{"id":6583,"date":"2017-03-06T08:00:48","date_gmt":"2017-03-06T16:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/blog\/?p=6583"},"modified":"2021-11-27T15:20:13","modified_gmt":"2021-11-27T23:20:13","slug":"six-exercises-to-improve-writing-clarity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2017\/03\/six-exercises-to-improve-writing-clarity\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Exercises to Improve Writing Clarity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you’re writing a blog post, a newsletter or a white paper, it’s essential to get your message across quickly and in a way that is easy to understand. If you don’t, readers will stop reading or skim your content.<\/p>\n

With verbal communication, you can use body language, facial expressions and vocal tone to get your message across. But when you write, you only have words.<\/p>\n

Most writers agree that to become a better writer<\/a> you must read and write a lot. But there are also a few exercises your can do to further flex your writing \u201cmuscle.\u201d Here are six exercises to help you tighten up your writing and produce more compelling content.<\/p>\n

How to Add Clarity to Your Writing<\/span><\/h2>\n

When you have a message to give, it’s imperative that nothing about that message is muddled. How can you go about being more clear in your writing?<\/p>\n

Be Specific<\/span><\/h3>\n

Think of all the homonyms (words that are spelled the same but have different meanings) in the English language: crane, date, dog, rose, type \u2013 the list goes on. A dog could be an animal, but it could also be a wicked person. And there are thousands of different breeds of the animal (there’s a range of differences between a bulldog and a great Dane). By being specific, you’ll make sure that the reader isn’t confused by your message.<\/p>\n

Use Positive Language<\/span><\/h3>\n

The word \u201cnot\u201d gets thrown around quite a bit in writing. With some revision, however, we can spin those \u201cnot\u201d phrases into something more positive and interesting. For instance, \u201cnot known\u201d becomes \u201cunknown\u201d and \u201cNot interesting\u201d becomes \u201cboring.\u201d It’s a small change, but it will subconsciously keep your readers reading.<\/p>\n

Avoid Wordiness<\/span><\/h3>\n

Writers sometimes fall into the trap of padding their word count with repetition. But precision is more important that word count most of the time. Think about what words you’re using. Writing should be more like archery than shooting a machine gun; preciseness is more impressive than just spraying words around and hoping something sticks.<\/p>\n

6 Writing That Will Improve Your Writing Clarity<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Tweet More<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tweeting forces you to sharpen up your writing because you have only 140 characters to communicate your message. You have<\/em> to be more direct.<\/p>\n

The last paragraph was only 140 characters, but it explained why Twitter can be an effective tool for writers. It makes you focus on the reader and get your point across in as few words as possible.<\/p>\n

2. Explain a Complex Subject in 100 Words or Less<\/span><\/h3>\n

This is actually a more difficult exercise than it sounds. If you need some inspiration, check out HubSpot’s<\/a> “In Under 100 Words” series, which addresses some complicated subjects in short form. Choose a subject you love or one you know very little about. Remember to include as much information as possible, without being vague.<\/p>\n

3. Write a Sonnet or Haiku<\/span><\/h3>\n

Choose a topic and then explain it within the framework of a sonnet. This is a poem of fourteen lines, using ten syllables per line. If you’re feeling brave, try writing a haiku. This is a poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven and five. The poems don’t have to rhyme, but they force you to make every word count. They also make you to consider how words sound and how sentences flow together.<\/p>\n

4. Summarize an Article<\/span><\/h3>\n

Take any article from the Internet and summarize it in as few words as possible. Try to include all the main ideas and leave out anything that is not essential. Not only will this help you write more concisely, it will help you recognize waffle in other people’s writing as well as your own.<\/p>\n

5. Write a Flash Fiction Story<\/span><\/h3>\n

Flash fiction stories can be anything from 100 to 1,000 words. When you try to write a complete story in so few words, it makes you think about the beginning, middle and end. It also forces you to cut out unnecessary details and use words that convey more emotion and meaning.<\/p>\n

6. Edit Someone Else’s Writing<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you have no trouble getting words on the page but you think your finished content needs tightening up, try an editing exercise. Find a blog post online and copy the text into your text editor. Then look for as many ways to improve it as you can. Check for the following:<\/p>\n