by William Zinsser. Clutter is
the disease of American writing
. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon.
What does Zinsser mean when he uses the word clutter in his essay?
Answer: What Zinsser means by clutter is
the bunching of unnecessary words in our
.
speech and writing
. Zinsser believes we can free ourselves of clutter by simplifying how. we word things.
What exactly is the clutter that Zinsser refers to in simplicity?
by William Zinsser. Clutter is
the disease of American writing
. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon.
What is Zinsser saying about who generally writes the weakest sentences?
What is Zinsser saying about who generally writes the weakest sentences
?-People with less education and rank have weak strength in their sentences.
What does Zinsser suggest is the relationship between thinking and writing?
Zinsser believed that because writing is an intimate transaction between a writer and reader,
warmth and humanity are at the center of good writing
. This type of warmth and humanity can be achieved only when writers are being themselves when writing.
What method of writing does Zinsser use?
Zinsser advocates
a lean, direct writing style
. He outlines strategies for crafting a more effective story that resonates with readers. This includes how to cut down first drafts, rewrite, organize the flow of an article, develop your own voice, address your audience, handle humor, and avoid the danger of clichés.
How do you avoid clutter in writing?
- Reduce long clauses to shorter phrases.
- Reduce phrases to single words.
- Avoid There is, There are, and There were as sentence openers.
- Don’t overwork modifiers.
- Avoid redundancies.
- Use active verbs.
- Don’t try to show off.
What main point does Zinsser make about the audience?
Zinsser assumes that
his audience will be in agreement with him that the pressures he mentions are a problem
. Many will agree with him, especially after reading his arguments, but there will likely remain a number of readers who do not believe that this focus on high achievement is a problem.
What should you always avoid in formal writing?
Avoid colloquialism and slang expressions
.
Both colloquialism and slang expressions convey an informal tone and should be avoided in formal writing. … As you avoid informal language, be careful not to use words that suggests ideas that you may not intend.
Do you think the writer is being serious or sarcastic?
Do you think the writer is being serious or sarcastic when he uses the phrase “glamorous work”? What is he implying? Yes,
the writer is being sarcastic
. He’s implying that, while people may think being an author is easy and fascinating, it’s exactly the exact opposite.
Which of the following statements does Zinsser use to describe clutter?
Zinsser describes clutter as an euphemism. what does that mean? It means the
clutter is used to make things sound less harsh than what they are
.
Which of the following does Zinsser believe is essential to clear writing?
Simplify, simplify, simplify.
Actively study
— don’t ignore — the foundational principles of good writing. Learn the meaning of words, and use your dictionary often. Imitate the best writers out there.
What is the relationship between writing and thinking?
Writing
develops critical thinking skills
Writing improves the thinking process and contributes to the development of critical thinking skills because an individual has to clearly state ideas and lay out arguments in such a way as to cultivate higher order thinking.
When did Zinsser write simplicity?
To further prove that William Zinsser is a simple man, he writes and edits three of the same essay to make it easier to understand. One was written in 1980, another in 1998, and
finally in 2006
. In all three of the essays, the first paragraph remains the same. After this, there are a numerous amount of changes.
Why Simplicity is important in writing?
Simple language is clearer for the reader and
easier
for the writer. Simple structures avoid confusion and complications. When it seems difficult to start a piece of writing, or to continue, using the simplest approach available makes it easier. Start with the one point you want your writing to say.
What according to Zinsser characterizes good usage?
Good usage is using
words if they already exist
— as they almost always do — to express clearly and simply.
