Ten + One Ways to Better Writing

(6 “C’s” of Writing = Coherent, Clear, Concise, Correct, Complete, and Compelling)

by

James G. Patterson

Faculty

University of Phoenix

1.Think about what you want to say first. Your brain needs to see the information on paper before you can write about it. Prewrite using an outline. The best writers spend over 50% of their writing time on this important first step. BE COHERENT.

2.You write for people, not buildings or other inanimate objects. Say it outloud and ask yourself, “Would I say this to my mother?” Know how difficult your subject is and state it simply. BE CLEAR.

3.Limit your use of three syllable or longer words to no more than 10% of your total word count. Longer words are normally more abstract and general. Shorter words are normally more specific and concrete and easier for the reader to visualize, process, and remember.

4.Avoid needless phrases and words that don’t aid the reader in understanding. Don’t use one hundred words to say something when twenty would do. BE CONCISE.

5.Keep average sentence lengths from twelve to twenty words. Most of your sentences should have but one main idea.

6.Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and format. BE CORRECT.

7.Package your writing the way your busy reader wants it. BLUF, or bottom line up front, gets to the point without wasting the readers time. If your audience is likely to be hostile to your point, consider BLAB’ing, or putting the bottom line at the bottom. Here, lead up to the bottom line by getting a lot of little agreements.

8.Avoid passive voice. Prefer the active voice. Remember to use a SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT sentence order. Passive is weak and often hides the doer of the action. Active writing is upfront and is the leader’s preferred style. Active is easier to read and keeps your sentences shorter.

9.Put in enough information for your reader to be sufficiently informed or persuaded. BE COMPLETE.

10.After writing, edit your work for coherence, completeness, correctness, conciseness, and clarity. Recheck to make sure you’ve taken out needless passive voice. If in doubt, sound it out!

11.Write so your reader moves his or her eyes left to right, up to down, and turns page after page without effort. Who are your favorite writers? King? Clancy? Why do you like their writing? I bet those writers follow the 6 C’s! BE COMPELLING.