how to write concise essays

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How to Write Concisely

• Jane Rosenzweig

Three tips.

It’s not the end of the world if you use an unnecessary word now and then, write the occasional overlapping sentence, or tell us what you’re doing in a sentence before you do it. But the extra words add up. In this article, the author offers advice for how to make your writing shorter and sharper.

Whether you’re back in the office or still working remotely, you’ve probably found yourself in more than one meeting this year that could have been the inspiration for one of those “I survived another meeting that should have been an email” memes. But you have probably also read more than one email this year that should have been … a shorter email.

• JR Jane Rosenzweig is the Director of the Harvard Writing Center and the author of the newsletter Writing Hacks . Follow her on Twitter @RosenzweigJane .

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This article is all about concise writing, summed up in the timeless phrase “Omit needless words.” We’ll examine some of the best advice on writing concisely, define what concise writing is and isn’t, and describe 11 writing habits that encourage concision.

“Omit Needless Words” and The Elements of Style

In 1920, William Strunk Jr. published The Elements of Style . This was a groundbreaking work for writers, as it was the first English style guide—emphasizing, among other things, the importance of concise writing.

Since then, Strunk’s style guide has been adapted and edited several times; in 1959, E. B. White doubled the book’s length with his own advice.

The Elements of Style has this to say about concision:

Omit needless words.

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subject only in outline, but that every word tell.

In the 21st century, this advice still rings true as a concise (see, they’re doing it!) definition of concise writing.

What Concise Writing Is

Concise writing is writing that has trimmed excess.

Concise writing is writing that has trimmed excess. It is writing that practices the prescription to “omit needless words.”

The key phrase here is “needless words.” These are words that muddy your writing: they distract the reader from central ideas, fail to carry their weight in meaning or impact, or cloud the reader’s picture of the world you are building. Even if you can’t point to these needless words, you’ll know they’re there, because they make writing feel loopy, slack, and unpolished.

Concision is not about writing in a clipped or spare fashion, but simply means that every word carries its weight—whether you’re writing in simple phrases or long lyrical sweeps.

Again, concision is not about writing in a clipped or spare fashion. Concise writing simply means writing that is clear, vivid, and impactful—writing in which every word carries its weight. This is true whether you’re writing in simple phrases or long lyrical sweeps.

The opposite of concise writing is not long writing; it is wasteful writing.

And so the opposite of concise writing is not long writing; it is wasteful writing, writing that fails to display an economy of language.

Omit Needless Words: 11 Elements of Concise Writing

Below are 11 writing habits that will tend to maximize the impact of each word you write. Some are positive patterns to consider adopting. In other cases, it’s easier to understand concise writing when you see what not to do. Learning to identify common mistakes that lead to wasteful writing will help you greatly with writing concisely.

1. Use Concrete Language and Expressive Verbs

The easiest way to write concisely is to use descriptive language. If you can condense an idea into a single word, it often makes more sense to use that word than to overstate it in 10 words. Expressive language goes hand-in-hand with concision.

One of my favorite authors, Ruth Ozeki, has mastered expressive language. Let’s look at the opening passage from her novel All Over Creation :

Concise example:

Active verbs are in orange, nouns are in aqua, and adjectives are in red.

This paragraph is filled with nouns and active verbs, which are the core of expressive language. With a little bit of connective tissue (prepositions, pronouns, articles, etc.), those nouns and verbs combine into a beautiful image of our planet as a peach.

Notice, also, the frequency of each word category. Ozeki uses an equal amount of concrete nouns and verbs; additionally, she occasionally uses adjectives, though only about one-fourth as frequently as nouns and verbs. This expressive language comprises half of the entire passage.

What would a wordy, inexpressive version of the same passage look like? I’ve tried my best to recreate the verbose, unconcise alternative:

Wasteful example:

In this example, there are far more of those connective words. Further, many of the nouns and verbs are far from expressive: “story,” “corresponding,” and “never-ending violence” are concepts without specific images, and the reader isn’t clear on what the narrator is trying to compare.

When you’re struggling with a sentence, focus on the nouns and verbs; often, you need very little else.

The gist: words can carry a lot of weight, so let them. When you’re struggling with a sentence, focus on the nouns and verbs; often, you need very little else.

This piece of advice largely mirrors our article on great word choice , which has additional concise writing exercises. Take a look there for a further exploration of the parts of speech.

2. Write in the Active Voice

In our previous examples, we only highlighted the active verbs. It’s also possible to write in the passive voice , but doing so is generally less concise.

In an active voice sentence, the subject  does the action (the verb). In a passive voice sentence, the verb happens to the subject.

In active voice writing, the subject does the action. In passive voice writing, the action happens to the subject.

Active voice: My wife visited the beach. Active voice: The rain is drenching us.

Passive voice: The beach was visited by my wife. Passive voice: We are being drenched by the rain.

Passive voice phrases always use the verb “to be” in some form.

Passive voice phrases always use the verb “to be” in some form:

Passive voice has a place in writing, but it often adds excess to your sentences. The passive voice waters down your verbs, making them less direct and impactful. Let’s take a quote from The Princess Bride and move it into the passive voice:

Active: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Passive: Hello. I am named Inigo Montoya. My father was killed by you. You are encouraged to prepare to die.

Hopefully this gives a sense of passive voice writing: it tends to feel wordy, bureaucratic, impersonal. In active voice writing, the subject takes action. In passive voice writing, action happens to a passive subject, and that makes for alienating reading.

Passive voice writing tends to feel wordy, bureaucratic, impersonal.

As a note, scientific and bureaucratic writing intentionally use the passive voice: writers in these fields want to be speaking impersonally, and so they change phrases like “The government requires your tax payment” to “Your tax payment is required” or “The five of us identified a new protein” to “A new protein was identified.” But this is rarely the goal in more creative and expressive forms of writing.

Don’t swear off passive verbs entirely, just use them sparingly. When you do use the passive voice, use it to offer important descriptive details.

Use passive voice at times to offer important descriptive details, or to describe events outside the subject’s control.

For example, here’s a great use of the passive voice, from the US Declaration of Independence:

The passive voice emphasizes “men” and “equal,” shifting the lens from the Creator to Mankind himself. For its time (1776), this sentiment is rather radical, as it actively called for representative democracy in a world largely ruled by divinely-chosen kings.

You can also use passive voice when something happens outside of the subject’s control. For example, if your character gets hit by a large beach ball, despite being in line in a coffee shop, then the passive voice makes perfect sense.

Here, passive voice properly highlights something happening to a passive subject: being hit by an unexpected beach ball. But concise writing is rarely a series of these kinds of accidents: the character above took other actions, like “turned from the cash register,” that would read very badly in passive voice (“As the cash register was turned away from by him…”).

The bottom line: be careful about the passive voice, as it often creates needless words.

3. Watch for Needless Repetition

A surprising amount of writing repeats itself. Redundancies occur inevitably in writing, but learning to recognize and condense them is a necessary element of concise writing.

Redundant language is language that doesn’t provide new or unique information.

Redundant language is language that doesn’t provide new or unique information. For example, if I started writing about the green grass, that would be rather redundant, since grass—unless otherwise specified—is green. If this greenness is somehow unusual, then perhaps it makes sense to write about, but if the green grass is just a background part of the world I’m building, I don’t need to tell you it’s green—and you don’t need to be told, either.

We also let redundancies slip when relying on colloquial turns-of-phrase. A lot of the phrases we use in English are redundant, especially transition statements and verbal colloquialisms. To give you an example, the chart below lists common English phrases on the left, with concise synonyms on the right. You may use these redundant colloquialisms in dialogue, but we recommend almost never using them in poetry or the narration of prose.

After seeing these examples, you may notice how easily redundancies slip past us. We speak many of these phrases without thinking about them; but as writers, we have to start noticing when our words aren’t working. Limiting your use of adjectives, adverbs, and colloquial phrases is a good place to start: each is a hotbed of redundancy, as we’ll discuss.

4. Limit Your Use of Adverbs

I’ve just mentioned a crucial rule for concise writing: limit your adverbs and adjectives. What do I have against these parts of speech? It’s nothing personal, but when writers omit needless words, adverbs are often the first to go.

Adverbs are words which modify verbs or adjectives.

What are adverbs? They are words which modify verbs or adjectives. Adverbs act like adjectives for verbs (and sometimes for adjectives), offering additional information about the way the verbs are performed .

Let’s look at a simple sentence that uses an adverb:

Sentence with adverb: The dog sat lazily on the couch.

Here, the adverb “lazily” modifies the verb “sits.” As the author of this sentence, I have decided that the dog’s laziness is crucial information for the reader.

The English language has a lot of words: we often don’t need to use an adverb because there’s a verb that denotes the same thing.

However, I have also used an extra word to describe that laziness. The English language has a lot of words: we often don’t need to use an adverb because there’s a verb that denotes the same thing. The following adverb-less sentences all convey the same information, in fewer words:

• The dog rested on the couch.
• The dog relaxed on the couch.
• The dog lounged on the couch.
• The dog lazed on the couch.

Each of these examples portray different aspects of laziness, without ever using the word “lazily.”

Adverbs often violate the “Show, don’t tell” rule of writing , as they present excess information instead of inviting the reader to visualize the scene directly. See the following two examples for “Show, don’t tell” alternatives to our initial sentence:

• The dog curled into the couch.
• The dog sighed and sank deeper into the couch cushions.

The issue is not word count; it’s that “lazily” works—well, lazily. It tells your readers what to know rather than inviting them into the world you’re creating, or at least looking for a verb that could carry its weight. It’s a tiny missed opportunity.

Don’t forswear adverbs entirely, in part because “entirely” is an adverb.

Don’t forswear adverbs entirely, in part because “entirely” is an adverb. But the thesaurus is often your friend as a writer, and if a shorter equivalent exists, you should use it most of the time. If you can’t find the right verb, then go ahead and use an adverb: I don’t think there’s a simple English synonym for an activity like “surf ironically.” But for phrases like “destroy completely” (“obliterate,” “annihilate,” or simply “destroy”) or “descend suddenly” (“plummet,” “tumble,” “fall”) you’ve definitely got some options.

