Clarity

Graduate writers often get tangled up in complex sentences and convoluted phrasing when trying to present their research in writing. There are a number of reasons for this, but it can often be an indicator that they are simply not sure what they think. There is an important symbiotic relationship between thinking and writing, so it’s important that you think of writing as a tool that helps with thinking. Overuse of long and complex sentences can also be indicative of a lack of confidence, or of trying too hard to sound intellectual.

Key tips:

• Always prioritise clarity over everything else in your writing.
• Ensure the main subject of the sentence and the main verb appear in the first seven – nine words.
• Read long sentences aloud; do they really make sense? Can you shorten them?
• Use a mixture of sentence lengths and types.
• Use a short simple sentence to clinch your main idea.
• Eliminate unnecessary jargon and complex phrasing.