Principles of Effective Writing

(AB5CDEO)
1. Accuracy (Preciseness or correctness)
2. Brevity (Conciseness)
3. Consistency (Unity)
4. Coherence (sticking together of ideas)
5. Concreteness (Specificity)
6. Completeness (Thoroughness)
7. Clarity (Clearness)
8. Diction (word Choice)
9. Emphasis
10. Order
 Accuracy
Erroneous/Inaccurate Correct/Accurate
Concord Agreement A priest deliver her homily. A priest delivers his homily.
Error

Predication Error The communicants admitted The communicants received

the Body of Christ during the Body of Christ during their
their first Holy Communion. first Holy Communion.

Modification Error The mustachioed lady in red The lady in red was attracted
was attracted to the man in to the mustachioed man in
black. black.
Complementation Error The twelve disciples were The twelve disciples were
followers of the Pharisees. followers of Jesus Christ.
Coordination/Parallelism We were able to achieve our We were able to achieve our
Error goal slowly but sure. goal slowly but surely.

Subordination Error The students arrives early in The students arrived early
order that prepare for the in order to prepare for the
intramurals opening. intramurals opening.
Factual Error The Philippines first gained The Philippines first gained
independence on June 12, independence on June 12,
1986. 1898.
Organizational Error The stages of man’s The stages of man’s
development are as follows: development are as follows:
birth, infancy, adolescence, birth, infancy, childhood,
puberty, childhood, puberty, adolescence,
adulthood, senescence, and adulthood, senescence, and
death. death.
 Brevity or Conciseness
Kinds of wordy Wordy/Verbose Brief/Conciseness
constructions

Redundancies Fuchsia or maroon in color Fuchsia or maroon large and

large and extra large in size extra large started necessities
started initially required circles
necessities round circles

Smothered Verbs Conducted an experiment Experimented

make an analysis of Analyze
write a narrative composition narrate
of
Deadwood or There are three The three phases of
Inflated phases of matter. matter are solids,
Construction These are solids, liquids, and gases. The
liquids, and parts of a plant are the
gases. The parts trunk, stems, roots,
of a plant are leaves, flowers, and
many. These are fruits.
the trunk, stems,
roots, leaves,
flowers, and
fruits.
DIRECTIONS: Identify the kind of error committed in each statement.
Restate the statement to make it correct.

1. Mr. Nonito Donaire was considered as the “Pambansang Kamao of

the Philippines”.
2. Generally, it is better to eat eggs moderately than avoiding them
entirely.
3. The legacy of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson influence the NBA
today.
4. The torn student’s book lay on the desk.
5. Statistics are among the most difficult courses in our program.
• Emphasis by Conciseness.

Directions: Rewrite the sentences below to the shortest possible.

• Repeat it for the second time once more.

________________________________________________________________________
• Dr. Mata is a doctor who treats eye diseases.
________________________________________________________________________
• The athletes regained their strength again.
________________________________________________________________________
• Did you return back the book that you borrowed?
________________________________________________________________________
• He took care of the administration of the tests.
________________________________________________________________________
 Consistency or Unity
Meanings examples
Unity of Idea Consistency in the
idea presented
Unity of Consistency in the
Subject subject presented
Unity of Consistency in the use
Gender of the following:
Masculine-for male Joseph loves his brothers so
Common-for male much(masculine)
and female Mary takes care of her little lamb. (feminine)
Neuter- for inanimate The student is wearing his ID. (common)
objects The dress has lost its color. (neuter)
Unity of Consistency in the use of the
Mood following: Who invented the telephone? Alexander Graham Bell
Indicative Mood- for statements invented the telephone. (indicative)
of facts and opinions/questions Answer the telephone. (imperative mood)
Imperative Mood- for commands Will you hand to me the cell phone. (imperative)
and requests I wish I were a god. (subjunctive)
Subjunctive mood- for wishes, He doubts if his parents would come. (subjunctive)
doubts, parliamentary motions, I move that the nomination be closed. (subjunctive)
suggestions, necessities, demand, She suggests that he fetch her daily. (subjunctive)
conditions contrary to fact, and The teacher demands that a student come on
ideas following as if or as though time.(subjunctive)
If I were you, I would teach abroad. (subjunctive)
She walks as if she were a penguin. (subjunctive)

