An English writing style is a way of using the English language.
The style of a piece of writing is the way in which features of the language
are used to convey meaning, typically but not always within the constraints of
more widely accepted conventions of usage, grammar, and spelling.An individual's writing style may be a very personal thing. Organizations that employ writers or commission written work from individuals may require that writers conform to a standardized style defined by the organization. This allows a consistent readability of composite works produced by many authors, and promotes usability of, for example, references to other cited works.
In many kinds of professional writing aiming for effective transfer of information, adherence to a standardised style of writing helps readers make sense of what the writer is presenting. Many standardised styles are documented in style guides. Some styles are more widely used, others restricted to a particular journal. Adherence to no particular style is also a style in its own right; some may think it undesirable, others not.
Principles of English written style:
Note: these
are principles: they are by no means to be considered as
"rules".
- The more formal a
document is, the more it will use inanimate nouns as subjects of a
sentence.
- The more formal language
is, the more it is likely to use passive structures.
- The more formal language
is, the more verbal nouns it will use.
- The more formal a
document is, the more words of Latin origin it will use.
Conversely
- The more informal or
spontaneous language is, the more it will use humans as the subjects of
sentences.
- The more informal a text
is, the less it will use passive structures,
- The more informal a text
is, the more it will use verb structures (where a choice is possible)
instead of verbal nouns.
- The more informal or
spoken a text is, the more words of Germanic origin it will use.
Here are some examples; in each case, the same idea is expressed
using three different levels of formality: look at the different changes that
occur, as we move from a formal style to an informal one.
1. The
inclement climatic conditions obliged the President to return earlier than
scheduled.
The president was obliged to return earlier than planned due to poor weather conditions.
The president had to go back sooner than planned because the weather was so bad.
The president was obliged to return earlier than planned due to poor weather conditions.
The president had to go back sooner than planned because the weather was so bad.
2. Please
await instructions before dispatching items.
Please wait for instructions before sending items off.
Don't send anything off until you're told to do so. Essential measures should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.
One should undertake any necessary measures at the earliest opportunity.
You should do whatever you have to as soon as you can. Prior to the discovery of America, potatoes were not consumed in Europe.
Before America was discovered, potatoes were not eaten in Europe.
Before they discovered America, Europeans didn't eat potatoes.
Please wait for instructions before sending items off.
Don't send anything off until you're told to do so. Essential measures should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.
One should undertake any necessary measures at the earliest opportunity.
You should do whatever you have to as soon as you can. Prior to the discovery of America, potatoes were not consumed in Europe.
Before America was discovered, potatoes were not eaten in Europe.
Before they discovered America, Europeans didn't eat potatoes.
From Written
to spoken styles
Written and
spoken versions of a language use different styles, different registers. To
talk in "written English" may be no more appropriate than to write
using a "spoken" variety of English. Generally speaking, written
English is always more formal than spoken English. nevertheless, there are informal
forms of written English (notably in fiction and in the popular press), and
formal styles of spoken English, in particular "discourse", or
prepared speech.
In the following examples, the same message is expressed in five different
styles, from an extremely formal written style, to the very informal spoken
style.
Note in particular how the colour coded word groups evolve.
(The information expressed in the following examples is necessarily quite technical, as formal jargon levels of expression are totally inappropriate for non technical communication).
Note in particular how the colour coded word groups evolve.
(The information expressed in the following examples is necessarily quite technical, as formal jargon levels of expression are totally inappropriate for non technical communication).
Example
a)
Jargon, very formal.
This is the style of language used in official reports, technical studies, etc.
It is exclusively a style of written English, full of verbal nouns,technical
words and passives.
Consequent to the appreciation in the exchange value of Sterling against other currencies, necessary fiscal measures were introduced by the government in order to reduce the likelihood of an import-led consumer spending surge.
Consequent to the appreciation in the exchange value of Sterling against other currencies, necessary fiscal measures were introduced by the government in order to reduce the likelihood of an import-led consumer spending surge.
b)
Written, formal, clear.
This is clear, written English, as found in the press or in documents aimed at ordinary educated readers.
After the international value of Sterling rose, the government was obliged to take fiscal measures to reduce the likelihood of a surge in consumer spending led by cheaper imports.
