A good basic rule for beginning writers is: KEEP IT SIMPLE. Don't use a lot of words or complicated grammar structures, when a few strong words will get your point across.
One mistake even advanced writers make is using a lot of abstract nouns (nouns that name ideas) as subjects. Here are some abstract nouns: demonstration, analysis, collection. Each of the nouns hides an action: demonstrate, analyze, destroy.
When a writer hides actions inside nominalized verbs (verbs made into abstract nouns), the only place to put the subject that performed the action is into a prepositional phrase, which requires more words. For example, here are two sentences that contain nominalized verbs, passive verbs, and wordy prepositional phrases:
The destruction of the city by the Romans was followed by the driving away of its citizens.
The collection of samples by the scientists was achieved gradually, over a period of ten years.
Writing is clearer when you use strong verbs, rather than abstract nouns that hide the action of a verb. Here are the same two sentences, rewritten with personal subjects and active verbs:
The Romans completely destroyed the city and then drove away its citizens.
The scientists collected samples for ten years.
Here is another pair of sentences. The first sentence uses abstract nouns (demonstration, transformation) that hide the action and thus need to use more words to name the subject. The second uses specific subjects and active verbs and doesn't overuse prepositional phrases:
1) The demonstration of a new invention, the light bulb, by Thomas Edison was followed by a transformation of the way most homes were lit.
2) After Thomas Edison demonstrated his new light bulb, this invention soon revolutionized the way most people lit their homes.
My suggestion: Click on the first link to read about how to avoid overusing abstract nouns in your writing. Click on the second link to read more about writing clear sentences.Then try quiz 1 and quiz 2 by clicking on the Student Activity links at the bottom of the page.
Changing Nominalized Verbs into Clear Actions
Sentence Clarity and Quizzes on Nominalizations and Subject Position
One mistake even advanced writers make is using a lot of abstract nouns (nouns that name ideas) as subjects. Here are some abstract nouns: demonstration, analysis, collection. Each of the nouns hides an action: demonstrate, analyze, destroy.
When a writer hides actions inside nominalized verbs (verbs made into abstract nouns), the only place to put the subject that performed the action is into a prepositional phrase, which requires more words. For example, here are two sentences that contain nominalized verbs, passive verbs, and wordy prepositional phrases:
The destruction of the city by the Romans was followed by the driving away of its citizens.
The collection of samples by the scientists was achieved gradually, over a period of ten years.
Writing is clearer when you use strong verbs, rather than abstract nouns that hide the action of a verb. Here are the same two sentences, rewritten with personal subjects and active verbs:
The Romans completely destroyed the city and then drove away its citizens.
The scientists collected samples for ten years.
Here is another pair of sentences. The first sentence uses abstract nouns (demonstration, transformation) that hide the action and thus need to use more words to name the subject. The second uses specific subjects and active verbs and doesn't overuse prepositional phrases:
1) The demonstration of a new invention, the light bulb, by Thomas Edison was followed by a transformation of the way most homes were lit.
2) After Thomas Edison demonstrated his new light bulb, this invention soon revolutionized the way most people lit their homes.
My suggestion: Click on the first link to read about how to avoid overusing abstract nouns in your writing. Click on the second link to read more about writing clear sentences.Then try quiz 1 and quiz 2 by clicking on the Student Activity links at the bottom of the page.
Changing Nominalized Verbs into Clear Actions
Sentence Clarity and Quizzes on Nominalizations and Subject Position
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