5. Don’t Overuse Adjectives

You don’t want an adjective to do a noun’s work.

Overuse of adjectives can also threaten concise writing. You don’t want an adjective to do a noun’s work; if there’s a noun that’s easy to visualize, you don’t need adjectives to modify that noun.

For example, you don’t need to tell us about the color of a fire hydrant—unless that color is notably different.

Unnecessary: They drove past the red fire hydrant.

Most readers, at least in the United States, will assume that the fire hydrant is red.

Better: They drove past the fire hydrant. Or, necessary again: They drove past the aquamarine fire hydrant.

What an unusual color for a fire hydrant! Perhaps this is a doorway to other, equally discolored objects throughout the city. Perhaps the road paint is green, the stop signs are indigo, and the streetlights shine like spider’s silk in moonlight.

Of course, this doesn’t apply just to colors. Adjectives can be used in any of the following ways:

• Physical traits: furry, soft, lukewarm, etc.
• Emotional traits: happy, excited, suspicious, etc.
• Quantities: three flowers, six moons, two roommates, etc.
• Comparison: the tastier drink, the ugliest house, the hottest day, etc.

Overuse of adjectives leads to a muddy, overemphatic style that can feel like the writer is having readers’ experience for them.

Overuse of adjectives leads to a muddy, overemphatic style that, in extreme cases, feels like the writer is having readers’ experience for them:

Muddy: We savored the cool creamy white-and-red strawberry milkshakes, an almost sinfully delicious relief on a sweltering midsummer July day.

Consider which adjectives really matter for the reader’s own experience:

Better: We enjoyed strawberry milkshakes in the July heat.

Let your nouns do most of the work, and bring in the occasional adjective to help paint a more vivid picture.

Writers need adjectives more frequently than they need adverbs, but don’t overuse them: hopefully fewer than half of your nouns will carry adjectival modifiers. Let your nouns do most of the work, and bring in the occasional adjective to help paint a more vivid picture.

6. One Idea per Sentence

In ye olde days of Classic Literature, writers often wrote sprawling sentences that covered a wide range of images or ideas without pause. Just take a look at the opening sentence of A Tale of Two Cities :

These are classic lines in Western literature, and they work partly because their chaos and jumble nicely mirrors the chaos and jumble of the French Revolution. However, we strongly encourage you not to write this way unless you’ve got an extremely good reason. To juxtapose numerous Big Concepts in a breathless jumble worked for Dickens in this instance, but it’s much less likely to work for modern sensibilities, and even here it makes for confusing and almost overwhelming reading.

The key word is “breathless”: in prose like the above there’s no chance for us, as readers, to collect our thoughts. This is where “one idea per sentence” comes in as good advice.

Let’s take a sentence that says too many things, and see how we might rework it.

The reworked example above takes care not to chain together choppy declarative sentences—which can be one risk of overapplying a “one idea per sentence” style—and manages to convey each core idea with more clarity and focus.

7. Avoid Qualifying Sentences

Qualifying sentences exist to modify another sentence, adding contributing details. They often end up adding needless words.

The wordy example above has a second sentence tacked awkwardly after the first sentence, providing information that the first sentence could provide.

In general, try to limit your use of qualifying sentences. Instead, combine descriptions into single sentences, and omit needless words from there.

8. Don’t Overrely on Auxiliary Words

Auxiliary words are “connective tissue” words. They don’t tell you the main information, but they help provide direction, clarifying the relationship between nouns and verbs. Most sentences require a little bit of connective tissue, but only write auxiliary words when needed; there are many opportunities for you to omit needless words here.

The following are types of auxiliary words:

• Auxiliary verbs : these are verbs which indicate action while also modifying the main verb of a sentence. In English, the main auxiliary verbs are be , do , and have . In the sentence “I can help you,” “can” is the auxiliary verb, because it modifies “help,” the main verb. (“Help” is the main verb because it is the main action. “I can you” isn’t a sentence, but “I help you” is.)
• Prepositions : words that provide direction for verbs. These words indicate how a verb affects a noun. Some prepositions include: for, from, to, in, out, on, off, among, with, without, across, about, above, below, since, under, through.
• Conjunctions : words that connect or separate nouns. The three conjunctions are “and,” “but,” and “or.”
• Determiners : These are words which exist solely to indicate something. Definite determiners include words like “that,” “these,” “who,” and “which.” (“A,” “an,” and “the” are articles, which is the “indirect” form of a determiner. Articles are grammatically necessary; non-articles are often optional.)
• Pronouns : these are words that stand in place for nouns. You should only use pronouns if the noun has already been used, and you should use them primarily for stylistic purposes—to avoid awkward repetitions or to write dialogue, for example. Some pronouns include: he, his, her, hers, they, theirs, who, your, it.

Try to write sentences that are mostly nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and use auxiliary words when they are grammatically necessary or present crucial information.

9. Limit Turns of Phrase

The English language has countless idioms, colloquial expressions, and vernaculars. In other words, turns of phrase—a great opportunity to omit needless words.

A turn of phrase is any sort of expression that the audience won’t understand from context alone. The phrase means something that the words themselves don’t denote, such as the phrase “under the weather,” which means “sick.”

Many figures of speech are both wordy and clichéd, and substitute others’ generalities for your own specifics.

Many figures of speech are both wordy and clichéd. Occasionally, you can work a figure of speech into something tongue-in-cheek, but often, using them in your writing simply substitutes others’ generalities for your own specifics.

Here’s a great list of common idioms to avoid for most English dialects. Turns of phrase simply don’t carry the same weight that concise writing does, so let your words speak for themselves.

10. Limit the Use of Fancy Words

In general, this article advises using fewer words where possible, but this is certainly not an absolute rule. Simple multi-word phrases are often significantly clearer than obscure, esoteric words that say the same thing. Simple writing is more concise—in the sense that the reader can more easily glean meaning—even if it uses more words overall.

Simple writing is more concise, in that the reader can more easily glean meaning.

Although the “smart-sounding” sentence is concise, it’s far from readable. And longer words often carry connotations you may not want: “clandestinely” isn’t actually a great word choice in the first sentence above, because it usually means “secretive in the manner of professional spies” rather than “secretive in the manner of shy high school students.”

Use fancy words sparingly, when they illuminate something that simpler language cannot.

Concision means maximizing what we offer readers for their time and effort. Big words sometimes help with this: if we write “a clandestine meeting” rather than “a meeting conducted in an environment of secrecy,” we’ve helped our readers. But a habit of using big words runs counter to concision. Use “fancy” words sparingly, when they illuminate something that simpler language cannot.

11. Avoid Overstatement

Overstatement is any sort of excessive, superlative description. It’s not just a red car, it’s the reddest car on the road ; it’s not just a warm day, but the hottest day imaginable .

Overstatement reduces impact, by diminishing the writer’s legitimacy.

Overstatement aims at maximum impact—but it actually reduces impact, by diminishing the writer’s legitimacy. It’s like someone who bangs the table after everything he says: can we take this person seriously? Is everything that emphatic?

Hyperbole can be an effective literary device . However, you should use superlative descriptions sparingly. The imagery in your writing should do the work for the reader, showing them the red car or hot day rather than telling them that it’s a huge deal.

Are These Concise Writing Tips Universal?

In other words, should you abide by all of these tips, all the time?

should you abide by all of these tips, all the time? Not at all.

Not at all. Writers break the rules all the time, testing the barriers of language and meaning. However, in order for us to break the rules, we must first learn the rules.

And our rule-breaking should be within an overall goal of best using the reader’s time and attention—which is what concise writing and “omit needless words” is all about. That’s not a rule worth breaking.

Omit Needless Words in a Writing Workshop

It’s hard to be objective about our own work, and concise writing requires you to omit needless words ruthlessly. A writing workshop can help. Writing workshops can pinpoint excess words at a line level and help clean up the work’s style—something every writer needs to fix in revision.

An extra set of eyes never hurts when omitting needless words, so take a look at our upcoming courses !

Concise writing will both sharpen and polish your writing style. Put these tips to practice, and watch how your language gains weight, clarity, and power.

Sean Glatch

Apologies, the correct link is: https://alekshaecky.github.io/concise_writing/

“He was short” etc aren’t examples of the passive voice but standard subject/verb/complement sentences, in this case used as descriptions.

The passive always uses a second verb: subject/be in the correct form/past participle. “He was short-changed” for example.

Otherwise, a useful piece.

Bea (writer and English teacher!)

Thank you for pointing that out, Beatrice! I’ve updated that part of the article with better examples. You’re awesome!

You’re welcome (and thanks for the awesome, but I’m just doing my job!)

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How to Write Concisely

#scribendiinc

Concise writing is an art form every writer should master

Conciseness is using the fewest words possible to clearly convey an idea. The opposite of conciseness is wordiness . Knowing how to write concisely is often considered one of the most important skills for a writer to develop. It shortens the length of your text and makes your writing more efficient. Use the five tips below to edit your work for conciseness.

1. Trim the fat

Your first draft will likely have some "fat," or unnecessary words and phrases that weigh down your text. Remove these useless parts whenever possible. The following words and phrases often constitute "fat" in writing: very , just , type , due to the fact that , actually , at this moment in time , and so forth . 

2. Eliminate redundancies

If you use more than one word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph to convey the same information without further clarifying the main point, eliminate all but the best one. Writing concisely and removing redundant information requires having one strong example instead several weak ones that compete for attention. The following is an example of removing redundancies:

Redundant : Multiple instances of red herrings being seen in the lake water were reported several times all day yesterday. Efficient: Red herrings were seen in the lake several times yesterday.

Removing redundant words and phrases will not only make your writing more concise, but easier to read.

3. Avoid the pomp

Outside of poetry, flowery and eloquent words are rarely useful when writing clearly and concisely. Your reader should never have to stop and reach for a dictionary to understand you. The following is an example of pomp-filled writing:

Pomp : We made such a grandiloquent verbal exodus from the gathering that everyone in our immediate proximity was agog, their mouths fluctuating and trilling in surprise. Simple : Our parting comments left everyone at the party speechless and surprised.

