Clear, Concise Writing

Overview

This course is equivalent to Writing Well I 

Focusing on grammar and style, this workshop will help you succeed in a work world increasingly driven by information. Today’s busy readers don’t have time to decipher confusing sentences or wade through wordy emails or reports… and yet many readers are forced to do just that. As a result, writers who get their points across clearly and concisely stand out from their peers.

Working with many hands-on exercises, you’ll learn how to spot and avoid common writing problems—and outright errors—that can both confuse your audience and hurt your credibility. You’ll discover how to write sound, economical sentences that convey what you want to say precisely and confidently. By applying the practical tips and techniques covered in Clear, Concise Writing, you will immediately become a stronger and more productive writer.

 

Topics

  • Identifying subjects, verbs, and clauses and applying punctuation properly
  • Composing sound sentences that make your points precisely
  • Using modifiers effectively
  • Avoiding pronoun confusion
  • Employing language your readers will easily understand
  • Capitalizing on verbs to energize sentences, and writing in the active voice
  • Untangling complicated constructions, using no more words than necessary, and trimming long sentences
  • Improving sentence clarity by having characters do actions
  • Creating parallel lists and series to improve flow and professionalism

 

Audience

  • Anyone who wants to make an impact writing clear, concise English
  • Anyone who wants to understand the fundamentals of good writing style
  • Anyone who reviews or edits other people’s writing

 

Duration

12 hours

 

Cost

  • $1095 (plus tax)

 

Featured Instructor

Elizabeth Howell (Ph.D.) is a self-employed business and space writer in Ottawa. Her work has appeared in Forbes, the Ottawa Business Journal and trade magazines such as Space.com. Her teaching experience includes courses in business writing, communications and journalism at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College and La Cité.

 

Sessions