Writing Style From Wiki

8/8/2019 Writing Style From Wiki

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Writing Style

Writing style is the manner in which a writer chooses

among different strategies to address an issue and

an audience.


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Constraints on style

Occupation

The position ofa writer and his or her concept ofthe

audience impose style constraints on the writing style.

A writer can combine personal style with the expectationsofthe audience, but many choices may be too personal.

Situation and purpose

The writer needs to tailor style to the situation.

The author needs to decide whether the goal ofthe

writing is to inform, persuade, or entertain.


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Stylistic choices

Sentence forms

A writer controls not only the density ofprose but its

distribution. Within the rules ofgrammar, the writer

can arrange words in many ways.

Varying the style may avoid monotony. However, in

technical writing, using different styles to make two

similar utterances makes the reader ask whether

the use of different styles was intended to carry

additional meaning.

Stylistic choices may be influenced by the culture.


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The loose sentence

The most common sentence in modern usage, the loose

sentence begins with the main point (an independent

clause), followed by one or more subordinate clauses. Forexample:

Uncle Tom's Cabin is a very influential novel, having its self-

righteous, virtuous sentimentality, much in common with

Little Women'.

The cat sat on the mat, purring softly, having licked his

paws.


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The periodic sentence

A periodic sentence places the main point in the middle or

at the end ofthe sentence.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, thetrue place for a just man is also a prison. (Henry David

Thoreau)

The balanced sentence A balanced sentence is characterized by parallel structure,

twoor more parts ofthe sentence have the same form,

emphasizing similarities or differences.


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Diction

Depending on the mode in which the writer is

writing, diction can also pertain to the writer's style.

Argumentative and expository prose on a particular

subject matter frequently makes use ofa set of

jargon in which the subject matter is commonly

discussed.

By contrast, narrative and descriptive prose is open

to the vast variety ofwords.


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Insofar as a style ofdiction can be discerned, however, it isbest to examine the diction against a number ofspectrums:

Abstract-concrete: how muchofthe diction is physical?

General-specific: to what degree is the diction precise, towhat degree is it vague?

Denotation-connotation

Literal-metaphorical

Other attributes ofdiction include:

Density

Length


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Connotation

The connotation ofa word refers to the special meaning ,

apart from its dictionary definition, that it may convey.

Connotation especially depends on the audience.

Deliberate use ofconnotation may involve selection ofa word

to convey more than its dictionary meaning, or substitution of

another word that has a different shade ofmeaning.

Writing for the learned, connotation may involve etymology

or make reference to classic works. In schoolbooks, awareness

ofconnotation can avoid attracting extraneous.


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Punctuation

Punctuation is now so standardized that it rarely is a factor

in a writer's style.

Clichs

Some figures ofspeech are phrases that briefly describe a

complicated concept through connotation. However, some

ofth

ese ph

rases are used so

frequently t

hat t

hey

have l

ost

their novelty, sincerity, and perhaps even their meaning.

They are disparagingly referred to as clichs or bromides.

Whether a given expression has fallen into this category is

a matter ofopinion.

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Writing Style From Wiki