4. Check your adjectives and adverbs

Be concise, but keep the adjectives and adverbs that give your writing impact and clarity. It's important to know the difference between these valuable language elements and ones that distract from your point. This is illustrated in the following example:

Bad Details : The very large man, in the black leather vest with long hair, who lives in the house next to me, drove his motorcycle in front of my house very loudly. Good Details : My neighbor, a giant biker, roared his Harley past my house.

Good details illustrate a story using a few vivid words rather than many vague ones.

5. Stay on point

The tips above all illustrate ways to make your writing clear and concise. However, you may stray from your central point while writing. While professional editors will look for irrelevant tangents, it is important that you keep to the main ideas when writing.

It takes time to develop the skill of writing concisely. If you are patient and practice, it will become an ingrained habit. Copy editing will help you hone your skills, and enlisting the help of a professional editor can help you trim the fat even further.

Enhancing your own editing skills can greatly affect how you communicate to your readers. 

Have You Read?

"The Complete Beginner's Guide to Academic Writing"

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The goal of concise writing is to use the most effective words. Concise writing does not always have the fewest words, but it always uses the strongest ones. Writers often fill sentences with weak or unnecessary words that can be deleted or replaced. Words and phrases should be deliberately chosen for the work they are doing. Like bad employees, words that don't accomplish enough should be fired. When only the most effective words remain, writing will be far more concise and readable.

This resource contains general concision tips followed by very specific strategies for pruning sentences. For more help, visit the Purdue OWL's vidcast on cutting during the revision phase of the writing process .

1. Replace several vague words with more powerful and specific words.

Often, writers use several small and ambiguous words to express a concept, wasting energy expressing ideas better relayed through fewer specific words. As a general rule, more specific words lead to more concise writing. Because of the variety of nouns, verbs, and adjectives, most things have a closely corresponding description. Brainstorming or searching a thesaurus can lead to the word best suited for a specific instance. Notice that the examples below actually convey more as they drop in word count.

2. Interrogate every word in a sentence

Check every word to make sure that it is providing something important and unique to a sentence. If words are dead weight, they can be deleted or replaced. Other sections in this handout cover this concept more specifically, but there are some general examples below containing sentences with words that could be cut.

3. Combine Sentences.

Some information does not require a full sentence, and can easily be inserted into another sentence without losing any of its value. To get more strategies for sentence combining, see the handout on Sentence Variety .

How to Write Concisely and Effectively (+Examples)

Table of contents

Kinjal Dagli

Writing concisely is an art. And it’s not only about using fewer words. It’s about packing a punch into every sentence. 

Think of it like a tightrope walker — every step (word) must be carefully chosen to reach the other side. Too many words, and you lose your reader's focus, whereas too few can leave them with unanswered questions. Finding the balance between the two is key to writing concisely and effectively. 

Writing concisely is also a science. And it’s not only about grammar and syntax. It’s about understanding that you’ve got competition, and you need to write the best sentences and paragraphs that you possibly can.

AI concise writing tool - Try Wordtune for free > AI concise writing tool - Try Wordtune for free >

The average English speaker has 50,000 words in their mind . You want yours to stand out. Bonus points if your writing comes together in a way that the reader retains, bookmarks, and references. Here’s how to collect those bonus points:

Know your reader

Knowing your reader and understanding what they want helps you write concisely. That’s because you already know what they know so you get to the point. 

For example, in this article I didn’t need to define “concise writing” because you know what it is. You want tips on how to do it.

Tailor your writing to include the content that your readers are most likely to understand. This allows you to eliminate unnecessary words and phrases, resulting in a more concise and clear piece of writing. This way, your writing can be more direct and engaging, enabling your readers to quickly grasp your message. 

Adjust your tone of voice and sentence structure for your reader too. For academic writing, you’d typically use formal language and a third-person perspective but business writing is more direct, actionable, and concise. And, if you’re having fun with a blog post, you can be more conversational and light-hearted. Right?

Concise sentence example #1

For example, for business writing, you might say, "Take action now to get the results you want," whereas for a blog post, you might say, "Go ahead and take the plunge - you won't regret it!"

Research your topic

Research your topic thoroughly so that you can provide accurate information precisely without going off the rails. 

With thorough research , you gather necessary facts but write about them in fewer words than if you were simply guessing or assuming what you knew was correct. Detailed research helps you gain a better understanding of the subject matter so you can identify the most important details and explain them in a clear and concise manner. 

Plus, research can help you to identify potential flaws in your argument and address them proactively instead of having gaps in your work. 

Concise sentence example #2

Before: I think that this phenomenon happens because of X, Y, and Z.

After: X, Y, and Z are the three main contributors to this phenomenon.

Use simple language

Use language that is easily understood by the reader. Complex language that includes jargon and technical terms makes your message less clear and is difficult to follow. For instance, instead of using the phrase "facilitate the process," you could use the phrase "make it easier" to convey the same message. Or, like Nike, be direct and say "just do it." 

You can use Wordtune's casual tone to make every sentence simpler and easier to understand.

Concise sentence example #3

Before: Utilize the software to expedite the task.

After: Use the software to get the job done quickly.

Avoid repetition and transitions

Extra words take up room on a document and space in your reader’s brain without adding value. Comb through your paragraphs to eliminate any overuse and repetition. For example, instead of saying "It is important to keep in mind that this is a crucial factor to remember", just say "Remember, this is important".

Similarly, if two sentences say the same thing, or use unnecessary transitions , cut the filler words and consolidate it into one concise sentence. It’s good practice to connect your ideas but only if you’re not adding redundant words in the process. Like "as you know" or "to put it another way". They don’t add value to the overall piece. For example, instead of writing “He wanted to go home to freshen up. In other words he wanted to take a shower”, try “He wanted to go home and take a shower.”

Keep in mind:

• Don't sacrifice clarity and readability. The goal is not merely to reduce word count but also to ensure that the message remains intact.
• Avoid overgeneralizing. Make sure your statements are as specific and accurate as possible so there's no confusion about what you mean.
• Don't omit important facts or information in trying to be concise.

Concise sentence example #4

Before: He had no intention of staying late at work. To put it another way, he was eager to leave.

After: He was eager to leave work.

Use active voice

Active voice should be chosen over passive voice. No. Choose active voice over passive voice. 

See what I did there? Active voice = Fewer words, more impact.

Active voice is generally easier to read and understand and it can help keep your content concise. Yoast’s readability analysis recommends using passive voice in no more than 10% of your sentences. Sounds like a task? Do a quick scan using “Control + F” or “Command + F” for words like “was”, “by” and “be” and rework those sentences.

Concise sentence example #5

For example, rewrite “The project was finished by our team” in active voice and change it to “Our team finished the project.” This removes two words without compromising clarity or meaning.

Choose synonyms to find stronger verbs and adverbs

Look for opportunities to use active verbs and adverbs that better communicate your ideas in fewer words. For example, instead of "walk slowly," you could use "saunter" to convey more detail without increasing the length of your sentence. The word “saunter" suggests a leisurely stroll whereas the phrase "walk slowly" does not. Another example: Use the adverb "rapidly" instead of "very quickly."

Pro writing tip: Use a synonym tool to save time and choose the precise word you want. 

Concise sentence example #6

Before: She ran very quickly.

After: She sprinted.

Before: He spoke softly.

After: He whispered.

Make every word count  

Eliminate any words that don't add meaning to your writing. In short, cut the fluff. Prioritize what is most important in your writing by focusing on the main points of your topic.

Concise writing doesn’t have to be dry and boring, or sound like a stuck record. You can be creative and specific to have an impact. Use examples and analogies to explain your point, and think about whether a sentence, a paragraph, or an entire article can be more succinct. 

Studies have shown that when the average sentence length is 14 words, readers understand more than 90% of what they are reading. At 43 words, comprehension drops to less than 10%. 

But be careful of the succinct trap in your writing process — not every sentence has to be limited to a few words. A mix of short, medium, and long sentences makes your writing flow and is pleasing to the reader. 

As Gary Provost says in his lesson on This Sentence Has Five Words : 

“I vary the sentence length, and I create music.”

You can also use AI to reduce or increase your word count , this way making your sentences shorter and more concise.

Concise sentence example #7

Before: "We recommend you to come to the office each and every day in order to take advantage of the benefits of communicating in person."

After: "We recommend daily office visits to benefit from in-person communication."

Choose an AI writing assistant

It’s 2023. AI tools are handy writing assistants with plenty of benefits. They don’t experience writer’s block (only the occasional technical glitch), have a prolific vocabulary so they can suggest rephrasing alternatives, and offer a variety of tones to choose from. Wordtune goes a mile further with a menu of spices to add flavor — examples, statistics, humor, quotes, and facts.

With the grunt work taken care of, you can focus on what matters — concise and quality writing!

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Writing concisely: A short guide

What is concise writing, what does it mean to be concise.

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Good academic writing often involves being concise. Being concise is about using a few well-chosen words and avoiding those words which are not needed. This is a short guide to writing concisely. 

George Orwell suggested that if it was possible to cut a word from a piece writing, then it should be cut. The idea here is that if a word could be removed and the meaning would be unchanged then the word is unnecessary. This is food for thought when we consider our writing and it might, depending on your feelings about writing, seem quite liberating or, alternatively, fill you with dread. 

You might be reading this guide because it has been suggested that you try to be more concise in your writing. You might be reading this because you find it difficult to write in a succinct style. Either way, it can be useful to begin by thinking about why we might want to write concisely. 

There a number of reasons why we might try to be concise.

1. Being concise can help to avoid redundancy. A word might be said to be ‘redundant’ when it doesn’t add much to the meaning; it is not necessary and might even make the writing feel cluttered.

2. This links to a second reason for being concise. For a piece of writing to be concise it will usually require some careful thought and lots of editing. Carefully edited work is, usually, better work (see guide to editing).