This is clear, written English, as found in the press or in documents aimed at ordinary educated readers.
After the international value of Sterling rose, the government was obliged to take fiscal measures to reduce the likelihood of a surge in consumer spending led by cheaper imports.
c)
Written style for the general public, discourse, scripted radio or TV news
style.
As the value of Sterling increased compared to other currencies, the government was forced to take tax measures to head offa rapid increase in consumer spending spurred on by cheaper imports.
As the value of Sterling increased compared to other currencies, the government was forced to take tax measures to head offa rapid increase in consumer spending spurred on by cheaper imports.
d)
Formal spoken style - radio, seminar, talk.
As Sterling's international value went up, the government had to take tax measures to head off a consumer spending boom spurred on by cheaper imports.
As Sterling's international value went up, the government had to take tax measures to head off a consumer spending boom spurred on by cheaper imports.
e)
Relaxed, informal spoken style: discussion.
There is plenty of use of prepositional verbs. All actions are now expressed through verbs, not verbal nouns
As Sterling went up in value, the government had to put up taxes to stop consumers splashing out on too many cheap imports.
There is plenty of use of prepositional verbs. All actions are now expressed through verbs, not verbal nouns
As Sterling went up in value, the government had to put up taxes to stop consumers splashing out on too many cheap imports.
f)
relaxed, simplified, chat, very informal spoken style;
Note the addition of repetition and fillers.
And you see, Sterling went up and up in value, so as a result, the government had to go round putting up taxes, you see, to stop everyone going out and splashing out, spending all their cash on cheap imports.
Note the addition of repetition and fillers.
And you see, Sterling went up and up in value, so as a result, the government had to go round putting up taxes, you see, to stop everyone going out and splashing out, spending all their cash on cheap imports.
1. SEQUENCE OF
TENSES
Dalam penulisan bahasa inggris, sequence of tenses adalah logika yang
mengatur tentang tenses, misalnya sebuah kejadian di future tense tidak bisa terjadi
di past tense. Dalam writing, sequence of tenses menentukan dimana sebuah
kejadian terjadi. Kejadian past tense datang sebelum kejadian present tense,
kejadian present tense datang sebelum kejadian future tense dll. Hal ini bisa
kita lihat pada if clause.
Contohnya :
1.Jika seorang berkata “I need to go to the store” maka anda harus
mengatakannya “she said that she needed to go to the store” anda mengubah
“need” menjadi “needed” padahal kejadiannya masih sama-sama dalam present
tense.
2. “if you could meet me at the airport, I would be
grateful” ini merupakan kejadian present tense tapi kita mengubah “can” menjadi
“could” karena ini adalah conditional sentence.
3. “I wish I had been at the party last night” kalimat ini merupakan
kejadian past tense yang tidak terjadi tapi kita menggunakan past perfect untuk
mengatakannya.
2. PARALEL
STRUCTURE
Dalam penulisan bahasa inggris, PARALEL STRUCTURE adalah menggunakan pola
kalimat yang sama untuk menunjukkan kata-kata yang memiliki level kepentingan
yang sama. Hal ini bisa terjadi dalam kata, frasa, ataupun klausa. Biasanya
untuk membuat paralel structure kita menggunakan kata penghubung, seperti ‘and”
dan “or”
Contohnya :
1. Contoh paralel structure dalam kata menggunakan gerund “mary like
hiking, swimming, and bicyling” atau menggunakan infinitive “mary likes to
hike, swim, and ride a bicycle” jika menggunakan paralel structure kita tidak boleh
mencampurnya seperti dalam kalimat “mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a
bicycle”
2. Contoh paralel structure dalam frasa “the teacher said that he was
a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam,
completed his lab problems in a careless manner. And lacked motivation” semua
frasa dalam kalimat diatas menggunakan frasa kerja “waited”, “complited”, dan
“lacked”, penggunaan paralel structure dalam frasa pun tidak boleh dicampur
seperti dalam kalimat “the teacher said thet he was a poor student because he
waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems
in a careless manner and his motivation was low”.
