It's Alive!
If you think about
it, English isn’t just one language. Written English and spoken English are two
different animals, with different rules, expectations, and styles. We’re
accustomed to certain slang and fillers when people speak, and our brains
record and process tone, facial expressions, and body language. The majority of
English speakers, even well educated ones, can sound downright idiotic if their
daily speech is recorded and transcribed word for word. Written English has a
different flow, a different rhythm, different conventions, and different expectations.
The words and meanings are shared between both languages, but almost everything
else is different. Unfortunately, many students aren’t aware there’s a
difference at all, and so they write the way they speak. And who can blame
them? They’ve been speaking for decades and they’re pretty good at it.
On the other hand, no writing instructor wants to turn an entire class into automatons, writing stilted, perfect papers with no sense of personality or style. You can have a strong voice and a unique style and still write formal, academic essays. Essays don’t have to be stripped of humor, commentary, or personal flair. But it is a fine line to walk, and it takes a lot of practice, patience, and reading to develop your style. Above all else, reading. The number one way to improve your technique as a writer is to improve your skills as a reader. We speak and listen all of the time, and we so understand the rhythm of the spoken word, but it’s important to understand the rhythm and conventions of the written word, too.
When I say you need to read, I mean actual books. Newspapers and magazines are typically written at a third grade level. Your brain is a muscle and it needs to be exercised. If you were weight training and you only lifted twenty pounds every day and never pushed yourself, you’d never develop any real muscle. Read books you enjoy, read books you might find difficult, read books your professors and friends recommend. Read them on your phone, or keep them in the bathroom. Read for ten minutes when you wake up in the morning and ten minutes before you fall asleep. Not only will regular reading give you a better feel for the language, it may help improve your spelling and grammar as well.
Another way to improve your overall voice and style is to read your essay out loud when you’re done writing it. Or have a friend read it to you. Awkward phrasing, convoluted thoughts, and passive construction are all easier to catch when you hear it. Take the time to revise those sentences and smooth them out. You’d be amazed at how much you can improve your essay. The ten or fifteen minutes you spend on this process can mean the difference between a C and a B.
On the other hand, no writing instructor wants to turn an entire class into automatons, writing stilted, perfect papers with no sense of personality or style. You can have a strong voice and a unique style and still write formal, academic essays. Essays don’t have to be stripped of humor, commentary, or personal flair. But it is a fine line to walk, and it takes a lot of practice, patience, and reading to develop your style. Above all else, reading. The number one way to improve your technique as a writer is to improve your skills as a reader. We speak and listen all of the time, and we so understand the rhythm of the spoken word, but it’s important to understand the rhythm and conventions of the written word, too.
When I say you need to read, I mean actual books. Newspapers and magazines are typically written at a third grade level. Your brain is a muscle and it needs to be exercised. If you were weight training and you only lifted twenty pounds every day and never pushed yourself, you’d never develop any real muscle. Read books you enjoy, read books you might find difficult, read books your professors and friends recommend. Read them on your phone, or keep them in the bathroom. Read for ten minutes when you wake up in the morning and ten minutes before you fall asleep. Not only will regular reading give you a better feel for the language, it may help improve your spelling and grammar as well.
Another way to improve your overall voice and style is to read your essay out loud when you’re done writing it. Or have a friend read it to you. Awkward phrasing, convoluted thoughts, and passive construction are all easier to catch when you hear it. Take the time to revise those sentences and smooth them out. You’d be amazed at how much you can improve your essay. The ten or fifteen minutes you spend on this process can mean the difference between a C and a B.
