearly is essential for effective communication. To write clearly, use active voice, shorter sentences, logical organization, and plain language. Additionally, avoid using jargon and technical terms whenever possible. By following these tips, you can ensure that your writing is clear and understandable.