Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret of style.
-- Matthew Arnold
1. The book "Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace" (9th Edition)
by Joseph M. Williams is a classic that I recommend to anyone who wants to explore the following questions:
*
What is it in sentences that make readers judge writing as they do?
* How can we diagnose our own prose to anticipate
their judgments?
* How can we revise a sentence so that readers will think better of it?
Williams offers
a series of principles -- not prescriptions or formulas -- that can help you become a better writer. For an overview of
his approach, and some hands-on practice analyzing and correcting problematic writing, work through the following PPT presentation
entitled "Audience-centered writing."
click here to download "Audience-centered writing" presentation
2. This handout from the UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center may help you
think about:
* How do I identify my audience and what they want from me?
* How much should I explain?
* How can I read as a writer?
* How can I read as a reader?
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/audience.html#4
3. Once you have a clear sense of who your audience is, you may need
to adjust your style accordingly. Here is another handout from the UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center that may help.
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/style.html