Become a Better Writer Trivia Quiz

Answer: Create a brief outline

Creating an outline is simple. Before you write a first draft, you should list the main ideas that you need to cover. Under each main point, you can list sub points or details. Once you have listed all pertinent information, arrange the ideas in the order that you will explore them.

The arrangement of ideas should usually be logical: time-sequence, spatial, or most-to-least-important order. (Hannigan, "Kaplan Technical Writing", 2008).

Answer: Re-examining your ideas

Revision is the process of re-examining what you have written. Did you succeed in what you set out to do? Did you tackle a subject that was too broad or too narrow? Did you include sufficient details? Did you make points that were relevant to the topic? Revision does not include searching for errors--that comes later, during the proofreading phase. To properly revise your writing, you should add, delete, change, or expand upon ideas in your writing. Your finished product should be better than what you originally started with. (Murray, "The Craft of Revision", 2003).

Answer: Reading

If you hadn't already guessed: reading and writing are inextricably connected. The best way to broaden your vocabulary is to read, read, and then read some more! The good news is that almost any type of reading will enhance your vocabulary store. Beneficial reading includes newspapers, magazines, comics, and online documents. I myself, however, prefer the archaic mode of picking up a good book! (Fulwiler, "Language Connections: Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum", 1982).

Answer: Always spelling phonetically

Unfortunately, always spelling phonetically does not work in the English language. You can't sound-out every word to get its correct spelling. Think about how these words sound AND are spelled: business, Wednesday, February, dough, rough, etc. What you CAN do is minimize your own carelessness (stop writing "teh" for "the"!) and become familiar with words that sound or look alike.

For example, you can teach yourself when to use "to" or "too". Finally, a great way to improve spelling is through the use of mnemonics. Mnemonics are memory tricks that help you remember things. Remember those old spelling rules, such as "i before e except after c"? Well, they really work! (Angelillo, "Writing About Reading", 2003).

Answer: Writing style

Writers tend to lose credibility with their audience due to poor grammar, improper (or missing) punctuation, misspelled words, and/or confusing sentence structures. Some writers consistently write run-on sentences, forgetting to utilize appropriate punctuation.

Others write fragments instead of complete sentences. Writing style, however, is personal and unique. You should hone your own writing style to the best of your ability, and eschew the temptation to mimic someone else's! (Sullivan, "The Art of Styling Sentences", 2001).

Answer: Read your writing out loud

Reading your work aloud will allow you to "hear" your words and also enable you to judge sentence flow. When proofreading, you should not skim the paper, but instead go through each sentence with deliberation. When you proofread, you should search for punctuation, capitalization, spelling, subject-verb agreement, and grammar mistakes.

It is also imperative to proofread more than once, and if possible to space each proofreading session by at least an hour. Re-reading your own writing with fresh eyes will inevitably yield new errors, or at least ideas for improved sentences. Finally, never rely solely on a spell check program. Spell checkers cannot decipher what you were thinking. Proofreading: it isn't for the faint of heart! (Anderson, "McGraw-Hill's Proofreading Handbook", 2006).

Answer: Leaving out key details

When reviewing your written work, you should look out for "useless" words. These are words that add little meaning or flavor to your writing. Peruse your paper. Is it sprinkled with words like "virtually", "for all intents and purposes", or "actually"? Get rid of them! Eliminating redundant phrases will improve your writing as well. Redundancy is the repeating or restating of a concept: blue in color, small in size, etc. Also, using active verbs, rather than passive ones, adds punch to your paper. Example: Suzie loves John (active). John is loved by Suzie (passive--and wordy). (Fletcher, "How Writers Work", 2001).

Do not, however, leave out important details simply to reduce words. Details are the meat of your writing!

Answer: Computer

Computers, with proper software, are extremely versatile writing tools. They allow you to write, revise, and edit with amazing ease. Most writing software, like Microsoft Office Word, will allow you to check for spelling and grammar errors as well. Just be careful not to rely solely on computer software, as it is not infallible! Writers should also own a thesaurus and dictionary if possible. Both are invaluable sources for enhancing and varying the vocabulary you utilize. MLA handbooks are nice for students in the humanities, but are not necessary for most writers. (Garson, "Guide to Writing Empirical Papers, Theses, and Dissertations", 2001).

Answer: Knowing how much you should explain about the topic

If you write a letter to the local school board opposing inclusive classrooms, you do not need to define the term, as your intended audience already knows about the subject. Certainly, you can demonstrate your own understanding of the topic, and include a list of "cons", but you do not need to over-explain. On the other hand, if you are writing about an obscure topic to a novice audience, it is important for you to define and elaborate on key ideas. (Oshima, "Introduction to Academic Writing", 2006).

Answer: Writing after a long day of work

Generally, people write better when their bodies are relaxed and their minds are alert. This is rarely the case after a long day of work. The best time to write is when you feel motivated, inspired, and fully able to concentrate on the task. Having writing tools handy, such as pencils, erasers, and dictionaries, also enables you to do your best work. Finally, comfortable surroundings and few distractions will contribute to writing efficacy. (Oshima, "Introduction to Academic Writing", 2006).

Happy writing!