After reading each criterion, click on
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In your piece of writing try to be clear and precise:
The most important point is to write the sentences with a correct grammar. Although using a variety of grammatical structures helps give a writing a more professional look, their incorrect use will do quite the reverse. That is why the use of a very simple and correct grammar rather than the use of the advanced but incorrect grammar is recommended, otherwise the writing will lose its right meaning as well as the desired effect.
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A good piece of writing displays originality:
One of the common mistakes is to mistake writing for speaking with the outcome of creating many run-on sentences. The run-on sentences are the types of sentences which observe no specific rule and have no end. They continue on and on. Keep in mind that the maximum number of words in each sentence should not ideally exceed 20 words in most cases unless it is one widely-established advanced sentence structure. Even so, these structures should not be used excessively throughout the writing. This strategy will as well minimize the chance of making mistakes and quite the opposite, maximize the chance of managing and communicating the ideas more effectively.
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The shorter a sentence is, the more meaningful it sounds:
As earlier mentioned, the conventional size of every sentence in English appears to be at the most 20 words, except for a few advanced sentence structures which should be used sporadically; keep in mind the short sentences are mostly designed for more profound and meaningful points, namely major points, whereas the long sentences are commonly suitable for more detailed points or explanation, such as supporting points. By carefully selecting varied types, together with the maximum length, of sentence, you will be better able to make a right impression on your reader.
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Variety is key in writing:
In order for your writing to look more professional, a wide variety of sentence structures Simple Sentence:
Some people like to write professionally.
Compound Sentence:
Some people like to write more professionally, as a result they take some courses.
Complex Sentence:
Although some people like to write more professionally, they take some courses to improve their writing. , i.e. Simple A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete idea Compound A compound sentence contains two clauses joined by a coordinator, including for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so and Complex A complex sentence has a clause joined by one or more clauses with a number of subordinating conjunctions, such as because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronouns such as that, who, or which sentences, as well as various tenses Past perfect:
When I took the course, he had finish ed it.
Present perfect continuous:
Technology has been enhancing many aspects of our life.
Future continuous:
In the future, instead of private vehicles, we will be us ing some earth ships. , e.g. Past Perfect A tense which show an action performed before another in the past , Present Perfect Continuous A tense which shows an action still going on from the past and Future Continuous A tense which shows an unfinished action in the future , should be used.
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Aim for certain advanced grammatical
structures for a higher score band:
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1. Participle Clauses:
When the second sentence happens after the first one, you may ... Use:
{Having + Verb (past participle) + Object, Subject + Verb + Object}Write: Having taken a course, he began writing more professionally.
Instead of: After he took a course, he began writing more professionally.
When there is a very brief time span between the first and second sentences, you may ... Use:
{Verb(+ing)+ object, Subject +Verb + Object}Write: Taking a course, he began writing more professionally.
Instead of: While he was taking a course, he began writing more professionally.
When the first sentence is a reason for the second sentence, you may ... Use:
{ NOT + Verb(+ing) + Object, Subject + Verb + Object}Write: Not taking a course, he began writing more professionally.
Instead of: Because he did not take a course, he began writing less professionally.
When the result of the first sentence is given in the second sentence, you may ... Use:
{Subject + Verb + object, Verb(+ing)+Object}Write: He took a course, beginning writing more professionally.
Instead of: He took a course, therefore, he began writing more professionally.
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2. Conditionals with inversions instead of “if”:
When you have the second conditional sentence, you may ... Drop “if ” and invert the place of the first part of auxiliary verbs, “ was ” or “were ”, with “subject”
Write: Were the official authorities to cure this problem, they would invest more in educational establishments.
Instead of: If the official authorities were to cure this problem, they would invest more in educational establishments.
When you have the third conditional sentence, you may ... Drop “ if” and invert the place of the first part of auxiliary verbs, “ had”, with “ subject ”
Write: Had the Internet not been developed, economic growth would have been more sluggish.
Instead of: If the Internet had not been developed, economic growth would have been more sluggish.
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3. Cleft sentences:
To vary the style of your sentence, you may ... Use “ what” and “ it is …that ” in the beginning of the sentence
Write: What many people believe is that we have to redouble our efforts.
Instead of: Many people believe that we have to redouble our efforts.
Write: It is our freedom that I believe should be promoted.
Instead of: I believe that our freedom should be promoted.
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4. Inversions with negative adverbial clauses:
When you have a negative adverb, you may ... Use the negative adverbs/adverbial clauses in the beginning of a sentence and bring an auxiliary or a modal verb right after it
Write: Rarely do we see such a problem.
Instead of: We rarely see such a problem.
Write: Seldom does an authority think of such a plan.
Instead of: An authority seldom thinks of such a plan.
Write: In no time did this occur to me that it can be the case.
Instead of: This occurred to me in no time that it can be the case.
Write: Not only do we have a better a chance, but also we will have a stronger reaction.
Instead of: We have not only a better a chance but also a stronger reaction.
Write: Never have I seen such a complicated issue.
Instead of: I have never seen such a complicated issue.
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Do not go overboard in trying to use
any structure:
Although these advanced structures, or even any other higher-level structure, can help improve the writing style, the excessive use of them in any essay or piece of writing will give it a bad look. Most ideally, use them once only, and if necessary a few times, so as to produce the desired effect.
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Avoid using sentences which are
needlessly passive:
Except for a number of specific and necessary occasions, for instance: to describe a process, to make the tone of writing impersonal, to stress the object of the sentence, the passive voice should not be used. Otherwise, it makes the writing clichéd and lifeless also difficult to understand.
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Just practice few particular
grammatical structures:
Mastering all grammatical structures is a demanding and time-consuming job. It is advisable to practice few of those grammatical structures – whether simple or advanced - which are especially suitable and clearly understandable. Remember that the test is not the best place to use all of them carelessly or the ones just learned ineffectively. In order to become proficient in the grammatical structures and use them consistently, it is necessary to focus on only a select few.
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