3. And, finally, there is the practical matter of meeting word counts. If you have 2000 words for an essay you want to use as many of those words as possible demonstrating your ideas. Concise writing conveys its message in fewer words.

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How To Write Clearly

TIP Sheet HOW TO WRITE CLEARLY: USING PRECISE AND CONCISE LANGUAGE

A writer's job is to create meaning for readers. Expository writers in particular are responsible for clearly spelling out the relationships between ideas and for leading readers convincingly to a desired conclusion. In the business world that most students will enter, this reader-oriented, presentational writing will be in high demand. Even in college, when an instructor asks you to write 2,000 words, he means 2,000 good words. You must cut out wordiness and use precise language.

This TIP sheet offers two ways to move beyond simple grammatical correctness. It teaches you to streamline writing by using the following:

Precise language: A vocabulary of precise nouns and vivid verbs helps you create strong mental pictures and avoid wordiness. Concise language: Using the fewest possible words without sacrificing meaning makes your writing more understandable. Especially avoid unnecessary use of the verb "to be" when it contributes to nominalizations and expletives .

Precise language Never sacrifice clarity to novelty . This sometimes occurs when student writers work with a thesaurus in one hand, choosing substitutes from a list of approximately similar, though unfamiliar, words. "Visage" replaces "face," "endeavors" replaces "tries," "cogitation" replaces "thought," "subsequent to" replaces "after." Or, as a result of late-night brainstorming (or having read too many bad financial aid packets, perhaps?), "at the present time" replaces "now," "in the event of" replaces "if," and "in the majority of instances" replaces "usually."

For example, a speech writer for President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote the first sentence below; FDR himself revised it:

We are endeavoring to construct a more inclusive society. We're going to make a country in which no one is left out.

Never sacrifice meaning to novelty . That is, never search for a synonym just to dress up an idea, and never use an unfamiliar word from the thesaurus to replace a perfectly good familiar word. Thesaurus words may be similar or related, yet not be identical or even equivalent in meaning. Unfamiliar words may carry the wrong connotation or be simply unsuitable for your audience. Learn a word's meaning and usage before using it.

For example, the second sentence below is not identical in meaning with the first (or indeed even comprehensible!), although the word substitutions come from a standard thesaurus:

In addition to studying Western culture, students should be required to study Asian, African, or other cultures. This expanded cultural study would foster understanding of the modern global community.

In addition to examination of Western enlightenment, a pupil ought to remain to apply one's mind to Oriental, African, or choice cultures. Such an enlarged edifying trance would guest of empathy of latter-day universal public.

Never sacrifice meaning to belonging . That is, avoid jargon, or words and expressions known only to people with specialized knowledge or interests. Even if readers know the jargon, it is more difficult to read than plain English and slows down comprehension. Check your writing once expressly to locate jargon, and cut out as much as you can. If technical words or expressions are unavoidable (and they sometimes are), define them the first time you use them and try sometimes to substitute a plainer word. The trick is to cut the verbiage without sacrificing meaning .

For example, contrast the two sentences below, the first written by a scientist using scientific jargon, the second revised into plain English:

The biota exhibited a one hundred percent mortality response.

All the fish died.

Choosing precise nouns makes it unnecessary to add layers of descriptive adjectives that lengthen sentences and comprehension time. (Your adjectives, anyway, will have greater impact if they are not overused.) Compare the following generic nouns on the left with the more connotative suggestions on the right:

Perhaps even more than nouns and adjectives, vivid verbs awaken strong images in readers' minds. Strong verbs do more than almost anything else to improve prose. Compare the following:

Concise language After college, when a job recruiter reads your resume, he or she may simply refuse to wade through excess verbiage. A wordy resume may be tossed. And a future supervisor will want to be able to comprehend your summary report rapidly and painlessly. Writing that is concise packs maximum meaning into the fewest possible words–think of how you would pack your suitcase for an extended tour of Europe. If you use precise language, you will probably find you are already using fewer words. However, if you examine how you use "to be" verbs–am, is, are, were, was, been–you may find even more that you can condense.

As much as possible, replace the verb "to be" with a stronger verb. "To be" is often part of a construction called an expletive , a filler expression like "there were," "it is," or "here are." The problem with expletives, besides their meaninglessness, is that they are wordy and their verbs are lackluster. The subject follows the verb, resulting in an indirect, roundabout expression (also see TIP Sheet "Active and Passive Voice"). To avoid expletives, lead with the subject or even choose a different subject and, if possible, substitute a vivid verb to make the sentence more straightforward and easier to understand:

There are problems with the lease . The lease has problems.

There are several good reasons to delay making this decision. We should delay making this decision for several reasons.

There is a natural desire among adolescents to experience freedom from authority. Adolescents naturally crave freedom from authority.

Expletives often occur with nominalizations . Nominalizations are nouns created by adding an ending to a verb or an adjective: "specificity" from the verb "specify," for example, or "validity" from the adjective "valid." Writing that is overloaded with nominalizations (think government publications) is hard to understand, is almost always too wordy, and uses weaker verbs. Change the nominalizations back into verbs or adjectives if possible:

Using nominalizations: There is a requirement that all students have an evaluation of their transcripts for placement purposes or to meet a prerequisite.

Changing nominalizations back into verbs: The college requires that the admissions office evaluate all student transcripts for placement and prerequisites.

Even complex ideas–especially complex ideas–benefit from a careful effort to condense and to eliminate unnecessary words. By streamlining your writing you help your readers understand–and that is the point, after all.

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How to Avoid Miscommunication in Writing

Today, we communicate via text more than ever.

We send emails to colleagues, text messages to friends, and instant messages through various social media platforms.  This is true for businesses as well. Gone are the days when every letter had to follow a formal template. Or when you had to be careful to close a letter the right way, with a ‘Yours Sincerely’ or ‘Yours Respectfully’ based on who you write to.

Nowadays, such conventions might go against you!

While we write to each other more than ever thanks to the convenience modern technology offers -there’s a real potential for miscommunication.

The absence of body language, tone of voice, and immediate feedback that we rely upon in face-to-face conversations can often lead to misunderstandings when communicating via text.

However, there are many ways we can prevent miscommunication issues and we’ll share them here. Let’s dive in!

1. Use a Conversational Tone

 Many people are under the impression that being formal and overly polite language is the best way to communicate through writing. However, more often than not – this can come off as passive-aggressive or even aggressively unfriendly!

A formal tone of voice rarely has a place in modern text-based communication. Instead, a conversational tone is more appropriate and safe.

What does a conversational tone in writing mean? It means writing as if you’re speaking to a friend.

For example, instead of writing “I would appreciate it if you could send me the report by tomorrow”, try writing “Could you please send me the report by tomorrow? Thanks in advance!”

Even here, you can see how different both the sentences sound. The first sounds almost annoyed and threatening but the second is far more typical in verbal communication between friends. So, make sure to use this tone even if you’re writing to your CEO.

2. Emojis are Your Friend

Once upon a time, emojis were only appropriate in social chat situations.

However, businesses today embrace the use of emojis in professional communication as well.

Emojis are a great way to add emotion and personality to your writing. They can convey tone and help avoid misunderstandings.

For instance, let’s consider a simple message like “I’m waiting for the file”. Without emoticons or emojis, this message could be interpreted in many different ways, potentially carrying a tone of impatience or frustration.

However, by merely adding a smiley face at the end, “I’m waiting for the file :)”, the message instantly becomes friendly and mild, eliminating any negative connotations.

And they’re perfectly okay to use in work situations!

There are so many emojis to choose from today. However, be warned, you also want to avoid those emojis that have a double meaning or a negative tone. Stick to the classics like 🙂 or 😉.

3. Be Clear and Concise

When communicating through writing, it’s essential to be clear and concise.

Avoid using vague language, long sentences, or complex words that could lead to misinterpretation.

Remember, the person on the other end of the screen cannot see your facial expressions or hear your tone of voice. So, it’s best to keep things short and straightforward.

Use bullet points, numbered lists, and headings to break up your text and make it easier to read. That is if you’re sending a post or article.

You can also use these elements in an email, but make sure not to overdo it. Also, use bold and italics to emphasize important points or add emphasis.

Also, keep your sentences short and to the point. You can be effective with fewer words. Did you know that social media posts with fewer than 80 characters get 66% more engagement ? It’s clear that less is more when it comes to text communication.

And most importantly, always proofread your message before sending it out. This will help ensure that what you’ve written is easy to understand and free from any errors.

4. Read Your Text Out Loud

Want to know how your message sounds to others? Read it out loud to yourself.

This simple exercise can help you catch any awkward or unclear phrases that may lead to miscommunication.

Reading your text out loud also allows you to hear if it’s confusing or complex. If you stumble while reading, chances are your message needs some adjustments.

5. Play it Safe

When it comes to using writing, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Not sure if you should use a particular word or phrase? Don’t take the risk and find an alternative.

Not sure if you should address a dicey topic via email or a Slack direct message? Avoid it altogether! Unless you’re a leader and have to bring up difficult topics, it’s best to have such conversations in person.

If you must address a sensitive topic through writing, make sure to choose your words carefully and use the tips mentioned above to avoid any misunderstandings.

Finally, avoid using sarcasm, irony, or any other forms of humor that may not translate well through text.

When in doubt, stick to professional and polite language to avoid any potential miscommunication.

6. Be Mindful of Cultural Differences

It’s not unusual to have coworkers or clients from different countries and cultural backgrounds. And it’s essential to be mindful of these differences when communicating through writing.

Certain phrases, words, or even emojis may have different meanings in different cultures. So, take the time to research and understand cultural norms before sending out a message that could potentially be misunderstood.

It’s also important to avoid making assumptions about someone based on their culture. If in doubt, ask for clarification or use more neutral language to avoid any potential misunderstandings.

7. Follow Up and Ask for Feedback

Last but not least, always follow up with the person you’re communicating with and ask for their feedback. This will help ensure that your message was received as intended and any misunderstandings can be cleared up.

This doesn’t have to be complicated. Just a simple “Did you receive my message? Is there anything I can clarify?” will do.

