Joining A Greater Conversation

Joining A Greater Conversation

Quality writing is more than something that school requires of students; it is something that the world demands of its citizens. Using proper grammar, choosing appropriate words, and forming a plan are the three ways you can improve your writing--if you are unable to employ each of these three elements, your ability to attain a job or prove a claim is negatively affected.

Proper grammar not only validates your writing but also makes it understandable. Kyle Wiens, an employer at two companies that offer step-by-step user manuals, explains, “Good grammar is credibility, especially on the internet. In blog posts, on Facebook statuses, in e-mails, and on company websites, your words are all you have. They are a projection of you in your physical absence.” Poor grammar is a sign of a lacking education. Understandably, few individuals are interested in reading the work of an uneducated person. Even if the point the writer is presenting is a deeply meaningful or logical claim, people automatically show less willingness to accept it if it is plagued by faulty grammar. Poor grammar booms the message, “uneducated!” Don't be one to fall under this label. In addition to being unattractive, it can make statements challenging to understand, “One who has only travelled to Seattle, Washington, Peru, Nebraska, and Jamaica, Vermont is not well travelled.” Poor grammar, such as the incorrect usage of commas, can makes sentences have a meaning different from their intended one. Not only does a lack of understanding in grammar cause your written claims to lose integrity, but it also can cause them to be lost altogether.

Peru, Nebraska

Word choice largely defines the quality of your writing as it refines and strengthens your claims. “Writing is, indeed, a necessary and, well, pretty useful form of communication. It is actually an imperative when exchanging thoughts and ideas.” Unnecessary text and repetition bog down the main point. Similar to the effects of poor grammar, a lack of concision makes writing confusing. One could merely say, “Writing is an essential form of communication.” This says everything the two lines it replaces stated, only in a shorter way. The less wordy alternative proves to be the more powerful way. Moreover, when writing a binding agreement, you must employ words that are precise and clear to avoid any type of confusion. Writer for Entrepreneur magazine Lauren Impton notes, “Including certain clauses in your contracts will reduce risks to your company from lawsuits and misunderstandings and provide legal rights that your company might not otherwise have.” Wording that is most similar to the idea that you are trying to convey is essential when proving a point. In a contract, loose terms that are open to interpretation can lead to dispute and therefore defeat the purpose of a contract. Choosing appropriate terms, however, is applicable to far more than writing a contract. In any opinionated piece, it is more effective to bolster it with bulletproof terms rather than umbrella terms that leave the topic at hand largely unexplored. This is not to say that abstract words make for a poor piece of writing. If chosen correctly, they have the ability to form an equally compelling piece as Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated in his “I Have a Dream Speech”. While grammar is important, good writing is largely characterized by the words that make it up which is why it should be of particular significance to someone in pursuit of improving your writing.

MLK's "I Have a Dream" Speech

Quality writing on its own must consist of proper grammar and appropriate word choice, but in order to make a superior piece you must formulate an outline. All successful businesses have a plan that lays out their goals whether they revolve around increasing profit margins or expanding into new territories. Without them, even if a company promoted a stellar product or service, it would have no hope of performing business in an organized and tactical way. In fact, a company halves their chance of success by failing to create a plan. The shorter length of an outline makes it easier for you to spot weak arguments or a diversion from the main point at hand; therefore, an outline prevents you from haphazardly piecing unrelated information together. Only the strongest claims and pieces of evidence should be used to fortify the overarching message of the piece. Thus, beginning to write by creating an outline instead of simply embarking on writing the final product will better the overall quality of your piece.

Achieving Greater Success With A Plan

Using proper grammar, choosing appropriate words, and forming a plan are the chief ways which you can use to improve your writing. The ability that you have to take a position, make a claim, and join a greater conversation is reinforced when you understand the three vital elements that create an effective piece.