These are just a few pointers based on ‘general observations’ from
marking previous lab assignments, but they are applicable to any type of
writing! This is to help you to
write more clear, concise and correct language, in future courses and beyond.
1.Proofread!
2.If
you get a chance, take Writing 101!
It’s a great course that teaches you the ‘ins and outs’ of language and
effective writing.
3.Comparatives:
Incorrect:Biomechanics
is harder then calculus!
Correct:Biomechanics
is harder than calculus!
4.Possessives:always
use an apostrophe (except for the word its)
Incorrect:The
swimmers head was in the water.
Correct: The
swimmer’s head was in the water.
5.Number
agreement:make
sure your nouns and pronouns are for the same number.
Incorrect:The
swimmer kept their head out of the water so they could breathe.
(swimmer = singular; their/they = plural)
Correct:The swimmer kept his/her/the head out of the water
-so
he/she could breathe.
-to
be able to breathe.
-in
order to breathe.
6.Lengthy
sentences:If
you have written a sentence that is 4 or more lines long, it's probably
too long.Consider dividing it into
2 sentences.Complex sentences are
much more difficult to understand.
7.“Since
A therefore A”
e.g.The
swimmer’s increase in velocity, caused by a greater stroke length,
meant that he went faster.
Incorrect:John
jumped higher because he achieved more vertical height.
Correct:John
jumped higher because of increased force production in his muscles.
Sentences
like this are easy to write, and make sense, but they don't tell the reader
anything!It’s repetitive/redundant.Check
for this type of error when revising.
8.‘Wordy’
expressions:they take up space
and don't convey additional information.
Poor: Due
to the fact that his face was in the water, he was more streamlined.
Better:
Because
his face was in the water, …
9.Clichés
or jargon:these
make your writing sound like a magazine article.
Poor:To
put it bluntly, Michael Jordan was the best hoops player ever.
Better:Michael
Jordan was (simply) the best basketball player ever.
10.To
avoid in formal writing:
a) the use of the 1st or 2nd person (I, you,
we, my, etc.)
b)
contractions (it's = it is)
c)
abbreviations/acronyms, unless you define them