Following up also shows that you care about effective communication and are willing to take the extra step to avoid misunderstandings.

Be a Clear Communicator

When done correctly, sending written communication can save time and make your work more efficient.

Just make sure that you don’t commit any of these communication faux pas to avoid misunderstandings and maintain positive working relationships.

We’ve covered several tips here that will help you be an effective communicator. Apply these tips in your writing , and you’ll see a big impact on your communication effectiveness!

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Essential Rules for Writing Effective Conclusions (2024‪)‬ IELTS Podcast

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What Are the Essential Rules for Writing Effective Conclusions? * Address the question directly. * Recap or reaffirm your stance. * Avoid introducing new information. * Keep it concise. Which Vocabulary Should You Use for Conclusion Writing? Consequently, Ultimately, Therefore, In conclusion, Hence, To summarise, In summary.   What Ideas Should Guide Your Conclusion Writing? * Ensure your conclusion accurately reflects how much you agree with the prompt, especially in “to what extent” questions. * Balance your introduction and conclusion using the sandwich technique. * Vary your vocabulary without repeating the language of your introduction or the question word for word. * State your position clearly and choose your best argument for or against without trying to summarise all your arguments. Share this guide:Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn Further Reading * IELTS Essay Structures * IELTS Writing Tips for a Higher Score * Essential IELTS Speaking Tips Discover more about effective writing techniques at Harvard University’s Writing Center. AUTHOR: By Ben Worthington, founder and manager of IELTSPodcast.com. An expert IELTS tutor with over 12 years of experience, helping thousands of students every year pass the IELTS exam with Band 7 or higher. Share on WhatsApp     https://traffic.libsyn.com/ieltspodcast/Powerful_conclusions_for_task_2_in_2024.mp3 |Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud |

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How to Write an Essay – Best Method Explained

B efore we dive into this article, we highly recommend you check out bestessaywriter.net if you are looking to get your essay written by highly qualified writers with over 30 years of experience. 

Are you passionate about a topic and eager to share it? Write an essay! Do you disagree with a common viewpoint and want to persuade others to see it your way? Write an essay! Are you required to submit a piece of writing to get into your dream college? Write an essay! 

Writing essays is a powerful way to express your thoughts, challenge prevailing opinions, and fulfill academic requirements. Whether you're driven by passion or necessity, crafting a well-thought-out essay can make a significant impact. 

The term "essay" broadly describes any written piece where the author presents their viewpoint on a topic. This can be academic, editorial, or even humorous in nature. Despite the vast number of approaches and topics available, successful essay writing generally adheres to a consistent framework. 

Good essays are structured effectively to guide the reader through the author's arguments and insights. Whether you're exploring complex theories or sharing personal experiences, a clear, logical structure is key to making your essay compelling and coherent. 

In the following sections, we'll dive into that framework and explain how you can apply it to your essays, regardless of their type. But first, let's begin with a basic overview of essay writing. 

How to Write an Essay 

If you are having trouble writing an essay, you can hire an essay writer from BestEssayWriter.net but if you want to learn how to write an essay on your own, we will lay down the exact steps in this guide.  

Steps to write an essay: 

• Generate Ideas and Choose a Type of Essay : Start by brainstorming potential topics and deciding on the type of essay you want to write, whether it's persuasive, descriptive, expository, or another style. 
• Outline Your Essay : Plan your essay by outlining each paragraph. This helps organize your thoughts and ensures a logical flow of information. 
• Write a Rough Draft : Begin with a rough draft, focusing on getting your ideas down on paper. Don't worry about perfect word choice or grammar at this stage. 
• Edit and Revise : After completing your rough draft, go back and refine it. Pay attention to details like word choice, sentence structure, and overall coherence. 
• Proofread : Finally, review your essay for any typos, errors, or other issues that might detract from your message. 

We'll explore each of these steps in more detail below, but first, let's focus on a crucial element of any effective essay: choosing the right topic. 

Crafting Your Essay's Thesis Statement 

Before you start writing your essay, there are three critical aspects to consider: 

• Thesis  
• Type  
• Audience  

Among these, the thesis is the most crucial. It represents the core argument or main point of your essay. For instance, Bertrand Russell's thesis in "In Praise of Idleness" argues that society overly prioritizes work, neglecting the value of leisure. 

Your thesis statement should encapsulate this central idea. It's what you want your readers to remember most when they finish reading. If you're struggling to define your thesis, ask yourself: "What's the one thing I want my readers to remember?" 

It's best to state your thesis early, ideally in the first few sentences, and to reiterate it throughout your essay, particularly in the conclusion. This repetition ensures that your central idea is clear and resonant. 

The rest of your essay should support this thesis. You can use various forms of evidence to bolster your argument, including empirical data, testimonials, logical reasoning, or persuasive language. The key is to consistently build upon your initial thesis without veering off into unrelated topics. 

The Essay-Writing Process 

Writing encompasses a range of formats, from essays and research papers to novels, poems, screenplays, and blog articles. No matter the format, following an efficient writing process is essential. Even if you begin with a stream-of-consciousness style for your rough draft, a structured system is crucial for revision and refinement. 

Here’s a five-step writing process recommended for essay writing:  

• Brainstorming : Start by gathering your thoughts. Based on your prompt or thesis, generate as many ideas as you can. This is your chance to think freely and note down everything that comes to mind, knowing you can later discard what doesn’t fit. 
• Preparing : In this stage, you filter and organize your ideas. Select those that best support your thesis and arrange them logically. This phase also involves outlining your essay’s structure and gathering resources for evidence. If your essay requires citations, now is the time to collect these, following the appropriate style guide (MLA, APA, or Chicago) depending on your academic or publication requirements. 
• Drafting : Now, you write your first draft. Don’t aim for perfection. The goal is to get your ideas down on paper. Focusing too much on perfecting each word can detract from the overall flow of your essay. 
• Revising : This involves multiple drafts. Here, refine your essay by enhancing word choice, clarity, and overall flow. Avoid common pitfalls like passive voice and run-on sentences. Tools like Grammarly can be particularly helpful in this stage, offering suggestions for sentence structure and clarity to ensure your writing is concise and readable. 
• Proofreading : After revising, the final step is proofreading. This is your chance to catch any misspellings, grammatical errors, or formatting issues. Using a tool like Grammarly’s AI-powered writing assistant can be beneficial for catching these common mistakes, providing instant feedback to refine your essay further. 

This structured approach helps maintain focus throughout the writing process, ensuring that each part of your essay contributes effectively to the whole. 

Essay Structure: An Overview 

The structure of an essay typically adheres to a simple format of introduction, body, and conclusion. However, the content within these sections is what truly makes an essay effective. 

Introduction : The introduction sets the stage for your essay. It follows general writing guidelines but places extra emphasis on presenting the thesis statement prominently, ideally within the first few sentences. By the end of your introductory paragraph, the reader should clearly understand the topic of your essay. Following conventional best practices for writing an introduction will ensure a strong start. 

Body Paragraphs : The body forms the bulk of your essay. Here, each paragraph supports your thesis with evidence. How you organize these paragraphs is crucial. In cases where arguments build on each other, a logical progression ensures clarity and enhances the reader's understanding. It's important to remember that the reader may not be as familiar with the subject as you are, so the structure should aid their comprehension. 

When writing an argumentative essay, the organization of points can vary. You might start with your own argument, presenting evidence before introducing opposing views, or you might begin by addressing the opposition's views and then refute them. The arrangement depends on the strategy you choose: 

• Aristotelian (Classical) : Focuses on establishing the validity of your position. 
• Rogerian : Acknowledges the opposing perspectives before presenting a middle ground. 
• Toulmin : Breaks down arguments into their fundamental parts, including counter-arguments and supporting evidence. 

For simpler essays, a straightforward approach can be effective: 

• Your Point : Clearly state your argument. 
• Counterpoint : Introduce opposing viewpoints. 
• Evidence : Provide evidence that supports your point and/or refutes the counterpoint. 

This basic framework ensures that your essay is not only structured and coherent but also persuasive and comprehensive. 

Conclusion: Wrapping Up Your Essay 

The conclusion of an essay serves to effectively summarize and reinforce your thesis, making it digestible and memorable for the reader. It's the final opportunity to solidify your arguments and leave a lasting impression. 

A good conclusion will: 

• Restate the Thesis : Reiterate your main argument to remind the reader of its importance and relevance. 
• Summarize Key Points : Briefly recap the major arguments or evidence presented in the body paragraphs to reinforce the thesis. 
• Offer Closure : Provide a final statement that signals the essay is coming to an end, often linking back to the broader implications of your argument. 

While it's tempting to introduce new ideas or fresh perspectives in the conclusion, it's important to avoid presenting new evidence or arguments that weren't previously discussed. Instead, you can: 

• Provide Context : Expand on the implications of your thesis in a broader context, suggesting areas for further exploration or the potential impact of your findings. 
• Reflect on the Journey : Acknowledge any changes in perspective or insights gained through the process of writing the essay. 

The conclusion should leave the reader with a clear understanding of your central thesis and the confidence that the essay has fully explored and supported that thesis. By effectively wrapping up your essay, you ensure that your ideas resonate with the reader long after they finish reading. 

The Five-Paragraph Essay: A Simple Structure 

The five-paragraph essay is a straightforward and efficient structure ideal for short, time-constrained writing tasks. This format is especially useful during exams or when a quick response is required. Here’s how it breaks down: 

• Introduction Paragraph : This is where you introduce the topic and present your thesis statement. The introduction sets the stage for the discussion and aims to grab the reader's interest. 
• Three Body Paragraphs : Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your thesis, elaborated with examples, facts, or arguments. This is the core section where you develop your thesis and make your case to the reader. 
• Conclusion Paragraph : The conclusion summarizes the main points and restates the thesis in light of the evidence presented. It should bring a sense of closure and completeness to the essay, reinforcing your initial argument and perhaps suggesting broader implications or future considerations. 

While the five-paragraph essay structure may not accommodate more complex or nuanced topics, its simplicity and clarity make it highly effective for straightforward subjects and settings where clarity and brevity are essential. This structure ensures that your essay is organized and coherent, making it easier for the reader to follow and understand your points quickly. 

Understanding Your Essay's Audience 

Knowing who will read your essay is crucial—it influences everything from the tone to the complexity of your language. Your audience can range from a teacher or admissions counselor to your peers or a broader internet audience. Each group has different expectations and preferences that should guide how you write. 

Formality : The level of formality required often depends on your readers. Academic and professional settings typically demand a formal tone, precise word choice, and a structured approach. In contrast, a blog post or a piece for your peers might allow for a more relaxed style. 

Language and Style : Consider the familiarity of your audience with the subject matter. This understanding will determine how much background information you need to provide and how complex your vocabulary should be. For example, technical jargon might be appropriate for a specialist audience but confusing for general readers. 

Use of Language Devices : Devices like emojis can enhance a casual piece by adding personality and aiding emotional expression. However, they are generally inappropriate in formal essays where they can seem unprofessional and out of place. 

Tailoring your essay to your audience not only makes your writing more effective but also ensures that it is received and understood as intended. Whether you’re drafting a formal research paper or a casual blog post, considering your audience’s expectations will lead to clearer, more effective communication. 

Exploring the Six Common Types of Essays 

Essays can vary significantly in style and purpose, often dictated by the assignment or the writer's intent. Understanding the different types of essays can enhance your ability to choose the most effective approach for your writing. Here are six common types of essays that you might encounter: 

Argumentative Essay 

Argumentative essays are foundational in academic settings, primarily aiming to assert and defend a position. These essays require you to present a strong case for your viewpoint, making them a staple in many school assignments, especially in college. 

Admissions Essay 

Used in college applications, admissions essays ask you to explain why you are interested in a particular school. This type of essay is your opportunity to communicate your passion, goals, and suitability for a college program. 

Persuasive Essay 

Similar to argumentative essays, persuasive essays aim to convince the reader of a specific viewpoint. However, the key difference lies in the intent; persuasive essays not only present an argument but also seek to persuade the reader to adopt this perspective, often through emotional appeal and logical reasoning. 

Compare-and-Contrast Essay 

This format is ideal for discussing two opposing viewpoints or different aspects of a topic, giving equal attention to each. Compare-and-contrast essays are excellent for exploring the similarities and differences between two subjects, providing a balanced view without bias toward one side. 

Personal Essay 

Personal essays are narrative in nature, often relaying anecdotes or personal experiences. Writers like David Sedaris excel in this form, offering stories that resonate on a personal level. While these essays may have a thesis, it is often more interpretive, reflecting personal growth or insights. 

Expository Essay 

Expository essays are informative, explaining a topic in detail to enhance the reader's understanding. Unlike argumentative or persuasive essays, they maintain an objective tone, presenting facts without personal bias. 

Each type of essay serves a different purpose and requires a specific approach. Whether you're arguing a point, sharing a personal story, or providing an objective explanation, understanding these distinctions can help you craft more effective, tailored content. 

Enhancing Your Essay Writing Skills 

Mastering the fundamentals .

To excel in essay writing, especially in academic settings, mastering the fundamentals is crucial. Understanding essay structure and the writing process is essential, but your ability to apply these concepts is what will truly make your essays stand out. Focus on developing your thesis logically and coherently, using an appropriate language style, and ensuring that your references and citations are reliable. For advanced tips that build on these basics, consider exploring more detailed guides on improving your essay skills. 

Getting Feedback 

One of the best ways to improve your writing is to seek feedback. Having someone else review your work can provide new insights and catch errors that you might have missed. This is because working on the same piece can lead to tunnel vision. If possible, exchange essays with a friend for mutual editing, utilize writing centers, or join online writing communities. If these options aren't available, taking a break and revisiting your work with fresh eyes can also be very beneficial. 

The Importance of Grammar and Form 

How you present your ideas can be as important as the ideas themselves. Even a strong, clear thesis can be undermined by poor grammar, confusing structure, or unclear writing. For essays that need to make a strong impact, consider tools like Grammarly Premium, which offers sentence restructuring for clarity, grammar corrections, and readability enhancements. These tools are also invaluable for non-native English speakers looking to refine their language skills. 

Focusing on these elements will not only improve the clarity and persuasiveness of your essays but also enhance your overall writing skills, making your arguments more compelling and your points clearer to your reader. 

• The Scientist University

How to Write a Good Introduction Section

A strong narrative is as integral a part of science writing as it is for any other form of communication..

Nathan Ni holds a PhD from Queens University. He is a science editor for The Scientist’s Creative Services Team who strives to better understand and communicate the relationships between health and disease.

View full profile.

Learn about our editorial policies.

First impressions are important. Scientists need to make their work stand out among a sea of others. However, many mistakenly believe that first impressions are formed based only on titles and abstracts. In actuality, the introduction section is critical to making a real impression on the audience. The introduction is where authors outline their research topic and describe their study. It is where they provide background information and showcase their writing and argumentation styles. For these reasons, the introduction engages the audience in a deeper way than the formalities and rigidities of the title and abstract can afford. To use a fishing analogy: if the title and the abstract serve as the hook and the bait, then the introduction is the process of actually reeling the fish into the boat.

Good Introductions Are Important Guides

In contrast to the constraints placed on the title and abstract, the introduction is the first real opportunity for the scientist to engage with their audience and showcase and convey their passions and motivations for the study in question. This opportunity is somewhat of a double-edged sword. Study authors inevitably have a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise when it comes to their projects and their fields. However, they must remember that the audience does not necessarily have this background information—and that they are only engaging with their audience for a finite amount of time. Despite the urge to excitedly write about all of the different aspects and intricacies of the project, it is very important that authors keep their introductions simple and well organized. 

Therefore, the introduction should move from broad scopes to narrow focuses as the audience reads further. The author should direct the reader along this journey, focusing on topics with direct relevance to what was investigated in the study. A broad fact introduced early on should be linked or paired with a more specific fact along the same lines of thought, eventually culminating in how this information led to the motivation behind the study itself. It is vital to not go off on tangents or talk about things that are too esoteric. A confused audience is an audience that tends not to read further.

Applying Common Principles Across Well-Known and Niche Subjects

Writers can apply these principles in more specialized manuscripts focusing on a single entity rather than a well-known pathology. Consider the following example from a manuscript by cell biologist Luis R. Cruz-Vera’s research team from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1

Here, they divide the opening paragraph of their introduction into four distinct sections. First, they explain what ribosome arresting peptides (RAPs) are and what they do.

Ribosome arresting peptides (RAPs) are nascent polypeptides that act in cis on the translating ribosome to control the expression of genes by inducing ribosome arrest during translation elongation or termination. RAPs commonly sense external forces or low molecular weight compounds in the environment that spatially and temporally contribute to the expression of genes. 

Then they introduce the two different types of RAPs.

RAPs such as SecM that sense external forces on the ribosome are typically large, because these nascent peptides have a domain that functions outside of the ribosome. In contrast, those that sense small molecules inside of the ribosome, such as TnaC are smaller. 

They describe how each type works via a different mechanism.

Typically, larger RAPs interact with cellular factors that can control their capacity for arresting ribosomes. Because of their size and proximity to ribosomal components, large RAPs clearly show two structural domains, a sensor domain and an arresting domain. At the moment of the arrest for the large RAPs, the sensor domain is located outside the ribosome exit tunnel, whereas the arresting domain remains inside the tunnel. The short RAPs currently characterized interact with the compounds that they sense by using the ribosome exit tunnel as a binding surface. For these short RAPs, it has been determined that conserved amino acid residues are necessary to induce arrest by either directly binding the effector molecule or by acting at the peptidyl-transferase center (PTC) during ribosome arrest. 

And finally, they conclude by highlighting a knowledge gap in how small RAPs operate versus what is already known about large RAPs.

However, because the size of short RAPs ranges from only a few to a couple of dozen amino acids, as in the case of TnaC, it has remained unclear whether short RAPs are constituted by the two independent sensor and stalling domains, as it has been observed with larger RAPs.

In this way, the authors make a natural progression from “why this topic is important” to “what is known about this topic,” setting the stage for “what is unknown about this topic and why it should be studied.” 

Gradually Moving from Broad to Narrow

These principles can be further transferred towards the introductory section as a whole. The first paragraph should serve as an introduction to the field and the topic. The middle paragraph(s) provide exposition and detail regarding what is known and unknown, and what has already been done and still remains to do, and the final paragraph outlines the study and its principle findings, providing a transition into either the materials and methods or the results section. 

For example, this work by radiation oncologist Eric Deutsch’s group at Université Paris-Saclay, published in PLoS One , 2 opens by succinctly explaining a scientific problem: “ the threat of extensive dispersion of radioactive isotopes within populated areas that would have an unfortunate effect on human health has increased drastically .” It then offers the call to action necessitated by this problem: “ the development of a decorporating agent capable of effectively mitigating the effects of a wide range of isotopes is critical .”

In the next two paragraphs, the study authors provide information on how and why dispersion of radioactive isotopes are a problem—“ the FDA has approved only three compounds (only one of which is used as a preventative therapy) for the treatment of exposure to specific radioactive elements ”—and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of what is currently available. They then introduce the focal point of their own work, chitosan@DOTAGA, within this context, explaining its potential as a solution to the problem they previously introduced: “ After oral administration to rodents over several days, no signs of acute or chronic toxicity were observed, and DOTAGA did not enter the blood stream and was fully eliminated from the gastrointestinal tract within 24 hours of administration. ”

Finally, the introduction concludes by listing the study objective—“ explore the potential of this polymer for use in the decorporation of a wide range of radioactive isotopes ”—and the motivations and rationale behind the study objective—“ there are no suitable countermeasures available for uranium poisoning. […] This innovative approach aims to directly chelate the radioactive cations, specifically uranium, within the gastrointestinal tract prior to their systemic absorption, which ensures their prompt elimination and mitigation of the associated toxicities. ”

The Introduction Engages with the Reader

The introduction section is often overlooked in favor of the title and the abstract, but it serves two important functions. First, it gives the audience all of the information that it needs to contextualize the yet-to-be-presented data within the context of the problem that needs to be solved or the scientific question that needs to be addressed. Second, and more importantly, it justifies the importance of the study, of its initiative, rationale, and purpose. The introduction is the author’s best—and arguably only real—opportunity to convince the audience that their study is worth reading.  

