Style, Naturalness and Effective Expression Style is the distinctive way in which a person or text uses language. It involves choices concerning vocabulary, sentence structure, rhythm, tone, emphasis, organization, and level of formality. What Makes Language Natural? Natural English generally follows the patterns that speakers commonly use. For example: make a decision sounds more natural…

Formality, Informality, Tone and Register English changes according to the situation in which it is used. The language appropriate for a conversation with a friend may not be appropriate for an official letter or academic paper. These differences involve formality, informality, tone, and register. Formality Formal English is commonly used in: academic writing official correspondence…

Precision, Clarity and Coherence Effective communication requires more than grammatical correctness. The reader must be able to understand the intended message accurately and follow the relationship between ideas. Three important qualities are precision, clarity, and coherence. Precision Precision means expressing exactly what is intended. Compare: Many people attended the meeting. with: More than 200 employees…

Concision and Economy of Expression Concision means expressing an idea clearly and effectively without unnecessary words. Good writing does not necessarily use fewer words at all times. It uses only the words that contribute meaning. Compare: Due to the fact that he was ill, he was unable to attend. with: Because he was ill, he…

Correctness, Usage and Common Grammar Problems Correctness in English refers to using grammatical structures, words, and conventions in ways that conform to the accepted rules and norms of a particular variety or context. However, correctness and naturalness are not always identical. A sentence can be grammatically possible but sound unusual in a particular context. Grammar…

Precision, Nuance and Appropriate Word Choice Effective vocabulary is not simply about knowing a large number of words. It is about choosing the right word for the intended meaning, context, tone, and degree of emphasis. This is the skill of precision and nuance. Precision Precision means selecting a word that communicates exactly what is intended….

Proverbs, Sayings and Common Expressions English contains a large collection of proverbs, sayings, and common expressions that communicate familiar ideas, advice, observations, or cultural wisdom. Proverbs A proverb is a traditional, concise statement expressing a general observation, practical lesson, or piece of advice. Examples include: Actions speak louder than words. A stitch in time saves…

Idioms and Fixed Expressions An idiom is an expression whose established meaning cannot normally be understood simply by interpreting each word literally. For example: break the ice does not normally mean physically breaking ice. It means to make people feel more comfortable in a social situation. Other examples include: once in a blue moon hit…

Phrasal Verbs and Multi-Word Verbs A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more particles, usually an adverb or preposition, producing a meaning that may differ from the original verb. Examples include: give up find out look after turn off carry on Literal and Idiomatic Uses Some combinations are relatively literal: He stood…