Unity of Consistency in the use of the “Come and see the different cultures
Language English language onboard. Hear from Doulos crew where they
come from and what they do on ship! Enjoy a
special afternoon for the whole family.” (also
unity of mood)
Unity of Consistency in the use
Person of the following:
First person-person I am the master of my fate; I am
speaking the captain of my soul.(first)
Second person- You must not leave your things
person spoken to unattended here. (second)
Third person- person He considers himself invincible.
spoken of or about (third)
Unity of Consistency in the use
Number of the following:
Singular-for single You(singular) are the one who
item only makes me happy. (singular)
Plural- for two or You(plural) are the ones who
more items make me happy. (plural)
Unity of Tense Consistency in the use of
the use of the following:
Past tense- for actions We watched “Dubai” last Maundy Thursday. (past
and conditions in the past tense)
Present tense- for actions
and conditions in the We are now watching “May Himala,”starring Judy
present Ann Santos. (present)
Future tense- for actions
and conditions in the We will be watching tomorrow afternoon
future “Himala,” one of the blockbuster movies of
Superstar Nora Aunor. (future)

Unity of Voice Consistency in the use of

the following:
Active voice-or sentences Plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen;
with doers as subjects animals take in oxygen and give off carbon
Passive Voice- for dioxide. (active Voice)
sentences with receivers Plants are eaten by herbivores, whereas animals
as subjects are eaten by carnivores. (passive voice)
Unity of Level of Consistency in the use of the To better equip its faculty members
Language following: with the knowledge and skills in
Standard/Formal English- for preparing instructional materials,
formal writing and speech the College of Arts and Sciences
Education conducted a seminar-
Substandard/Informal workshop on module-writing on
English- for informal writing August 8, 2008 at the Audio-Visual
and speech Room of the Main Library.
(standard/formal English)

We go for hip-hop dance because it

is cool. Dudes, join us now in our
latest joint. (substandard/informal
English)

Unity of Purpose Consistency in the intention of Note: When a writer is writing an

purpose in writing informative article, his only intention
is to inform, not to persuade nor to
entertain.
 Coherence
Ways to Provide Meanings Examples
Coherence
Proper Pronoun Coherence through
reference avoidance of the following:
Multiple reference-the Juan saw carlos as he as going down the stairs.( The
pronoun refers to two or pronoun he refers to two antecedents, Juan and
more antecedents carlos)
Absent reference-the
Thelma is very much fond of cooking so she has
pronoun does not refer to
recently enrolled in it. (The pronoun it does not
any antecedent
refer to any antecedent.
Wrong reference- the
pronoun refers to a wrong Thelma is very much fond of cooking so he has
antecedent recently enrolled in a culinary training course. The
pronoun he refers wrongly to the antecedent
Thelma.)

Proper Predication Coherence through proper Eskimos live in igloos.

collocation of subjects and Japanese women wear kimono.
predicates Atheists don’t believe in God.
Proper Coherence through
Modification avoidance of the
following: Riding a bicycle, the destination was
Dangling modifier- the reached. (the modifier “riding a bicycle” is
modifier describes an dangling because the headword is missing.
absent headword
Misplaced modifier- the The lady bought a carabao from an old
modifier is placed far man with a lame foreleg. (The modifier
from the headword it “with a lame foreleg” is misplaced because
describes it is placed far from the headword
Squinting modifier- the “carabao.”
modifier describes She remembers always praying for her
headwords before and loved ones. (The modifier “always” both
after it “remembers” and “praying.”)
Proper Coherence through The boy hurt himself with his toy gun.
Complementation proper collocation of That teacher has been reading Harry
verbs/verbals and Potter series.
complements
Proper Coordination Coherence through effective The Spaniards killed the three
coordination of the martyr priests- Fr. Gomez, Fr.
following: Burgos, and Fr. Zamora. (word
Word parallelism- parallelism)
coordinate words are joined. Democracy is a government of the
Phrase Parallelism- people, by the people, and for the
coordinate phrases are people. (phrase parallelism)
joined Henry is an intelligent individual,
Clause parallelism- moreover, he is an industrious
coordinate clauses are person. (clause parallelism)
joined

Proper Subordination Coherence through proper She takes good care of her
collocation of dependent children.
units and subordinators The streets were flooded because
there was a heavy downpour.
 Concreteness or Specificity
Generic/Not Specific/Concrete
Concrete
Cat Cheetah, puma, jaguar, lion, tiger

