• Bruce Ross-Larson recommends keeping paragraphs short.

Using short paragraphs is especially effective in critical parts of your work, such as the opening or closing, to keep from intimidating the reader. He also suggests breaking up long paragraphs with shorter ones to give the reader a chance to take a breath and think about your argument (Ross-Larson 5.1).

• Another good tip is to repeat key terms and sentence structure.

Ross-Larson explains that "using different terms for the same idea simply to avoid repetition will confuse your reader" (5.5). Don't be afraid to use the same words! Likewise, the repetition of structure helps the reader understand the meaning of your writing faster (5.6).

- Margo

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Posted at Mar 06/2006 08:29AM:

Michael: remember also to have a look at the guidelines for writing and running wikis:

Basic functions - wikis

Wiki guidelines

Design principles (Traumwerk)

Design philosophy - heretical empirics

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More tips for online writing:

• Bruce Ross-Larson on Layering:

Here is the layered structure the author suggests

Layer 1: Title, short message, contents

Layer 2: summary

Layer 3: main text, make sure to include chapter or subheadings

Layer 4: supplemental information (to unclutter layer 3)

Layer 5: any other information, not as important but needed for completeness

• Another interesting tip:

Start sentences with monosyllabic words (It, There, This, That, What) to start a sentence off faster. They are natural in speech and in print. Successive use of one-syllable opening words can make a paragraph more coherent. However, beware of overuse.