Varied openings, combined sentences, and cutting redundant words. · about 14 minutes
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What is it? Good writing is varied (sentences differ in length and opening) and concise (no unnecessary words). You vary sentences by combining short ones, starting in different ways and mixing simple, compound and complex structures; you make them concise by cutting repetition, choosing strong verbs and preferring the active voice.
Why does it matter? Varied, concise writing holds the reader's attention and is easier to understand. It is a mark of confident writers in essays, letters and stories.
Where do we use it? Replace "In my opinion, I think" with "I think". Replace "past history" with "history". Replace a string of short sentences with one smooth one.
In this lesson you will:
