4 Replace prepositional phrases
with prepositionsLike adverbs and adjectives, too many prepositional phrases water
down your prose and obscure your meaning. Many of these we use in
our normal speech simply because they give us more thinking time.
But if you use them in your writing they will clutter up your prose and
give the reader a bumpy, uncomfortable ride through your arguments
and explanations. This will make it difficult for your reader to under-
stand your meaning.
Therefore, wherever possible replace the prepositional phrase with
a simple preposition. For example,replace ‘with regard to’ with ‘about’,
‘for the simple reason’ with ‘because’, and
‘on the part of ’ with ‘by’.This is not to say that such phrases are always inappropriate, but you
should pose yourself the question, ‘Can I replace these with a simpler
preposition without any loss of meaning?’ If you can, do it!
You will also find, particularly in the revision stage, that it helps
to collect prepositional phrases in your notebook. When we’re asked
to produce them, most of us are hard pressed to think of one. It
helps, then, to list them in your notebook as you come across them in
your reading, so you know what you’re looking for when you come to
revise.5 Create fluency through transitionsIn Stage 3 (Planning) we discussed the importance of transitions
in creating fluency between paragraphs, thereby giving your essay
the coherence and continuity it must have to achieve a high grade.
They are also important as a means of giving your readers the literal
signposts they need to negotiate your essay successfully without
getting lost.
As you come across transitions in your reading, note how
other writers link their paragraphs, perhaps even keeping a record
in your notebook so you can use them yourself. Below is a list of
the most common linking words and phrases that are useful as
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