Dead Phrases Dead phrases are phrases that use many words to say
almost nothing. My writing sometimes contains dead phrases. Early in
the paper, I found an example that could be fixed:
I could have made this sentence more concise by just replacing in such a
way with so, leaving the sentence structure intact.
This sentence feels clunky and awkward. It could have been reworked
to be more concise and make more sense, avoiding the unnecessary
repetition:
Being Precise
Being precise in writing is to use technical terminology appropriate to the
audiences knowledge.
Using the onboard computer, the vehicle was able to detect the state
of a variety of variables in order to determine if it was in the exact
state that it would be for the emissions test.
The use of onboard computer defines what and where the computer
is without having to explain it in detail.
Being Direct
Direct prose is straightforward. A direct writing style uses strong nouns,
strong verbs, and a mostly active voice.
Strong Verbs. Strong verbs convey action; they are more specific and
descriptive. Some good examples of strong verbs: demonstrate,
complete, construct. Some weak parallels would be show, finish, and
make. The strong verbs in this example are much more concrete. Here
is a notable example in my writing where I chose a weak verb instead
of a strong verb:
Overall, I would say that this scandal has been a wakeup call to the
automotive industry, showing them that they cant get away with
something this big.
This use of passive voice allows the emissions tests to become the
subject of the sentence, emphasizing its importance compared to who
is doing the action.
Conclusion
Analyzing my prior writing has allowed me to see a variety of ways that I can
improve my technical writing. Developing my prose style to be more concise,
precise, and direct will help to write more cohesive and readable pieces.
Taking my time to ensure I follow these guidelines should improve my writing
a great deal in any subject I need to tackle.