February 10, 2012

Informal Prose, Cooking Time, and Clean Logic

Informal business writing can still be crisp and logical; here’s a tip to keep casual writing easy to follow.

This 37-word sentence is by professional food writer Mark Bittman:

My assumptions are that you’re using four chicken-breast halves, about a pound and a half altogether, not sliced into cutlets or fingers or pounded flat but left as they are, about an inch thick at the center.

That sentence beautifully conveys Bittman’s conversational speaking tone. You might want to sound as informal as he does for your company’s blog or your marketing copy. But especially for informal writing, try to keep your sentences under about 30 words.

It’s great to aim for a warm and casual tone, but don’t forget to keep the logic of your sentences easy to follow. If you string your ideas together too loosely, readers may get confused and find something else to read.

Here’s Bittman’s sentence reworded and divided in two, with clearer logic and cleaner grammar:

I assume you’re using four chicken-breast halves, about a pound and a half altogether and an inch thick at the center. Don’t slice them into cutlets or fingers or pound them flat; just leave them as they are.

When you aim for a casual tone, try keeping a sharp eye on how long your sentences get. Short sentences help you keep your thoughts clear. And the more clear your writing is, the likelier you are to hold your readers’ attention.

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Write It Well’s book Essential Grammar includes a chapter on ways you can keep your sentences easy to follow. We’ve made all the book’s exercises available as a free download here to accompany the e-book, which is now available on Amazon.com!

Do you have an important document but not enough time to clarify your thoughts and double-check your punctuation and grammar? Just use Write It Well’s editing services to make sure your readers follow your ideas and respect your voice.