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How to Avoid Common Writing Problems

In this lecture we will learn about:

Writer's Block

Writer's block is what we call the experience of getting stuck while writing.

Although the results are the same, there are many sources of writer’s block: lack of information, lack of a well-defined purpose, poor knowledge of the audience, lack of confidence.

Lack of Information

If it is the result of poor research, then you will have to stop writing and gather more information.

If this happens often, you might correctly guess that you have a problem defining your communication purpose.

Lack of a Well-Defined Purpose

A poorly defined purpose of your communication will inevitably make writing more difficult and may block it altogether.

Sometimes this shows as lack of information; often you will notice paragraphs, sections, or entire reports shifting topic in the middle.

Solution: Develop a three-part purpose statement for the communication and outline topic sentences based on it.

Poorly Analyzed Audience

Audience analysis that is poorly performed or ignored can be the source of writer’s block. You may find yourself staring at the screen wondering who will read your report and what they want from it.

Lack of Confidence

Lack of confidence in your abilities as a writer is a common source of writer’s block and is usually self-fulfilling.

If you do not think you can communicate effectively, you will struggle; practicing systematic approaches to writing problems is the solution.

Organizational Problems

Organizational problems are discovered during editing. Finding and fixing them is what makes editing important. If not fixed, readers experience breakdowns in communication.

Punctuation Problems

Accurate punctuation does not ensure accurate communication, but it tremendously enhances it. Test yourself on common punctuation problems to improve technical writing.

Readability Problems

Readability refers to how easily your audience can read and comprehend documentation. Various formulas exist to test it.

Gunning’s Fog Index

This simple formula estimates the reading level required for the audience.

Writing Style Problems

Style is a result of sentence structure. There are four basic types of sentences: Subject-Verb (SV), Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), Subject-Linking verb-Complement (SLVC), and Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Object (SVIO).

Example:

The programmer (S) quit (V).

Example:

The programmer (S) kicked the terminal (O) – Subject-linking verb – complement sentence (SLVC)

Example:

The programmer (S) felt (LV) sick (C)

Example:

The programmer (S) gave (V) the engineer (IO) a headache (O).

How to Edit Your Work

Good editing divides the task of improving a document into areas: Organizational logic, Mechanical development of the topic, Writer's style, and Quality of the manuscript.

Practical Tool for Writers

To eliminate repeated sentences and improve clarity in your drafts, you can use this Duplicate Line Remover tool before final submission.

Organizational Logic & Mechanical Development of the Topic

Check for smooth transitions between paragraphs and sentences. Transition links ideas, achieved by repeating important words, using structure, or transitional phrases like “Finally”.

Writer's Style

If you wish to sell an idea or product, your style must be persuasive. If conveying only information, style should be passively objective.

Quality of the Manuscript

Ensure clarity, organization, and coherence throughout the draft.

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