36 / Basics of Good Writing
• Have I, wherever possible, substituted strong action verbs for weak linking
verbs? [See action verb and linking verb in the Glossary and in the Verbs section
of Chapter 42.]
• Have I used appropriate vocabulary for the subject? Is the language too
technical for my audience? Is it technical enough to be appropriate for the
subject? Have I avoided colloquial and slang expressions? [See colloquial
expression and slang in the Glossary.] Have I avoided other expressions too
informal for the subject or the audience?
• Have I avoided trite expressions?
• Have I included figures of speech and imagery wherever appropriate to show
maturity in writing and to add reader interest? [See figure of speech and
imagery in the Glossary.]Finally, check your sentences for wordiness. The most powerful papers make signifi-
cant points in few words. [See Sample Revision for Wordiness later in this chapter.]
Think about every sentence, phrase, and word. Are you repeating yourself? Do you
say free gift? What other kind of gift is there? Do you say hot water heater? There is
no cold water heater. Do you refer to Easter Sunday? Is there an Easter Thursday? Be
critical of your writing as you study every word. Eliminate excess.
STEP 4: Checking Emphasis
In addition to structure and organization, look at your paper for proper emphasis.
[See emphasis, in sentences in the Glossary for a quick reference, and see Sample Revi-
sion for Emphasis later in this chapter.] Emphasis begins at the sentence level. If sen-
tences carry proper emphasis, chances are the entire paper shows proper emphasis.
Ask yourself the following questions about emphasis:
• Do I have the main ideas in main clauses? [See clause, main, in the Glossary
and Clauses in Chapter 44.]
• Do I have supporting ideas in subordinate clauses? [See clause, subordinate, in
the Glossary and Clauses in Chapter 44.]
• Have I put the most important ideas at the end of my sentences?
• Are the second most important ideas at the beginning of my sentences?
• Is the information in the middle of the sentences the least important or merits
the least emphasis?You create special emphasis by using particular structures. For instance, the use of
a series establishes a rhythm. Parallel structures help readers remember items in a
series. [See series and parallel structure in the Glossary.] Other kinds of structural
emphasis can occur, too. As a result, ask yourself the following questions:
• If I have used items in a series, are they structurally parallel?
• If I have listed several items in the course of several sentences, could I improve
the listing by putting the items in a parallel series?