WRITING SKILLS

• it is a fundamental skill of communication
• it is often the main method by which you will be assessed
• your work is lost to the world until it is published
• the reader needs to understand what you mean readily and precisely
• poor writing is a waste of time and effort for both writer and reader
• bullet points are easy - writing well is a skill

Gowers (1986) suggests that writers should critically consider their work and ask themselves whether it meets certain criteria.

Based on those criteria, good writing should be:

clear

simple

brief

accurate

complete

correct

Does your writing meet these criteria?

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© University of Leicester, 1997. Writing Skills for Postgraduates and Other Research Scientists, Lucy Birkinshaw and Professor Robert Smith. Based on a pamphlet originally prepared by Robert Ash for the Faculty of Social Sciences. Web-editors: Ted Gaten and Magnus Johnson

Last updated: May 2003
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