Looking for more information on scientific writing? Check out  The Scientist’s   TS SciComm  section. Looking for some help putting together a manuscript, a figure, a poster, or anything else?    The Scientist’s   Scientific Services  may have the professional help that you need.

• Judd HNG, et al. Functional domains of a ribosome arresting peptide are affected by surrounding nonconserved residues . J Biol Chem . 2024;300(3):105780.
• Durand A, et al. Enhancing radioprotection: A chitosan-based chelating polymer is a versatile radioprotective agent for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions against radionuclide contamination . PLoS One . 2024;19(4):e0292414.

Related community Research Resources

Building a Scientific Narrative

Where Books Meet Bacteria

The Fundamentals of Academic Science Writing

More From Forbes

How chatgpt can make writing easier — and what to avoid.

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Close up stock photograph of a mature man studying a see-through computer monitor that’s displaying ... [+] text provided by an AI (artificial intelligence) chatbot.

The launch of ChatGPT 17 months ago is considered by many to be a technological inflection point as significant as the launch of the integrated circuit, the internet, and the iPhone. As with any such disruption, each novelty brings out legions of detractors and supporters.

To address both sides of the issue, let’s examine the positive aspects of ChatGPT and, as a cautionary tale, allay the concerns of the detractors.

Generating content

As soon as ChatGPT came out, students started using the technology to do their written assignments which led to charges of cheating as this article by Michael Nietzel indicates. Businesspeople, too, started using the technology to do their daily work—emails, reports, marketing communications, product/service descriptions—and while businesspeople are not likely to be charged with cheating, the practice does have the downside of coming across as either bland, generic, or flowery. The title and subtitle of an article in The Atlantic says it all: “ChatGPT is Dumber Than You Think: Treat it like a toy not a tool.”

Instead, set an honor code for yourself. Never use generative AI tools to generate content from scratch. First, do a rough draft of your own. Then turn to the bot as a productivity tool and prompt it for a draft. Use any ideas or phrases from the bot and work them into a second draft of your own. Be sure you keep both drafts separate to maintain the integrity of your honor code.

Editing content

Read that second draft, now focusing on the language. To heighten the accuracy and color of your description, query the bot again for synonymous words or idiomatic phrases. You can also use dictionary.com, thesaurus.com, or Google’s Power Thesaurus, but if you give ChatGPT a sense of what you’re looking for, its natural language can provide closer suggestions. Don’t just cherry-pick from the list; use your native intuition to make the choice that fits best.

Hundreds of Russian Troops Gathered Out In The Open They Didn t Know The Ukrainians Had Aimed Four ATACMS Rockets At Them

Your best look yet at the new iphone 16, the richest person in every state 2024, enriching content.

As you develop your text, look for additional information that supports and adds depth to your ideas. If the information you find is lengthy or complex, copy and paste it into the bot and prompt it to simplify. Read the simplification and then work the information into your original draft using your own words.

During the process, be sure to double check the accuracy of your research. ChatGPT is often not only inaccurate but as this New York Times article reports, can provide misinformation.

Polishing content

Continue to review your text. Remember that one of the most frequently cited adages among professional writers is “Writing is rewriting.” With each review, you should be implementing a practice known as “Spaced Learning,” or walking away from your text. It’s a human technique that predates ChatGPT. For context, the opposite of Spaced Learning is cramming—need I say more?

In using ChatGPT and other generative AI tools this way, you will be implementing “error-driven learning,” a practice drawn from technology that enables and improves human thinking. In a recent Wall Street Journal article , Professor Charan Ranganath who runs the Dynamic Memory Lab at the Center for Neuroscience at the University of California, Davis, references the work of two cognitive psychologist in 1990 who noted that “neural network models of artificial intelligence learn through trial and error.” Professor Ranganath then ran an experiment in his lab that “used neural network models to simulate what happens in the hippocampus—a critical brain area for rapid learning.” His results found “that the human brain can learn and retain far more through trial and error.”

So go ahead and use ChatGPT to help you generate, edit, enrich, and polish your content, but be sure to keep your hand on the tiller by using an equal measure of your own human capabilities.

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How to write word macros.

Record macros for your repetitive tasks and draft your Word documents in no time

Word macros are one-click marvels that automate repetitive tasks in Microsoft Word. If you are tired of going through the same routine while drafting documents, create macros and finish your tasks quickly. Word macros save mouse clicks and keyboard strokes in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). It may sound complex at a glance, but it isn't. Microsoft made it easy to write macros without any programming knowledge.

You can record Word macros using the desktop apps only. The feature isn't available in Word for iPhone and Android users. Here's how to write Word macros and streamline tedious and time-consuming tasks.

How to create, record, and run Excel macros

Tips to plan for effective macros.

Before you record a macro in Word, plan it in advance. You need a clear idea of which actions you want to record in a macro.

A macro recorder captures everything. A single mishap can ruin your outcome. Instead of deleting and starting a macro again, practice it several times. For instance, if you insert the wrong picture, remove it and add the correct one again. Word records it and performs the same when you run a macro. Here are the things to consider before writing a macro.

• Plan your action and memorize steps before recording a macro.
• Memorize keyboard shortcuts for popular text editing features. Word doesn't record your mouse for navigation in a document area. It should create a smooth macro.
• Trim the number of steps in a macro to keep it efficient.
• Test your macro a couple of times to get your output as expected.

Common examples of Word macros

Are you still confused about using macros in Microsoft Word? Check out some of the usual use cases for Word macros.

• Enter common text: Insert usual text like a company address, terms and conditions, disclaimers, and more with a macro.
• Check grammar and spell check: Run a grammar check with a single click.
• Remove the clutter from the document: Fix formatting issues, spaces, line breaks, and more.
• Insert tables with a specific format: Insert tables with specific headers in one go.
• Generate Table of Contents: Create and update a table of contents.

These are some of the examples of using a macro. Your preferences may vary.

Record Word macros

In the example below, we create a Word macro to insert a table and write a legal disclaimer in a document.

• Launch Microsoft Word and create a new document.
• Go to the View tab and select Macros .
• Microsoft Word stores your macro. It's ready to use from the same menu.

You can use the assigned button or keyboard shortcut or open View > Macros > View macros , select a macro, and click Run . Then, run it to confirm your desired output with a newly created macro.

If you are a developer and familiar with VBA, press Alt + F11 to open Visual Basic. Then, write a new macro from the Insert > Module menu.

Advantages of writing Word macros

Here are the top benefits of using a Word macro.

• Reduces errors in a document.
• Speed up repetitive tasks.
• Creates consistency in documents.
• Endless possibilities.
• Saves time and improves productivity for complex tasks in a document.

Macros require a learning curve. We recommend spending time with them to create useful macros for your routine tasks.

Manage Word macros

When you click Stop recording under the Macros menu, Word saves the recording automatically. You can't test and save it manually. If you want to edit or delete an existing macro, use the steps below.

Enjoy a productivity boost with Word macros

If recording macros is complicated, import one from the web. When you download a document containing macros from the web and open it on your computer, Word blocks macros due to security concerns. If you trust the document source, head to Word settings and enable macros .

Wordtune: AI Writing Keyboard 4+

Ai writing app & paraphrasing, ai21 labs, inc..

• #116 in Productivity
• 4.4 • 445 Ratings
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Wordtune - Writing app, Text paraphrasing, AI content creation and AI Summarization Wordtune is an AI-powered writing companion that understands what you’re trying to say, and suggests ways to make your writing more clear, compelling and authentic. Wordtune can also use AI to generate sentences or entire paragraphs that are completely in tune with whatever it is you’re writing. You can even create content by telling Siri: “Create with Wordtune”. Whether you’re using it to write personal emails, create documents for your clients or exchange instant messages with your colleagues, Wordtune helps you express yourself better. - Rewrite - Explore fresh ways to express yourself in writing. Rewrite suggests alternative ways to phrase your text, whether it's the entire sentence, phrase or just a single word. - AI Text Creation - you can easily generate text with just a prompt by telling Siri: "Create with Wordtune". With AI Text Creation, it's now easier than ever to create unique content anywhere and for any purpose. Sending emails and texts, tweeting, and posting are all possible in a matter of seconds. The selected text will always be available in Wordtune's keyboard or clipboard. - Summarization - now you can simplify complex text, articles, or blog posts into bite-sized summaries to help you focus on the most critical information. Let A.I. do the heavy lifting; Wordtune filters out the extra fluff so you can focus on what’s important. - Tone & Length - Depending on your goal, you can choose the tone and length in which your rewrite suggestions will be written. Want your message to be a bit more casual? More concise? No problem! Rewrite helps you get your message across with the phrasing you like the most. - Translate and Rewrite simultaneously - Write a sentence or part of a sentence in a foreign language, and when you select Rewrite, you will receive rephrasing suggestions in English. The feature is particularly useful for non-native English speakers. - Wordtune works where you do - Wordtune is a multi-platform app that works where you write! With Wordtune, you can enjoy the writing experience, save time and focus on what matters most: Your ideas. Wordtune can help you: - Write better, clearer messages and deliver them the way you intend to - Make brilliant vocabulary choices - Spend less time editing and tinkering with your text - Write with confidence - Sound more fluent - Expand your English vocabulary - Summarize and text or URLs We’re constantly working on updates and improvements to make your Wordtune experience even better. If you have questions or feedback, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected] Licensed Application End User License Agreement (EULA) http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula

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It's here! The new Wordtune AI full keyboard! Writing, rewriting, and creating content has never been easier, no more switching between keyboards. Now you can use our AI keyboard like the regular keyboard you use every day, enhanced with our AI writing tools that boost your writing in any app. Our next generation of keyboard is already in development, so this is just the beginning. Stay tuned! * The feature will be gradually rolled out to all users in the upcoming weeks.

