LIKE A FASHIONABLE PERSON might use colors, designer clothing, and arrangements of outfits to create their style of dress, a writer can use tone, word choice, and sentence structures to create different writing styles.
When writing, consider playing with the following:
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choosing appropriate vocabulary level-informal, formal
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choosing appropriate tone of voice---objective, opinionated, formal, informal,
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ordering words to emphasizes key concepts
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varying sentence length and structure
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using analogies, metaphors, and other figures of speech
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vivid language to engage their readers and create images in their readers’ minds
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precise language to enhance communication
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language based on both the denotation (dictionary definition) and the connotation (emotional or subjective association) of words
Consider the effect of the varying style in the following sentences:
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He died.
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He's passed away.
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He's gone to meet his Maker.
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He kicked the bucket.
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He's sleeping with the fishes.
Adapted from READ WRITE THINK site.
Consider the effect of the VARYING SENTENCE TYPE and LENGTH:
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J.Cole writes thought-provoking lyrics. (SIMPLE SENTENCE)
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J.Cole writes thought-provoking lyrics, and he challenges the status quo. (COMPOUND)
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Though J.Cole challenges the status quo, he does so in a thought-provoking way. (COMPLEX)
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Though J.Cole challenges the status quo, he does so in a thought-provoking way, and his fans love him for it. (COMPOUND-COMPLEX)
Consider VARYING SENTENCE BEGINNINGS:
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While they danced at Homecoming...(DEPENDENT CLAUSE)
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Tired from the homecoming dance...(ADJECTIVE PHRASE)
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During the homecoming dance...(PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE)
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To enjoy Homecoming...(INFINITIVE PHRASE)
WRITING STYLE
DO identify their topic, audience, and purpose for writing.
DO NOT use slang unless it is used appropriately for a specific purpose.
DO use content-specific vocabulary.
Do use persuasive language when appropriate.
DO Use present tense when writing about literature.
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For example, even though Ralph Waldo Emerson is no longer alive, we say: “In his essay Emerson explains the importance of self-reliance.”
DO NOT overuse the word “says” when quoting from a text. DO try the alternatives below:
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adds, agrees, asserts, argues, claims, concludes, emphasizes, explains, points out, rejects, states, suggests, urges, boasts, commands, decides, insists, instructs, lectures, mentions, nags, objects, pleads, reassures, requests, scolds, urges, vows, warns, wails, whispers