How to write good English - Basics

Writing is an amazing art. It helps in expression of ideas, thoughts and opinions in an effective manner. A good writing capability is a tremendous asset for students, professionals, authors and almost every person who needs to read and write.

Writing is also an art. Some people can express profound thoughts and ideas in a few sentences while others struggle to convey the same in multiple pages. It is a word game and like every other game, the player needs a lot of skill, talent, practice and patience to excel.

In this and subsequent posts (in between my other posts which shall embody my own practice in writing), I shall try to share some ideas about writing.

Basics
English is a language with a well-defined structure. Hence, writing in English has to follow the time-tested structure.

The essential elements are:

1. Grammatical correctness.
2. Punctuation marks, spaces and breaks. 
3. Sentences - too short do not convey the meaning, too long create confusion. Short and crisp sentences are preferred for clarity as well as grammatical correctness. 
4. Selection of words - being an international language, English is full of amazing words from different parts of the word. There are many words for a single object or meaning. Choice of right word is critical for precise and effective writing.
5. Subject matter and flow - while writing a piece longer than a few paragraphs, there is a high chance of diverting or digressing from the main topic. It is essential to maintain the focus and try to incorporate plots, subplots and other subject matter around the main theme. Digression makes the reader lose the flow and the whole impact shall be much lessened.  
6. Opening, body and conclusion - in a written or spoken piece, the organization is essential. While a spoken piece can be augmented by the body language, vocal variation and other activities to improve impact, a written piece has to rely solely on the structure and clarity of writing. There needs to be a short and clear opening, a well-organized body and a precise and powerful conclusion that sums up everything and leaves the reader with a clear message.

These are the basic constituents of a good writing practice. Shall continue to build on this with more ideas. 

10:56 AM Tuesday 29 January 2019