A very successful editor had a conviction that most people overwrite. So, he required every reporter, returning from an assignment, to come in and recite the story to him first. In his oral report, the reporter tended to give a natural rapid narrative, leaving out non-essentials. Then, the editor would say: “Okay, now go and write your story just like the way you told me.”
The editor had a good reason for this practice. He knew that many people tighten up when they begin writing or dictating. They become stiff and unnatural and impersonal. They choose pretentious words that they would never use in talking: “subsequent to,” instead of “after,” “utilization,” instead of “use,” “optimum,” instead of “best,” and so on to sickening infinity. They shun personal pronouns like plaque. Ditto for contractions like “isn’t” and “you’ll”. They would not think of writing a fragmentary sentence to give emphasis or variety. And their written sentences are twice as long as their spoken sentences. The result is not only dull reading – it is difficult reading.
They use plain words in talking, and they use personal pronouns, contractions, and fragmentary sentences. But they do not use these things when writing, even when writing informal memos and letters.
That is a pity. A conversational tone makes for readable writing. It increases interest. It helps understanding, too. Do not lapse into the stuffy business jargon that has no relation to the way business jargon that has no relation to the way business people talk face-to-face. For instance, a Philippine navy officer had this order posted on the bulletin board of his office:
Effective immediately, the practice of endeavoring by words, gestures, or otherwise, to beg, invite, or secure transportation in any motor vehicle not engaged in passenger travel or hire or otherwise acting as a commercial passenger carrier, by officers or enlisted men or women or both in the naval service at any point within the boundaries of this naval command is forbidden.
And all that he meant was: Do not ask for free rides!
Try this. Next time you have to write something, get a mental picture of the reader. Then talk to him on paper.
The editor had a good reason for this practice. He knew that many people tighten up when they begin writing or dictating. They become stiff and unnatural and impersonal. They choose pretentious words that they would never use in talking: “subsequent to,” instead of “after,” “utilization,” instead of “use,” “optimum,” instead of “best,” and so on to sickening infinity. They shun personal pronouns like plaque. Ditto for contractions like “isn’t” and “you’ll”. They would not think of writing a fragmentary sentence to give emphasis or variety. And their written sentences are twice as long as their spoken sentences. The result is not only dull reading – it is difficult reading.
They use plain words in talking, and they use personal pronouns, contractions, and fragmentary sentences. But they do not use these things when writing, even when writing informal memos and letters.
That is a pity. A conversational tone makes for readable writing. It increases interest. It helps understanding, too. Do not lapse into the stuffy business jargon that has no relation to the way business jargon that has no relation to the way business people talk face-to-face. For instance, a Philippine navy officer had this order posted on the bulletin board of his office:
Effective immediately, the practice of endeavoring by words, gestures, or otherwise, to beg, invite, or secure transportation in any motor vehicle not engaged in passenger travel or hire or otherwise acting as a commercial passenger carrier, by officers or enlisted men or women or both in the naval service at any point within the boundaries of this naval command is forbidden.
And all that he meant was: Do not ask for free rides!
Try this. Next time you have to write something, get a mental picture of the reader. Then talk to him on paper.
41 comments:
I've been doing this since I was young and it's probably how I've survived the grammar exams without intently listening. Watching HBO and Starmovies will really help in developing an ear that can easily spot nasty spots in the English language. This practice also makes an article generally warmer. By warmer I mean it is more humane and personal. Though a newspaper essay should not be personal entirely, the point is that the reader understands and feels that he is actually part of the conversation. Reading is indeed a conversation but you just don't reply out loud.
The English language is a very accurate language. If you say something and it doesn't sound good then, there must be something wrong with your statement. To avoid mistakes, it is better that you read your articles aloud so that you will hear whether what you wrote is correct.
This means put yourself in what you write.Write like how you talk and talk just like how you write. But be sure to be use proper ways and styles.
The readers should feel that you are talking to him/her not to yourself.
When I start writing, I talk to myself as if I was dictating the words I want to say to another person. I want to hear myself when I write. Writers like to use pretentious words so they would sound seemingly serious and intelligent. In order to catch your reader's hearts, you have to write as if you were talking to them personally. Reading aloud your work is a good practice to have a good article.