3.Paralel structure yang dimulai dengan menggunakan klausa juga harus
diikuti dengan klausa yang sama, jika pola klausa berubah maka akan melanggar
paralel structure seperti dalam kalimat “the coach told the players that they
should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat to much, and to do some
warm up exercises before the game” klausa “ to do some warm up exercises before
the game” memiliki pola yang berbeda dengan dua klausa sebelumnya maka kalimat
diatas tidaklah paralel structure, seharusnya kalimat sebenarnya “the coach
told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, they should not eat too
much, and that they should do some warm up exercises before the game”.
3.ANTECEDENT
Dalam penulisan bahasa inggris, antecedent adalah kata yang digantikan oleh
pronoun. Kata antecedent berarti “sebelumnya”. Hal ini dikarenakan pronoun
sering menggantikan kata sebelumnya atau kata yang sudah disebutkan terlebih
dahulu sebelumnya.
Contohnya :
1. “when you see the profesor, please tell
him I”ll be 10 minutes late” dalam kalimat ini kata “profesor” merupakan
antecedent dan kata “him” merupakan pronoun dari kata “profesor” yang terlebih
dahulu disebutkan.
2. “gail called to say she will arrive at 7
o’clock “ dalam kalimat ini “gail merupakan antecedent dan kata “she” merupakan
pronoun.
3. “The man who lives next door lost his
driving license” dalam contoh ini kata “man” merupakan antecedent dari relative
pronoun “his”.
Walaupun arti kata antecedent adalah “sebelumnya” antecedent tidak selalu
disebutkan di awal, namun bisa juga disebutkan setelah pronoun seperti dalam
kalimat “when you see him, please tell the profesor I”ll be late 10 minutes”
kata profesor masih merupakan antecedent dari pronoun “him” namun kata
“profesor” disebutkan di akhir setelah pronoun.
4. REDUDANCY
Dalam penulisan bahasa inggris, redudancy adalah kata yang mubazir untuk
ditulis atau diucapkan untuk kedua kalinya karena memiliki kesamaan arti dengan
kata sebelumnya.
Contohnya :
1. “if all of us cooperate together, we will
succeed” dalam kalimat tersebut kata “cooperate” dan “together” digunakan, padahal
mereka memiliki arti yang sama. Salah satu dari kata tersebut seharusnya
dihilangkan agar kalimatnya menjadi benar seperti “if all of us cooperate, we
will succed” atau “if all of us work together, we will succeed”
2. “The accused was guilty of false
misstatement” kata “false” dan “misstatement” memiliki arti yang sama, maka
kita harus menghilangkan salah satunya seperti “the accused was guilty of
misstatement”
3. “ it was the general consensus of opinion
that we must go to the movie” dua kata yang memiliki arti yang sama dalam
kalimat tersebut adalah kata “consensus” dan “opinion”, maka kita harus
menghilangkan salah satunya agar menjadi kalimat yang benar “it was the general
opinion that we must go to the movie”
5.DANGLING CONSTRUCTION
Dalam penulisan bahasa inggris, dangling construction adalah sebuah
modifier yang gagal dalam kalimat. Tugas modifier adalah mendeskripsikan secara
khusus sebuah kata.
Contohnya :
1. “ having read your letter, my cat will
stay indoors until the ducklings fly off” dalam kaimat ini secara arti
menyatakan bahwa kucing itu sedang membaca surat padahal maksut penulis
sebenarnya adalah kita akan membiarkan kucing di dalam rumah selama kita
membaca surat. Seharusnya modifier yang tepat adalah “ having read your letter,
we will keep our cat indoors until the ducklings fly off”
2. “ Meticulous and punctual, david’s work
ethic is admirable” modifier “meticulous and punctual” gagal menjelaskan
“david’ dan malah menjelaskan “david’s work ethic”. Kalimat yang seharusnya
adalah “meticulous and punctual, david has an admirable work ethic”.
3. “Having seen blackpool tower, the eiffel
tower is more impressive” dalam kalimat ini modifier “having seen blackpool
tower” seharusnya tidak menjelaskan eiffel tower karena artinya akan janggal,
kalimat yang benar seharusnyaa “having seen blackpool tower, she thinks the
eiffel tower is more impressive”.
