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.(The Bible)It is very easy to use clichés because they are so well knownand often seem exactly right.But it is better to create yourown original expression.Avoid clichés.Create your own expressions.DISPENSING WITH COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGEColloquial language is language that is used in speech or when writing informally.It should be avoided in formalwriting.It is not always easy to distinguish between colloqui-alisms and slang.One dictionary may classify a word ascolloquial while another may regard it as slang.Slang is themost extreme type of informal language.When writing formally, avoid colloquialisms and slangalthough they are permissible in your dialogue.Occasionallyyou may wish to use a colloquial word in your formal workto create a particular effect.In this case enclose it in inverted commas.CHOOSING YOUR WORDSAs well as making sure your grammar and punctuation areaccurate, you should think carefully about your choice ofI M P P R O V I N G Y O U R S T Y L E / 133words before you write.This is why planning any piece ofwork you do is essential.Economising on wordsMake your writing ‘tight’ by avoiding repetition and makingsure you don’t use several words if one will do.Deleteunnecessaryadverbsofmanner.Yourverbshouldfrequently be sufficient to indicate how something is done.She ran quickly out of the room.This would be more effective if you used the verb ‘rushed’.She rushed out of the room.Don’t use tautologies which are simply repetition ormalapropisms (words that sound similar to other words butare used incorrectly)!VARYING YOUR STYLEYou will have to adapt your style of writing to the particularwork you are doing.A newspaper report will not be thesame as a short story.The report of a football match willdiffer from a true account of an exciting incident.Readwidely to enlarge your vocabulary and notice how otherwriters use language.Don’t copy them.Learn from them butdevelop your own style.Write frequently and your style willimprove.134 / I M P R O V E Y O U R P U N C T U A T I O N & G R A M M A RCHECKLIST◆ A paragraph deals with one topic.◆ Use the single sentence paragraph sparingly.◆ Avoid jargon, clichés and colloquialisms in formalwriting.PRACTISING WHAT YOU’VE LEARNTWrite a short story or an article using one of the followingtitles:◆ Lost!◆ Remembering Yesterday◆ A Childhood Memory◆ The Journey◆ The Visit◆ Escape!◆ The Hostage10Revising Your WorkThis chapter is a revision one to reinforce what you havelearnt.REVISING THE PARTS OF SPEECHEach word is a part of speech which has a role to play inyour sentence.Remembering nounsConcrete or common nouns are the names of things: booktableProper nouns are the names of people or places and always start with a capital letter:AlisonEnglandAbstract nouns are states or feelings:beautyhappinessCollective nouns are singular words which refer to a group of objects or people:teamcrowdaudienceGerunds are verb-nouns formed from the present participle of the verb:cryingshopping135136 / I M P R O V E Y O U R P U N C T U A T I O N & G R A M M A RUsing the articlesThe articles are the words:theaan‘The’ is the definite article used for specific items.‘A’ and ‘an’ are more general.‘An’ is used before a vowel.These are the indefinite articles.Utilising pronounsPronouns take the place of nouns:the boyhemy brother and IweRelative pronouns link clauses:This is the girl who stole the book.Choosing the right verb formVerbs are ‘doing’ or ‘being’ words.Finite verbs are ‘completed’ verbs which show person, number and tense.She threw the ball.‘Threw’ is the finite verb; ‘she’ is the third person singular(number) and the tense is the past.The non-finite verbs are:the infinitiveto doto jumppresent participle (always ends in ‘-ing’)doingjumpingpast participle (used with verb to have)He had done.She has jumped.R E V I S I N G Y O U R W O R K / 137Using adjectivesAdjectives qualify nouns.They either precede the noun or follow the verb ‘to be’.I will use the blue counter.My counter is blue.Identifying adverbsAdverbs qualify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.She laughed happily.(Adverb of manner qualifying verb‘laughed’.)He was very handsome.(Adverb qualifying adjective‘handsome’ [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]