I like this rule very much. This rule keeps your feet to the ground. Why? Because, you'll hear for yourself what you've been doing, and if it doesn't sound good, then change it. Your ears are the witness here, whether your sentences are too deep, has too much adjectives, and other flaws. Make your essay as you would speak it yourself, nit create an image of a person rich in vocabulary that, when use in sentences, doesn't even make any sense. You're being a hypocrite to yourself in that manner.
Regarding Jasper's comment, reading is indeed a conversation. The phenomenon is started by the writer when he chose to write down her thoughts. Listening to read-out-loud literature from earlier years, one can develop an ear for "nasty spots" in an article. This sort of polishing skill is not only limited to conversing but polishing in the most inane ways, like reading out loud suddenly to see if the sentence is actually correct, grammatically speaking.
I enjoyed talking with so many persons. So if reading would be just as your talking with someone, it would be more interesting and enjoyable. A very long sentence which could be hardly understand could be written better if you would just think that as if you are telling it to someone else. So let us always remember to write as we talk.
Writing as you talk can save you from the grammatical errors,the grammatical errors that are often caused by carelessness. This rule will help you weigh the rights from the wrongs.
When you talk to other people, you don't use words that are hard to understand. The problem is, when we write what we're thinking of, we tend to replace the plain words with complex ones. I always do that when I try to write something. Just write as if your talking to your paper.
Isnt it fun when your paper seems to be talking to you? And sometimes you unknowingly reply out loud to words you just read? This is something we want to achieve. Write as if your just talking naturally. Some writers tend to transform into something fake when they write. Don't do that.
This was what I reported. Every write should write as if they are talking. Most of the times, they write too formally that makes their work very stiff. Writing your work as if you are talking to the reader makes it more effective for them to understand. The writing will be more personal and it will be clearer.
On the first comment: Experience is really one of the best teachers. If we already apply these rules to our livers then we can easily relate to them.
We tend to over think so that our work will appear pleasant. However like what Jasper said, it should be personal. Like just relaying a story to a friend or a neighbor. Write like you are talking to your readers, do not pretend to be an intellectual. It does not help having unusual words that can be substituted with simpler ones.
Reading your work with your voice is a good practice and also a good way to make your article better. Reading your article only with your eyes gives difficulty in editing it. I've tried it many times and it is effective, By reading it loud I can hear inappropriate words and I can easily omit them.
When we write, we are having a conversation with our readers. Write like you're talking. This will help your readers understand clearly what you are trying to inform them.
When you write as you talk, you will notice some sentences and think that something is up. And if you think those words or phrases don’t sound good, maybe something is wrong. So you work on it once again, and it will definitely make your article better.
It is easier if you write as if your talking. So that when the readers read the article, it's like you're talking to them.
Write as you talk. In journalistic writing, our articles should sound like we are talking. A sensible conversation would bring the most information.
This rule is somehow related to the 10th rule. Writing to your readers is the same as speaking to them, and so you must write the way you talk. Making your readers feel that they are involved in the topic that you are discussing about paves the way for better comprehension of the thoughts injected in the article. Being stiff and incorrigible are many of the things that we avoid when following this rule. So next time you write, do it like the way you talk.
The way I write my fictional stories is as if I’m telling it to my friend, family or anyone I know. I find it easier that way. And I think that it is better that way, too. Your reader will understand you more because they will have a picture of what you are talking about when you write as if you’re in front of them telling the whole story.
I agree that some people tend to overwrite because many writers want to impress their readers by using flowery and hard words. They thought that this kind of writing impress readers. But they were wrong! That's why it is really better to write like the way we talk.
We should write as if we were talking to our readers, because in this way, we can fully give the readers the meaning of what they are reading.
You should write your articles the way that you would narrate them. This would give the readers the feeling that the writer is actually talking to them. It would also make the article much shorter and it would also sound natural. If you were to imagine that you are talking to the reader as you write you would be able to make a better and more efficient article than before.
Write. Then read aloud what you wrote. If it sounds good, then it's correct. Most probably, it is gramatically correct when it sounds good. If it siunds confusing and unsure, then it is wrong. RECTIFY your aricle.
