Simple language in writing
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Simple language in writing
I would love to have a discussion about "good" simple language versus "bad" simple language. What are some examples of each, and what elements make good simple language?
I read The Boy Who Lived With Ghosts, and since that book was written from the perspective of a child, the language (for much of it, or at the very least, the beginning of it) was simple, but expressed a lot. On the other hand, I have also read books that seemed like they were written for children based on the simple language that did not express much beyond the words themselves, but the books had content that was too mature for that audience.
So, I guess this also becomes a question of what determines reading level?
What are your thoughts, readers and writers?
- Kappy
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"How can you tell good writing from bad writing? Actually, it's easier than you think. The good writer knows the tricks of his trade ... and uses them to make you, the reader, think and feel the way he want you to; the bad writer ... never really touches your mind or heart." (The Classic Guide to Better Writing [formerly The Way to Write] (1996) by Rudolf Flesch & A.H. Lass.)
"Clarity, clarity, clarity. When you become hopelessly mired in a sentence, it is best to start fresh; ... the sentence needs to be broken apart and replaced by two or more shorter sentences." (The Elements of Style (3rd Edition, 1979) by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White.)
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You want to paint a picture with your words, as an author, but sometimes making it too abstract and flowery can detract from the overall message.
I think it also comes back to authenticity. As a reader, I can tell when an author is not "in the flow" and forced it, which I think is where some of this "bad" simple language comes from. When an author goes into it to write a children's book, and they put restrictions on themselves such as not to use too big vocabulary words or they're going to portray a particular moral, rather than writing a story, it comes across as forced and too simple. The best of children's books I've read, and the ones that still resonate with me, are the ones that felt authentic and that the author remembered what it was like to be a kid.
It also boils down to respect. If there is a lack of respect for the readers, no matter what age, and a lack of respect for the characters, the language can come across as "bad" simple.
I don't know if the authenticity and respect part made sense, but as someone who knows authors, met authors, worked with authors, I find it has a lot of influence in how they write their books.
As for reading level, that is really tough. As an author, I've sold my own books and I've also worked in a bookstore and I've had family member come in and ask me the reading level for a book, and I think a lot of it depends on the individual reader. In the same day, I've had someone ask for a book that is first-grade reading level for their kid who was reading the Harry Potter series on their own and someone ask for a book that is first-grade reading level for their kid who was struggling with Green Eggs and Ham. I've worked in kindergarten through third grade classrooms where I saw the same thing. This kid needed help reading See Spot books and this one was reading Magic Tree House by themselves.
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Thanks for the recommendations for good books on writing. I have been looking for some lately!Kappy wrote: ↑12 Feb 2015, 21:26 Rudolf Flesch is my favorite writer on how to write clearly ...
"How can you tell good writing from bad writing? Actually, it's easier than you think. The good writer knows the tricks of his trade ... and uses them to make you, the reader, think and feel the way he want you to; the bad writer ... never really touches your mind or heart." (The Classic Guide to Better Writing [formerly The Way to Write] (1996) by Rudolf Flesch & A.H. Lass.)
"Clarity, clarity, clarity. When you become hopelessly mired in a sentence, it is best to start fresh; ... the sentence needs to be broken apart and replaced by two or more shorter sentences." (The Elements of Style (3rd Edition, 1979) by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White.)
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