Take The University Challenge

Clear Writing and

Proofreading

The Academic Skills Centre

Trent University
 What Is Clear Writing?
is a way of presenting information so that it is
easy for everyone to read and understand.
prevents misunderstanding between you and
your reader by avoiding

1. spelling errors
2. sentence structure and grammatical errors
3. inappropriate jargon and technical terms
 Clear Writing Is

A Lifelong Task. Even Professional

Writers have Editors.
 How To Work On Improving the
Clarity of Your Writing
Clear Writing involves two major steps:

Editing: Revising the sentence structure,

grammar, spelling, diction and punctuation
of your sentences.

Proofreading: Revising your writing for minor or

surface errors and for format, the look of the
writing
 Writing Clearly Starts With and
Depends On Thinking Clearly

Have something to Hard writing (and hard

say, and say it as
clearly as you can. thinking) makes easy
That is the only reading. Anonymous
secret of style.
~Matthew Arnold
 There are Three Key Rules to Clear
Writing

1. Know your Rules of Sentence Structure,

Grammar, and Punctuation
[Link] it Short and Simple
[Link] Simple and Concrete, Not Wordy and
Abstract
 Clear Writing Rule 1

[Link] up on your syntax (sentence

structure), grammar and
punctuation knowledge to ensure
your sentences communicate what
you intend. Most students make only
a few errors, but they make these
same errors over and over again.
 Grammar and Clear Writing Modules

The Academic Skills Centre's Grammar and Clear

Writing Modules can help you learn to correct your errors
and to understand what the comments mean. Practise
exercises with answer keys are provided.

Take an hour or so and test yourself with some of the

exercises provided. Brush up on the areas you have
difficulty with.
The Module home page provides a handy table that can
help you find the exact help you need to begin to
improve your writing at the sentence level.
[Link]
[Link]
 Clear Writing Rule 2
2. Keep it Short and Simple:
The secret of writing can be given in two
maxims: stick to the point, and, whenever
you can, cut.
~W. Somerset Maugham
Short: Cut out unnecessary words, by
not cluttering your sentences with redundant
expressions such as as is well known, it is
generally accepted that, in my personal
opinion, and so on and so forth. Cut filler.
 Clear Writing Rule 2: Simple

Simple: Use simple words where possible. Simple language will not
make you seem less learned or elegant: it will make you more
credible.

Convoluted Simple
in view of the fact that as
a certain number of some
the majority of most
accordingly, consequently so
for the purpose of to or in order to
in the event of if
 Clear Writing Rule 3: Be Simple and
Concrete, Not Wordy and Abstract
Wordy and Abstract Simple and Concrete

eliminate cut out

achieve an objective meet a target
employment opportunities jobs
negative evolution downturn
remunerated employment paid work
investing in human capital -employee training
- improving (workers)
skills
- education
 Proofreading
Before You Proofread

Be sure you've edited the larger aspects of

your text. Don't make corrections at the
sentence and word level if you still need to
work on the focus, organization, and
development of the whole paper, of
sections, or of paragraphs or if you still
havent edited for grammar, sentence
structure, brevity and simplicity.
 Proofreading
Before You Proofread:

Set your text aside for a while (15 minutes,

a day, a week) between writing and
proofing. Some distance from the text will
help you see mistakes more easily.
Know what to look for. From the
comments of your professors or a writing
center instructor on past papers, make a
list of mistakes you need to watch for.
 When You Proofread

If at all possible, work from a printout, not

the computer screen. (But see later for
computer functions that can help you find
some kinds of mistakes.)

Read out loud. You'll often hear problems

that you may not see when reading
silently.
 When You Proofread
Use a blank sheet of paper to cover up the lines below
the one you're reading. This technique keeps you from
skipping ahead of possible mistakes.

Use the search function of the computer to find mistakes

you're likely to make. Search for "it," for instance, if you
confuse "its" and "it's;" or for opening parentheses or
quotation marks if you tend to leave out the closing ones.

If you tend to make many mistakes, check separately for

each kind of error, moving from the most to the least
important, and following whatever technique works best
for you to identify that kind of mistake.
 When You Proofread

End with a spelling check, using a computer spelling

checker. But remember that a spelling checker won't
catch mistakes with homonyms (e.g., "they're," "their,"
"there") or certain typos (like "he" for "the").

If you want to be really thorough, read backwards, one

word at a time, starting from the end. This breaks up the
flow of the sentence and allows you to focus on each
word at a time. This is inefficient for a long piece of
writing, but try it for a short passage to check your
overall neatness and correctness.
 When You Want to Learn More
Use the ASCs Grammar and Clear
Writing Modules

Consult an Academic Skills instructor.

Instructors won't edit or proofread your
papers in their entirety, but they'll be glad
to explain mistakes, help you find ways to
identify and fix them, and point you to
online resources focus on particular
problems.
 When You Want to Learn More
Keep writing and keep reading. You can
learn by example.

Read the comments you receive on your

writing. They are not criticisms but offer
ways to improve both your writing and
your thinking.
 Proofreading Exercise
1. Although native women in the Canadian
fur trade during the eighteenth century
were sometimes exploited and dominated
by European traders, theres many
reasons to suggest that the tremendous
involvement of these women benefited
North Americans for both social and
economic reasons.
there are
 Proofreading Exercise
2. Some women participated in the fur
trade directly, trapping rabbits and
martens seasonally in order to trade it
for beads, lace, and other luxury items
produced in Europe, most, however,
were only indirectly involved in a less
visible and sometimes unrewarded
way.
them
 Proofreading Exercise

3. For example, pelts

were prepared by native
women for their men to
trade.
their
 Proofreading Exercise

5. Allowing peaceful bonds

to develop between
these different societies.
As well, despite the fact that some
were victimized, marriage between
native women and the fur traders was
common across the country, allowing
peaceful bonds to develop
between these different societies.
 Proofreading Exercise

6. During the fur traders

journeys, women assented by
supplying knowledge of the land
and useful methods of trade.

fur traders journeys

 Proofreading Exercise

7. Another area where women

were important were in providing
essential domestic skills that
helped the fur traders to have
more enjoyable lives.
was
 Proofreading Exercise

8. For example, native women

provided moccasins and snowshoes
for the men of the Hudsons Bay
Company and the Northwest
Company, and they mended the tents
and cloths of fur traders.
clothes
 Proofreading Exercise

[Link] women were often visible

at trading posts, occupying the
numerous economic positions
which was required for the
successful system of trade.
were