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Level 3: Collect useful words

Collect words from other references

Some people learn many writing principles but cannot readily apply these principles.  The main obstacle is they cannot always retrieve the right word from their memory.  Problems with retrieving the right word compromises their capacity to write fluently and effectively.  This section is designed to address this problem.

Exercise

3.1  Read some of the references you have collected. While you read these materials

  • identify over 50 words—or phrases that comprise two or three words—that you do not use in everyday speech but could be useful in your work
  • record these words or phrases in your working document
  • specifically, if possible, insert these words or phrases immediately after one of your sentences; choose a sentence that might be vaguely related to this word

To illustrate

  • suppose your word is alleviate
  • you might insert this word after the following sentence

This finding is consistent with the notion that humility diminishes personal doubts.

  • the reason is that alleviate and diminish are related;
  • consequently, a sentence that comprises alleviate and a sentence that comprises diminish might later appear in the same paragraph

Exercise

3.2  Identify at least 20 more words, or phrases that comprise two or three words, from the following sentences.  Again, insert these words or phrases immediately after one of your sentences.

  • The proliferation of suicide is a burgeoning problem in Australia
  • Smith (2020) conducted a study to evaluate this premise
  • Collectively, this research indicates that electronic cigarettes impairs health
  • Smith (2020) maintained the evidence is inconclusive
  • This contentious argument has been debated extensively
  • Although some research has corroborated the premise that electronic cigarettes compromises health, other studies have challenged this assumption
  • This study was conducted to characterise the experience of retirees, to gauge their wellbeing, and to measure their health
  • To clarify the insights of participants this study adopted a qualitative approach and applied grounded theory
  • The study uncovered some unforeseen perspectives and unearthed three overarching concerns
  • The researcher distributed the survey to 100 participants
  • The survey prompted respondents to contemplate three challenges in their life
  • Researchers often conflate, rather than distinguish these overlapping concepts
  • The researchers distilled three themes from these data
  • The first cluster revolved around techniques that expedite learning
  • The second cluster related to practices that impede learning
  • The findings accord with Hypothesis 1 but contradict Hypothesis 2
  • This bias limits the utility of these findings
  • Because of this complication, the results should be interpreted with caution
  • This initiative could redress the concerns that participants expressed
  • This treatment may temper the recurring problems that individuals underscored
  • This practice could undermine confidence and amplify the doubts of individuals
  • This problem could be ascribed to the decay in effort over time
  • This finding substantiates the notion that people do not resolve conflicts swiftly
  • This pattern of observations has been replicated in other nations
  • The sample comprised adolescents who had exhibited problems
  • This program could expedite the growth and alleviate the anxiety of children
  • If this plan is implemented, these problems could subside
  • To foster rapport, the researcher posed three questions
  • The researcher adapted the procedures that Smith (2020) applied
  • A method that blends words and numbers circumvents these problems
  • Future research that corroborates the benefits of this method is thus warranted
  • Several accounts could explain this pattern of observations

Exercise

3.3  Convert all the words or phrases you collected into short sentences.  That is, if possible, write a sentence that could extend or clarify the previous sentence.  For example

  • to use the word alleviate after the sentence This finding is consistent with the notion that humility diminishes personal doubts, you might write

Humility can alleviate unpleasant memories of past failures.

Exercise

3.4  At the top of your Working Document is a table of recommendations you will learn during this course.  To improve the sentences you have written, apply all the recommendations that corresponds to a 2 in this table


Words that elicit caution

Although some words may be helpful, other words, although valid, should be used with caution. These words, such as the words impact, only, and there, are often used incorrectly. To illustrate

  • in previous decades, many writers assumed the word impact is always a noun and is usually followed by the word of.  For example, people might examine the impact of some initiative.
  • these writers did not believe the word impact should be used as a verb.  For instance, they criticised sentences like this initiative impacted their emotions
  • although the use of this word has changed, to satisfy traditional writers, perhaps use the word impact as a noun

More disconcertingly, however, words like impact, affect, and influence do not specify the direction of some relationship.  For example, this program affects health is not as informative as this program impairs health or this program enhances health.  That is, whenever possible, indicate whether the relationship is positive or negative.  Otherwise, your sentences may be too vague.

Exercise

3.5  In your sentences, search terms like impact, affect, or influence

  • check the word impact is a noun—and is usually preceded by the word of
  • if appropriate, replace the word impact, affect, or influence with a word that specifies whether the relationship is positive or negative
  • sample words include enhance, improve, promote, foster, impair, compromise, and undermine

Exercise

3.6  If possible, insert the word only immediately before the term that needs to be modified.  When inserted in the wrong spot, the sentence may be misconstrued.   For example

  • he ate only one biscuit is correct, but
  • he only ate one biscuit indicates he ate, rather than initiated another act, on a biscuit. 

Therefore, search the term only in your sentences.  Shift the word only to the correct location in the sentence.

Exercise

3.7  The word there often indicates the sentence could be more concise or precise.  For example

  • There are researchers who claim that coffee is healthy could be reduced to Researchers claim that coffee is healthy
  • There has been an increase in obesity levels could be reduced to Obesity levels have increased

Accordingly, search the term there in your sentences.  If possible, rewrite the sentence to exclude this word.

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