Writing with Style - Online
Category
Communication Skills
Pathway
Introduction to Administration
Audience
Anyone wanting to explore key techniques for writing documents that readers will actually want to read.
Duration
2 x 2 hours on-line delivered virtually (you must attend all sessions)
Delegate rate
Approximately £100 dependent on particpant numbers.
As a result of attending, you will be able to:
- understand the key elements of effective writing style
- construct effective paragraphs
- manage your sentences
- choose the right words
- bring your writing to life
- understand some of the key elements of good grammar
- punctuate better and
- improve your spelling
Part 1: the elements of good style
What makes for good style?
- Compare and contrast: an exercise in first impressions
- The core principles of good writing
- Changes in a living language
- A systematic approach to creating an effective style
Knocking your writing into shape
Constructing paragraphs – four golden rules:
- unity
- topic sentences
- coherence
- adequacy
Sentences: shaping and sequencing
- subjects and verbs
- who’s kicking whom?
- exploiting the points of maximum attention
Choosing the right words
- plain, fancy or accurate?
- choosing the appropriate tense
- tailoring your style to your audience
Bringing your writing to life
- Saying what you mean
- Being specific
- Being positive
- Removing blockages
Part 2: the grammar surgery
Common confusions and old chestnuts: the top ten
1 How do you use apostrophes (including its and it’s)?
2 Me or I? (between/with/from you and me/I?)
3 Fewer or less?
4 Can you put a preposition at the end of a sentence?
5 Can you use and, but or because to start a sentence?
(And what about however?)
6 How do you use commas?
(And what’s the difference between commas, colons and semi-colons?)
(And what about a comma before and, while we’re about it?)
7 That or which (or who)?
8 How do we use capital letters properly?
9 The firm/committee/team/group is or are?
10 What is a split infinitive, anyway?
The role of punctuation
- Why punctuate?
- The five most important punctuation marks
Your questions answered
Anything we’ve missed? Ask us now!
The Spelling Quiz
- ‘i’ before ‘e’?
- -ible or -able?
- -ise and -ize
- The top 20 misspelt words in English
- UK and US spelling clarified
- Words often confused
- Quickfire spellings
Where to go for more
Books and other resources
