The Key to Communication

Writing is the foundation of communication. Successful writing is important: different forms can be used to prove an argument. Anyone can improve his or her writing with correct grammar, appropriate concision, and proper word choice.

By following the rules of grammar, a writer can improve his or her writing by making the message of a piece more clear. Grammar refers to the set of rules governing a language— it is used as a universal system. Since the rules of grammar in a language are understood and applied the same way for everybody, using correct grammar ensures that anyone can understand what a writer is explaining.  Using proper grammar makes writing more coherent and ensures that trivial mistakes do not detract from the overall quality of a piece. Without proper grammar, frequent mistakes make the reader respect the writer less— they will not be completely convinced by the argument. “If a child lacks passion for what they do,” is not a correct way to start a sentence because child is singular, so the plural word “they” is incorrect (Rizvi, “Short Story Essay”). While this mistake may seem small and barely noticeable, if similar mistakes are seen frequently throughout the piece, it damages the credibility of an argument because the writer cannot even follow basic universal rules. Learning and applying grammar is a simple way for a writer to improve his or her writing— but not the only way.

When writing, being concise allows a writer to be more direct: another major improvement. With concision, a writer can convey a clear message. The reader can find the main point of the piece without being distracted by unnecessary information. Additionally, concision makes a writer’s piece more direct and interesting. The reader does not feel like he or she is wasting time reading the same thing multiple times. Also, rather than overcomplicating writing through unnecessary words or phrases, a writer should only include information that supports the argument or theme of the essay. Having long, convoluted writing can be dull, and the reader is less likely to be interested throughout the piece. A writer wants the audience to be engaged and understand the message, and concision is an important part of this process.

Proper word choice makes writing more understandable. Deciding which word or phrase to use in a sentence can be a difficult choice when writing. Understanding the difference between connotative and denotative meanings of words can help a writer make the correct decision. A denotative meaning refers to the proper definition of a word, while the connotative meaning refers to the common usage and context in which the word is used. Knowing the common associations with the connotative meaning of a word can help a writer ensure that he or she is picking the correct word or phrase. Sometimes, the largest word is not the best choice to use, and using a large word when a smaller one is sufficient is ineffective. Proper word choice allows the reader to completely understand the main point the writer is making. “Lahey’s article examines the importance of a mother’s encouragement in the development of learning in her child,” is a sentence that could be improved through better word choice (Rizvi, “Short Story Essay”). Learning is not something that is described as being in someone: rather, the phrase “child’s development” would be more appropriate. Proper word choice also makes writing more straightforward and easier to understand. In the sentence, “By switching the perspectives she allows us to learn about each character little by little and take in everything we learn about them as the book goes on,” improper word choices clouds the clarity of the sentence (Rizvi, “Station Eleven Essay”). The antecedents of pronouns mentioned are difficult to find, and phrases like “little by little” and “take in” cannot accurately describe the experience of a reader. There is an immense difference when poorly chosen words are replaced to convey the appropriate meaning. With practice, choosing the right word can become a strength that will greatly improve one’s writing.

Writing is an important skill that allows one to convey a clear message to anybody. Through improvements in grammar, concision, and word choice, a writer can transform his or her writing and ensure he or she is writing engaging and effective pieces. When a writer has improved his or her writing enough to use it as a tool for sharing important messages, he or she has grasped the power of the English language.