HOW TO IMPROVE WRITING SKILLS
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Narimanova A.U. , Sevinova Kh.U. , Babajanova Yu.I.
1Narimanova Anakhon Ulugbekovna - Student;
Sevinova Khusniya Ulugbek kizi - Student, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE;
Babajonova Yulduz Igorovna - Student, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FOREIGN PHILOLOGY FACULTY, URGENCH STATE UNIVERSITY, URGENCH, REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
Abstract: this article is devoted to enhance writing skills and help you take higher scores during the exams.
Keywords: improve, accuracy, enhance, vocabulary range, grammar, correct, edit, higher.
We can see these types of tips which is very helpful for our writing.
Use active instead of passive voice. One of the most common manifestations of bad writing is overuse of the passive voice. In English, the most basic sentence structure is S-V-O: Subject-Verb-Object. "The zombie bit the man" is an example of this sentence structure. The passive voice can cause confusion by putting the object first: "The man was bitten by the zombie." It usually requires more words and use of a "to be" verb form, which can suck the energy out of your writing. Learn to avoid these constructions as much as you can [1].
The main exception to this is science writing, which conventionally uses the passive voice to put the emphasis on the results, rather than the researchers (although this is changing, so check the guidelines before you write). For example, "puppies fed spicy dog food were found to have more upset stomachs" puts the emphasis on the finding rather than the person doing the finding [2].
Use strong words. Good writing, whether it's in a novel or a scholarly essay, is precise, evocative and spiced with the
unexpected. Finding the right verb or adjective can turn an uninspired sentence into one people will remember and quote for years to come. Look for words that are as specific as possible. Try not to repeat the same word over and over unless you are trying to build a rhythm with it.
One exception to this is the words used to describe dialogue. Bad writing is filled with "he commented" and "she opined." A well-placed "sputtered" can work wonders, but most of the time a simple "said" will do. It may feel awkward to use the word "said" over and over, but changing it up unnecessarily makes it harder for your readers to get into the back-and-forth flow of the conversation. "He said/she said" becomes nearly invisible to your readers after a while, allowing them to stay focused on the characters' voices.
Cut the chaff. Good writing is simple, clear and direct. You don't get points for saying in 50 words what could be said in 20, or for using multi-syllable words when a short one does just as well. Good writing is about using the right words, not filling up the page. It might feel good at first to pack a lot of ideas and details into a single sentence, but chances are that sentence is just going to be hard to read. If a phrase doesn't add anything valuable, just cut it.
Adverbs are the classic crutch of mediocre writing, and they often serve only to clutter up a sentence. A well-placed adverb can be delightful, but much of the time the adverbs we use are already implied by the verb or adjective—or would be if we had chosen a more evocative word. Don't write "screamed fearfully" -- "scream" already suggests fear. If you notice that your writing is filled with "-ly" words, it might be time to take a deep breath and give your writing more focus.
Sometimes cutting the chaff is best done at the editing stage. You don't have to obsess about finding the most concise way to phrase every sentence; get your ideas down on paper however you can and then go through to edit out unnecessary stuff.
Show, don't tell. Don't tell your readers anything that could be shown instead. Instead of just sitting your readers down for a long exposition explaining a character's background or a plot-point's
significance, try to let the readers discover the same ideas through the words, feelings and actions of your characters. Especially in fiction, putting this classic piece of writing advice into practice is one of the most powerful lessons a writer can learn.
For example, "Sydney was angry after reading the letter" tells the reader that Sydney felt angry, but doesn't give us any way to see it for ourselves. It's lazy and unconvincing. "Sydney crumpled the letter and threw it into the fireplace before she stormed from the room" shows that Sydney was angry without having to say it outright. This is far more effective. Readers believe what we see, not what we're told.
Avoid clichés. Clichés are phrases, ideas or situations that have been used so often that they've lost any impact they once had. They're also usually too general to leave a lasting impression on your reader. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, cutting clichés out of your work will make it better.
"It was a dark and stormy night" is a classic example of a clichéd phrase—even now a clichéd concept. Compare these similar weather-related opening lines:
"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."—1984, by George Orwell. It's not dark, nor stormy, nor night. But you can tell right from the start something's not quite right in 1984.
References
1. Powell Barry B., 2009. Writing: Theory and History of the Technology of Civilization, Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 978-14051-6256-2.
2. Reynolds Jack, 2004. Merleau-Ponty And Derrida: Intertwining Embodiment And Alterity, Ohio University Press.