House Tenement, apartment, condominium, mansion

Attach Clip, paste, glue, nail, tack, tie

Manufacture Baker, publisher, filmmaker

r/ producer
Writer Poet, novelist, essayist, playwright
Artist Painter, sculptor, musician, dancer

Professional Doctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer

Man/male Mr. Bean, king, prince, rajah

Woman/female Mrs. Jones, chairwoman, queen, princess

Place(here/there) CCP Little Theater

Time June 12, 2009 at 9:00 am

 Clarity or Clearness
Vague/Ambiguous Clear
Flying planes can Flying planes poses dangers. (S-flying)
pose dangers. Flying planes pose dangers. (S-planes)

Breastfeeding Breastfeeding babies is a nuisance.

babies may be a (S-breastfeeding)
nuisance. Breastfeeding babies are a nuisance.
(S-babies)
Visiting relatives Visiting relatives is annoying. (S-visiting)
can be annoying. Vising relatives are annoying. (S-relatives)
John told Paul that he looked John told Paul, “You (Paul) look pale.”
pale. John told Paul, “I (John) look pale.”
John told Paul that the former (John) looked pale.
John told Paul that the latter (Paul) looked pale.
Mary saw jane as she was Mary saw Jane as the former (Mary) was crossing
crossing the street. the street.
Mary saw Jane as the latter (Jane) was crossing the
street.
Crossing the street, Mary saw Jane.
Mary saw Jane crossing the street.
I found my wallet and my 10- I found my wallet and my 10-dollar bill on the table
dollar bill on the table and put and put the former (wallet) in my pocket.
it in my pocket. I found m wallet and my 10-dollar bill on the table
and put the letter (10-dollar bill) in my pocket.
I found my wallet and my 10-dollar bill on the table
and put them/both (wallet and 10-ollar bill) in my
pocket.
 Completeness
Fragmentary/incomplete Complete

The children reciting The children are/were reciting the Lord’s

the Lord’s Prayer. Prayer.
The books which The books which were placed on the
were placed on the shelves were covered with plastic.
shelves.
The magazines on the The magazines are/were on the table.
table. The magazines on the table are mine.
Ana, you, I are going to Ana, you, and I are going to the
the zoo. zoo.
Because the weather is Because the weather is fine, we
fine. will stroll in the park.

After the summer Classes will start after the

vacation. summer vacation.

When the storm is over. When the storm is over, people

attend to their routinary
activities.
Diction or word choice
Denotative meaning of a word-
found in the dictionary

connotative meaning of a word-

that which is assigned by the
writer to a word as it is used in
the context of his text.
Hyperonyms and hyponyms

Hyperonym (genus or class) –word

superior to the words it embraces.

The words embraced are its

hyponyms (species)
 Example
Hyperonym hyponym

Animal- worms, mollusks, birds, insects, mammals,

reptiles, amphibians

Organism (hyperonym)
Animals (hyponym)
plants (hyponym)
 Quiz
Consistency or Unity
Write the correct form of the verb enclosed in parentheses
in every sentence.
1. A number of banks (operate) in our community.
2. This bank, as well as the other banks, (offer) a variety of
services.
3. The competition among the banks in our community
(be) cutthroat.
4. These banks (resort) to various marketing strategies.
5. One of these strategies (be) charging high interest rates
on deposits.
 Coherence. Write A if the sentence requires proper
modification, B if it requires proper pronoun, C if it
requires proper coordination and D if it is already
coherent.
1. Either he is an account executive or an account analyst.
2. The newscaster will inform the televiewers not only
about the good new but also about the bad news.
3. Atty. Caso told Mrs. Geronimo’s husband that he had
lots of clients.
4. Either Tom is a hunk model or he is a cruiser.
5. The gentleman with brown eyes was attracted to the
mustachioed saleslady.
Emphasis through Effective Parallelism or coordination. Make the
following constructions balanced by changing the italicized
structures to ones parallel with coordinate structures in the
sentences.
1. Business organizations come in the form of sole
proprietorships, corporations, and organizations composed of
partners.
2. Stockholders may own preferred shares or shares which are
common.
3. The rockstar wants to warm up, playing guitar, and singing.
4. Listen to music, taking pictures, and rocking out all night is all
the rock fans want to do.
5. Sylvain travelled by plane, boat and by train.