Comments on: How to ID your bad writing

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 19:59:00 +0000

In reply to Russ Skinner. Thanks, Russ. Now fixed!

By: Russ Skinner

Russ Skinner — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 19:37:00 +0000

Good piece, Daphne. One cavil: there is a second “are” in heading for point two.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:18:00 +0000

In reply to Peter Cull. I deeply regret that the readability stats people decided to link their measurements to grade levels. It's so confusing! Most people want scores that go up. Instead, they should be working towards scores that go down.

By: Peter Cull

Peter Cull — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:39:00 +0000

I followed your suggestion and used the Hemmingway app. I tried it once before but I didn’t like the idea of having to put my business reports onto the web. Then I found out that you can buy it for a few dollars and use it on your own computer. So I did.

I put last month’s report to the bank into the app and my text lit up like a Christmas tree as it highlighted areas to improve. Not good. It scored me as “Grade 9”. I spent 10 minutes editing. The screen faded back into a pleasing grey and my grade fell to 8. (Which puzzled me at first as I expected it to go up. Then I realised it was talking about US school levels and I understood.)

I’ve used the app to write this comment – Grade 3- much better.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 17:10:00 +0000

In reply to LynP. Two more really good tips! Thanks for sharing.

By: LynP

LynP — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:29:00 +0000

How do I ID my bad writing? I put it down until I’m rested or have slept at least 8 hours without thinking of it. When I re-read it with fresh eyes, the problems are both glaring and obvious. Another technique I’ve used is to read it aloud. If I can’t speak it easily or find myself emphasizing the wrong word (s), then I know where I need to simplify (too many words) and/or expand (too many ideas crammed into the sentence).

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:26:00 +0000

In reply to Phil. And thanks to you, Phil. Good points, all.

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 09:36:00 +0000

A couple of random points to add (interestingly, if I’d said additions, I could have lost 2 words). All the comments made or rules espoused, mine included, can probably be broken with effect if the right writer is writing.
Making new words from old doesn’t make you clever, it makes you sound the opposite. Function does not need to have ‘-ality’ affixed to it’s nether regions. Nor does any other word that hasn’t had it there for some time already (I’m thinking duality here as an example of acceptable alityisation). I once heard an art professor translating some artspeak: ‘the materiality of the paint’ as ‘the paint’.
Learn the meaning of words. Reticence is a reluctance to speak, it is not an alternative clever way to say reluctance. So when I see written or hear spoken ‘reticent to speak’ my estimation of the individual responsible plummets. There are many more words that have very specific meanings which in their simplicity have a certain elegance that cannot be attained by a description of their meaning. My favourite of these is velleity, meaning the lowest form of volition. Wanting something or wanting to do something without possessing sufficient desire or motivation to actually achieve it. Beautiful word. So descriptive. Seek them out, they are there for the taking.
Lastly, it’s ‘try to’ not ‘try and’. I know that’s how we speak but it’s not right.
Thanks, Daphne. That was a bit like therapy.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 00:37:00 +0000

In reply to norman. Thanks, Norman. I'll email you privately.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 00:36:00 +0000

In reply to Susan Miccio. Excellent tips! Thanks for posting.