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445 Ratings

I wish It didn’t cost money.

I completely understand that this app would want to make profit off of their app but, for people under the age of about 13, the child would probably need to get their parents to buy the memberships for them and some parents don’t like to spend money on apps. So as someone under the age of 13, I can’t get the memberships and there is a daily limit to how many times you can use the app, but other than that I love how much the app helps me with my grammar/typing!

Developer Response ,

Thank you for sharing your feedback! It will be taken into consideration.

Love Program - Customer Service Came Through!

Update: Customer service came through resolved all issues and then some! I’m happy again and able to use my beloved program ha!!🤣👍 I’ve been using this program for awhile and love it! However, recently, I’ve been having issues logging in and I’m assuming I’m dealing with Bots which is not working?! I’ve been trying to get ahold of a live person for the last week unsuccessfully? I can’t login resetting my password? I’ve done all steps advised via the bots but to no avail? I wish they had live customer service help and a phone number to call for issues that are not solvable through bot prompts?! Not sure how to proceed? It’s going on two weeks that I’m not able to get into my payed premium account!

Hi there Roseanna. My name is Matt from the Wordtune support team. I'm sorry to hear you've had this experience. We had a technical issue our engineers are working to resolve, and the volume of support messages received have led to a much higher waiting time. We're still a small team. We've sent you and everyone else a response. I really appreciate your patience so far. This issue will be resolved very soon!

Cannot express how grateful I am… but now I can!

I was looking and using several companion apps but I quickly left because they were too expensive and/or overly complicated for me. I was just about to give up until I discovered Wordtune. Initially, I was hesitant, but it blew me away! It quickly became an everyday use of mine and almost an essential part of my day. Being someone who doesn't have much luck writing sentences, it's a life saver. Of course the app it’s perfect but I’m pleasantly impressed how much it has improved! The new “spice” tune was defiantly a feature I did not know I needed! Thank you for creating such an amazing app, and I hope to stay around to see it grow!

Hi there, We’re thrilled to hear that you’re enjoying the app and getting value from it. Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed Wordtune, specially our new feature Spices. We look forward to seeing you again soon, and we want to thank you again for your kind words!

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Should A.I. Write Your College Essays?

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College admissions officers—and high school students—wrestle with A.I.-generated college essays

Ritika Vakharia, a senior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Georgia, says she tried asking ChatGPT to produce ideas for college admissions essays. But she found the responses too broad and impersonal, even after she gave it details about her extracurricular activities, such as teaching dance classes to younger students.

Instead, she worked to come up with a more personal college application essay theme.

“I feel a little more pressure to create, like, this super unique, interesting topic,” Vakharia says, “because a basic one these days could just be generated by ChatGPT.”

The easy availability of A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT, which can manufacture humanlike text in response to short prompts, is upending the undergraduate application process at selective colleges. It’s either ushering in an era of automated plagiarism or of democratized student access to essay-writing help. Or maybe both.

The disruption comes at a turning point for U.S. institutions of higher education. After the Supreme Court ruled last June that race-based university admissions programs were illegal, some institutions hoped to rely more on essay questions about applicants’ upbringing, identities, and communities to help foster diversity on campus.

“It makes me sad,” Lee Coffin, the dean of admissions at Dartmouth College, said in a podcast last year that touched on A.I.-generated application essays. “The idea that this central component of a story could be manufactured by someone other than the applicant is disheartening.”

Ritika Vakharia is a senior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Georgia. She tried asking ChatGPT for ideas for her college admissions essays. She found the responses too broad and impersonal. She had even given it details about her extracurricular activities, including teaching dance classes to younger students.

So instead of using ChatGPT’s ideas, she decided to come up with a more personal essay theme.

A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT can manufacture humanlike text in response to short prompts. The availability of chatbots is changing the undergraduate application process at selective colleges. It’s either starting a time of automated plagiarism or of universal student access to essay-writing help. Or maybe both.

These technologies come at a turning point for U.S. institutions of higher education. The Supreme Court ruled last June that race-based university admissions programs were illegal. Some institutions hoped to rely more on essay questions about applicants’ upbringing, identities, and communities to help develop diversity on campus.

Alyssa Pointer/The New York Times

“I feel a little more pressure to create, like, this super unique, interesting topic because a basic one these days could just be generated by ChatGPT.” —Ritika Vakharia

New A.I. Tools

The personal essay has long been a staple of the application process at colleges. Admissions officers have often used applicants’ essays as a lens into their unique character, pluck, potential, and ability to handle adversity. As a result, some former students say they felt tremendous pressure to develop, or at least concoct, a singular personal writing voice.

But new A.I. tools now threaten to cast doubt on the legitimacy of applicants’ writing samples as authentic products of their intellect and creativity. That has forced colleges to rethink their admissions processes.

“Students on some level are going to have access to and use A.I.,” says Rick Clark, executive director of undergraduate admission at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “The big question is: How do we want to direct them, knowing that it’s out there and available to them?”

Some teachers are troubled by students using A.I. to write their college essays for deeper reasons: Outsourcing writing to bots could hinder students from developing important critical thinking and storytelling skills.

“Part of the process of the college essay is finding your writing voice through all of that drafting and revising,” says Susan Barber, an Advanced Placement English literature teacher at Midtown High School, a public school in Atlanta. “And I think that’s something that ChatGPT would be robbing them of.”

The personal essay has long been an important part of the application process at colleges. Admissions officers have used essays as a way to see into applicants’ unique character, potential, and ability to handle adversity. As a result, some former students say they felt tremendous pressure. They felt they had to develop, or at least concoct, a singular personal writing voice.

But new A.I. tools now threaten to cast doubt on the validity of applicants’ writing samples as real products of their intellect and creativity. Colleges are forced to rethink their admissions processes.

Some teachers are troubled by students using A.I. to write their college essays for deeper reasons. Using bots to write could keep students from developing important critical thinking and storytelling skills.

Kendrick Brinson/The New York Times

“Part of the process of the college essay is finding your writing voice . . . And I think that’s something that ChatGPT would be robbing them of.”  —Susan Barber, AP English literature Teacher in Atlanta

Last August, Barber asked her 12th-grade students to write college essays. Then she held class discussions about ChatGPT, cautioning students that using A.I. chatbots to generate ideas or writing could make their college essays sound too generic. She advised them to focus more on their personal views and voices.

Yet other educators say they hope the A.I. tools might have a democratizing effect. Wealthy high school students often have access to resources to help brainstorm, draft, and edit their college admissions essays. ChatGPT could play a similar role for students who lack such resources, especially those at large high schools where overworked college counselors have little time for individualized essay coaching.

“It’s free, it’s accessible, and it’s helpful,” says Clark. “It’s progress toward equity.”

At the same time, as colleges wrestle with just how to handle the explosion of literate A.I. bots, some students, like Kevin Jacob, a senior at the Gwinnett School, are unsure how to proceed.

“The vagueness and ambiguity,” Jacob says, “is kind of hard for us.”

Last August, Barber asked her 12th-grade students to write college essays. Then she held class discussions about ChatGPT. She warned students that using A.I. chatbots to generate ideas or writing could make their college essays sound too generic. She advised them to focus more on their personal views and voices.

Yet other educators say they hope the A.I. tools might have an equalizing effect. Wealthy high school students often have access to more resources. They get help to brainstorm, draft, and edit their college admissions essays. ChatGPT could play a similar role for students who lack such resources. It would especially help those at large high schools where overworked college counselors have little time for individualized essay coaching.

As colleges figure out how to handle the explosion of literate A.I. bots, some students, like Kevin Jacob, a senior at the Gwinnett School, are unsure how to proceed.

Natasha Singer writes about technology, business, and society for The New York Times .

Natasha Singer writes about technology, business, and society for  The   New York  Times .

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125 Picture Prompts for Creative and Narrative Writing

What story can these images tell?

By The Learning Network

For eight years, we at The Learning Network have been publishing short, accessible, image-driven prompts that invite students to do a variety of kinds of writing via our Picture Prompts column.

Each week, at least one of those prompts asks students: Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this image — or, tell us about a memory from your own life that it makes you think of.

Now we’re rounding up years of these storytelling prompts all in one place. Below you’ll find 125 photos, illustrations and GIFs from across The New York Times that you can use for both creative and personal writing. We have organized them by genre, but many overlap and intersect, so know that you can use them in any way you like.

Choose an image, write a story, and then follow the link in the caption to the original prompt to post your response or read what other students had to say. Many are still open for comment for teenagers 13 and up. And each links to a free Times article too.

We can’t wait to read the tales you spin! Don’t forget that you can respond to all of our Picture Prompts, as they publish, here .

Images by Category

Everyday life, mystery & suspense, relationships, science fiction, travel & adventure, unusual & unexpected, cat in a chair, happy puppy, resourceful raccoon, cows and cellos, people and penguins, opossum among shoes, on the subway, sunset by the water, endless conversation, falling into a hole, lounging around, sneaker collection, the concert, meadow in starlight.

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Public Selfies

Night circus, tarot cards, castle on a hill, security line, batman on a couch, reaching through the wall, beware of zombies, haunted house, familial frights, witches on the water, blindfolded, phone booth in the wilderness, shadow in the sky, a letter in the mail, hidden doorway.

Point of No Return

Darkened library, under the table, playing dominoes, looking back, a wave goodbye, out at dusk, conversation, walking away, alone and together, a new friend, heated conversation, up in a tree, hole in the ceiling, under the desk, at their computers, marching band, band practice, in the hallway, in the lunchroom, the red planet, tech gadgets, trapped inside, astronaut and spider, computer screen, special key, tethered in space, on the court, in the waves, city skateboarding.

Fishing in a Stream

Over the falls.

Under the Sea

Sledding in the mountains, cracked mirror, wilderness wayfaring, car and cactus, walking through town, tropical confinement, travel travails, roller coasters, atop the hill, climbing a ladder, under the ice, other selves.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.