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When Clear Writing Really Matters

I know that this is certainly quite late — I had saved this article a few months back and am only now getting to writing about it. Nonetheless, I think it is valuable enough to warrant another look.

When the report, and Rozenweig’s ensuing article, first came out, it reminded me of the importance of brevity and directness. In science writing, conciseness and clarity are prized. However, in the pursuit of objectivity, we often use the third-person passive voice, and this style has deeply impacted my own writing. I now resolve to use more active verbs to provide narrative and agency to the words on the page and to show responsibility of actions.

On a whim, I took a class about teaching writing, and it taught me quite a bit about the pedagogical philosophy of college-level writing instructors around the world. In particular, I developed my own ideas about what writing is supposed to be, what purposes it is supposed to serve, and how my own particular style of writing fits in amidst a great variety of different forms of communication.

This class was invaluable, and I encourage anyone who has the chance to take such an opportunity because, “some day they may have something to say that really matters to them and possibly to the world — and they will want to convey it when the moment arrives in writing that’s clear and concise” (Rosenzweig 2019).

Dossier

“The Whistle-Blower Knows How to Write,” by Jane Rosenzweig, September 27, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/opinion/whistleblower-complaint.html

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1 Comment

  1. ZN

    I agree! Writing is a difficult skill but apparently so very needed to express our thoughts, emotions, work etc..

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