Jones
English II IB/IB Literature
10 Ways to Invigorate Your Writing
When used properly, these tools are frequently the difference between high
scores and the highest scores!
1.
“Get” rid of to get!
It is too ambiguous and is more for spoken English. Choose another verb that
shows your meaning more accurately.
Instead of: They are getting more official recognition.
He got a new iPhone.
If you speak better English, you can get a better job.
Try: They are receiving more official recognition.
He purchased a new iPhone.
If you speak better English, you are eligible for more job
opportunities.
2. Linking Verbs
Avoid short, choppy sentences by using –ing verbs and conjunctions.
Instead of: I realize that British English is seen as ‘correct’ English
in your country, but I think this is wrong. The idea is
old-fashioned. Basically, it means that anyone in Ireland
who can cover up his identity and act British, can get a
better job. This is discrimination.
Try: Viewing British English as the only correct variety of English is
rather old-fashioned and could lead to discrimination against those
who sound overly Irish.
3. Active Sentences
Active forms of verbs are often more persuasive.
I built the house.= active.
The house was built by me.= passive
Instead of: The historical-biographical approach is applied by many
great literary theorists.
Try: Many great literary theorists apply the historical-biographical
approach.
Adapted from: Philpot, Brian. English Language and Literature for the IB Diploma. Cambridge:
Cambridge UP, 2011.
Jones
English II IB/IB Literature
4. Subject, Verb and Object
A subject, verb, and object are essential pieces of all sentences. Very frequently,
writers forget one or another of the pieces and end up writing incomplete
sentences.
Instead of: You can use text language to speak informally with your friends.
Or use it with family.
Try: Text language is a valid form of communication when speaking
informally to friends or family,
5. Avoid “one of…” and “the fact that…”
These sentences tend to be wordy. They are more useful in spoken language.
Instead of: One of the universal themes we see in modern literature is
that murder is acceptable. The fact that they do not feel
regret or remorse makes the reader feel uncomfortable.
Try: Murder is acceptable is a universal theme in many literary works.
Their lack of regret or remorse makes the reader feel
uncomfortable.
6. Avoid “There is” or “It is”
The verb to be can often be replaced by stronger, more descriptive verbs. (Be
careful, because this isn’t always true!) There and It are also weak subjects that
can frequently be replaced by some that are stronger.
Instead of: There is an obvious theme that ambition is dangerous.
It is ironic that readers look for the meaning of life in the
death of others.
Try: The theme is that ambition is dangerous.
Ironically, readers look for the meaning of life in the death of
others.
Adapted from: Philpot, Brian. English Language and Literature for the IB Diploma. Cambridge:
Cambridge UP, 2011.
Jones
English II IB/IB Literature
7. Avoid “obviously” and “naturally”
Nothing is obvious for a reader of your paper. Those words make you sound
condescending and presumptuous. Removing these words will enable you to sound
more certain of your own ideas. (Notice, I even removed it from the sample in #6!)
Instead of: In a religious world, murder is obviously wrong and life naturally
has meaning.
Try; In a religious world, murder is wrong and life has meaning.
8. Avoid passive verbs (Active ones engage the reader in your actions. Hence,
active…) This is #3 revisited!
Instead of: In each story, Macbeth, The Stranger, and The Collector,
murder is treated differently.
Try: Each story, Macbeth, The Stranger, and The Collector, treats murder
differently.
9. Use parallel structures
Readers and listeners like parallelism because it contains patterns that can be
easily recognized. Notice, the sentences below repeat the –ing form.
Instead of: We see Macbeth contemplating murder, and he feels guilty
about the murder.
Try: We see Macbeth contemplating the murder and feeling guilty about it.
10. Vary the lengths of your sentences
Keep the reader interested with a variety of sentence lengths. Offset long
sentences with short ones, but always be sure to look for short, choppy sentences
that can be combined.
Instead of: The language of both is simple and basic. Events are told to the
reader as they unfold in a stream of consciousness and
matter-of-fact tone. Only the immediate “here and now”
actions seem to matter to the main character. This is a
typical characteristic of existentialism.
Try: The reader learns of events as they unfold through stream of
consciousness, recounted simply and in a matter-of-fact tone,
where only the “here and now” seems to matter to the main
character. This is typical of existentialism.
Adapted from: Philpot, Brian. English Language and Literature for the IB Diploma. Cambridge:
Cambridge UP, 2011.
Jones
English II IB/IB Literature
Adapted from: Philpot, Brian. English Language and Literature for the IB Diploma. Cambridge:
Cambridge UP, 2011.