Good Writing

The issues involved with effective writing today have been clearly defined. It is possible to analyse what makes writing effective and the elements that contribute to its effectiveness. These elements consist of, but are not limited to, punctuation, paragraph and sentence structure, word and language choice. Poor language, punctuation, grammatical errors and plagiarism are examples of elements that detract from the standard of effective writing.

The incorrect use of punctuation has become widespread, particularly in the rhetorical worlds of marketing and government. The very people who govern our world and provide us with the things that we are told we need, convey these messages to us in a grammatically poor manner. An example of this is in the marketing world seen everyday in shopping centres with big banners reading "CD's AND DVD's ALL HALF PRICE". In essence, what is wrong with this statement is that the writer is suggesting that the CDs and DVDs are in possession of an object when really they are trying to say that there are plural.

In Lynne Truss' Eats, Shoots & Leaves, the author shows how the use of the comma, in its incorrect place, can totally change the meaning of sentences, and hence the whole paragraph. One example Truss uses is "A women, without her man, is nothing" and "A woman: without her, man is nothing." Here we see the same sentence, punctuated in different ways making the sentences direct opposites. Incorrect punctuation use in this instance can mean that what the writer is trying to say may actually be quite different to the meaning that the reader is taking from the writing. It is essential to be very careful when using punctuation.

A sentence, as defined by the World English Dictionary is a 'meaningful linguistic unit: a group of words or a single word that expresses a complete thought, feeling, or idea. It usually contains an explicit or implied subject and a predicate containing a finite verb.'

Sentences are the building blocks of effective writing. Without properly constructed sentences, writing cannot be persuasive, informative or interesting. Indeed, without sentences that contain the essential elements - a subject and either an action of that subject or something that is acting upon the subject - writing is unintelligible. Once the correct elements are combined it is possible to create sentences by recognising how nouns and objectives etc can be put together to generate a concise statement and the beginning of an effective piece of writing is developed. As Strunk points out in The Elements of Style, this does not necessarily mean that all sentences should be short "but that every word tell" (Strunk 2000).

A paragraph, as defined by the World English Dictionary, is a 'piece of writing that consists of one or more sentences, begins on a new and often indented line, and contains a distinct idea or the words of one speaker.' It is important to realise that paragraphs are made up from three main characteristics, a topic sentence, supporting sentences and a concluding sentence.

Hurriedly or carelessly produced writing often results in the incorrect choice of words for a particular situation. Because many words are subjective, and can take on various cultural implications that may be different to the dictionary definition, it is important to consider word selection carefully.

Words are a writer's most powerful tool, as has been said before, "To take power is to win speech" (Watson, 2003). Language shapes the way that people think about situations and events, and thus the manipulation of language in public writing and speech can affect the impressions of those who read or hear it. There are several examples in recent history of public or powerful figures manipulating language and selecting words in order to influence the public's perception of a particular matter. In today's world, people use words in ways to make the public believe those in power are doing 'something'. It is also becoming increasingly common for writers and speakers to 'dress up' their words to make something very simple sound very so complex. By doing this, the individuals who wish to influence their audience'higher powers' put a gloss over what is actually being said. It is impossible to ignore the 9/11 language that was used following the September 11 Terrorist attacks on the United States

An example of the government