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2 - Clarity

Choosing Words and Building Sentences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2024

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Summary

What makes a sentence clear? The answer lies in the words we choose and the way we order words in sentences. We read sentences more rapidly and understand their contents clearly when sentences have several characteristics: active voice, a clear-cut actor as the subject and an action verb. Writers should also ensure that subjects and verbs occur close together in sentences and that readers encounter subjects and verbs relatively close to the beginnings of sentences.

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Writing for the Reader's Brain
A Science-Based Guide
, pp. 15 - 49
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Clarity
  • Yellowlees Douglas
  • Book: Writing for the Reader's Brain
  • Online publication: 12 December 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009221818.002
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  • Clarity
  • Yellowlees Douglas
  • Book: Writing for the Reader's Brain
  • Online publication: 12 December 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009221818.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Clarity
  • Yellowlees Douglas
  • Book: Writing for the Reader's Brain
  • Online publication: 12 December 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009221818.002
Available formats
×