:)
What you say is what you write. When we talk, we just use conversational words that can be understood by many. So when we talk about something, we should also write while talking about it.
This rule will save many from what we know as verbal deadwood, or any kind of deadwood. It would seem hypocritical of us if we write words or sentences that we usually do not say. Notice how you could easily communicate with people when you talk to them? If you want same connection with others, write things as you would say them.
Leo Amadeus Gerella Ruiz
Write as you talk means including the essence of feelings in writing. A writing must not be in a dry emotion, but a rather expressive one. Write as you talk and talk as you write.
People tend to understand their native tongue, really. So, if you choose to give information to a certain group of people, you tell it in their own way and language. So, if you want more readers, you should try to writ in the way that most people would find easier to understand, the way you talk. It makes reading something casual and you go through it without any pains, anywhere.
It is pretty interesting to read an article that somehow talks to you. When you easily relate to it, you could not help but finish the whole article and find out what it is trying to tell you. That is why one should write as he talks in order to catch the readers’ attention.
When we write, we really do not notice our errors. But once we read our work out loud, we instantly spot errors in our write-up and correct the right away. There are even times that what we say is better compared to what we write - in detail and clearly stated.
When speaking we prefer to be quick and concise. The same should hold for journalistic writing. While talking, we use familiar words, use the active voice, get to the point, and say short sentences. Writing as one talks gives an article a sense of uniqueness. It incorporates one's way of speaking into the article, giving it a sort of signature.
Ma Inna Paulina Egamino Palana
IV - Enrico Fermi
Fe-15
Most of the time, readers are more eager to read if it is like talking to them. Remember the feeling when your best friend tells a story about your crush isn’t it you are so eager to listen and even wants more? That is what the rule is talking about. Another thing is that, be yourself on writing. Being true to one’s self is a good factor in socializing. Same goes to writing. Treat your reader as if he/she is your greatest friend ever.
Ma Inna Paulina Egamino Palana
IV - Enrico Fermi
Fe-15
Most of the time, readers are more eager to read if it is like talking to them. Remember the feeling when your best friend tells a story about your crush isn’t it you are so eager to listen and even wants more? That is what the rule is talking about. Another thing is that, be yourself on writing. Being true to one’s self is a good factor in socializing. Same goes to writing. Treat your reader as if he/she is your greatest friend ever.
We all know that talkin is easier than writing. This rule helps us make our writing easier. Remember that when you are doing an article, it's as if you are spaeking to your readers, except it's on paper.
I think it is easier to convey our ideas to people verbally. So, in writing, we should practice talking while doing any compositions. We should have our compositions like we are just conversing to our readers. This would be an effective way in conveying our ideas to our readers.
Writers should put themselves as if they were taliking to somebody. They should do this so that what they write is sensible and meaningful.
Completing what Mark Ungson is trying to say, I believe that when you write something, write as if you are telling a bedtime story to your son whose off to the land of dreams. Would it be nice if that child heard everything clear as if he read it himself and sleep tight knowing that whatever written in the book was put into words? What if we do the opposite? Would it not be easier for man to know the information about the world around him without the slightest care to reach for a dictionary?
Writing in the same way you are talking will make your work easier to understand because it will feel more like a conversation. For me, talking with someone makes things a lot less complicated. It is just like studying. It is easier to find a buddy who will explain it to you rather than reading a very, very thick textbook which in my case does not help much at all.
Just like what Jasper said, this rule have been helping me survive my grammar exams too. When writing, we tend to use unnecessary complicated words rather than the reader-friendly ones. This rule will really help us in journalistic writing because when we talk, we use simple and plain words which makes the conversation smooth and sailing, and this should be how a writer talk to his reader with his article too.
The reason for this rule is that the writer must write as if they are talking to the readers. They have to communicate through their article. If a person write while an event was happening, he might write unnecessary sentences that can only confuse the person who will read it. But when the writer just jot the important details and later write the article about it, he will write it in the simplest but concise way that the reader can relate in it.
If you want same connection with others, write things as you would say them. It will help them understand the article better.
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