topic: [[Writing]] created: 2024-07-11 *Zooming in and zooming out .* ##### what is it? Edit at the story level, the paragraph level, and the sentence level. ### Story: editing at the story level requires being in the mind of _your_ readers. What do they care about? What do they know? Can you help them be aware of a useful opening in their knowledge that you can fill? ### Paragraph: does the paragraph start with a clear statement? connect to the previous paragraph? help the reader flow through the argument? > “Remember that good research stories thrive on a logical flow of ideas. Paragraphs are the structural foundation of any paper, and their arrangement and composition dictate how readily readers will be able to follow your logic.” (Lingard and Watling, 2021, p. 134) > ### Sentence: does this sentence need less to make it more clear? Is it properly balanced from a modal standpoint? - Omit words you don't need - Beware any constructions starting with "This/that/there/it" - Be sparing with adverbs - look for a better verb instead of using an adverb - Power up your verbs > “Verbs are the engines of our stories;” (Lingard and Watling, 2021, p. 135) - The editor must seek and destroy [[nominalization]], so called "Zombie Verbs" ##### why does it matter? Alignment at all levels is required for the best argument and the easiest paper to read. ##### This reminds me of How zooming in and zooming out when creating a [[creating a simulation case]] is a key. How does this paragraph support the story? How does this sentence support the paragraph? "Made to Stick" tells us: - **Simple**: Strip an idea down to its core essence. A clear and concise message is more likely to be remembered and understood. - **Unexpected**: Capture attention by breaking patterns. Surprise people with something counterintuitive or novel to make the idea more engaging. - **Concrete**: Make abstract ideas tangible. Use vivid details and sensory information to ensure the concept is easily grasped and remembered. - **Credible**: Enhance believability through authoritative sources, detailed statistics, and relatable examples. People need to trust the information for it to stick. - **Emotional**: Appeal to people's emotions. Make them care about the idea and connecting it to their feelings, values, or aspirations. - **Stories**: Use storytelling to convey the idea. Narratives are more engaging and memorable, making it easier for people to recall and share the information. Boutique Grammar Look at my comma-buts; could a semi-colon do the job? Semi-colons "gently link" related ideas. Colons can perform different functions than semi-colons: they can call attention to one idea, they can highlight a list, or they [Colons and Semicolons](https://youtu.be/xHa5tWKkvd4?feature=shared) [semicolon](https://youtu.be/th-zyfvwDdI?feature=shared) The em-dash is very forceful. It functions to highlight things that might be in brackets. Or, the em-dash can be used at the end of a sentence like a more forceful colon. (brackets) Brackets can be skipped when reading (they may not be that important to the meaning of the sentence), they can be content or attitudinal (if you are into that type of thing). "scare quotes" provide sarcastic tone to one word. DEI programs have 'clearly' resulted in improvements. ,and If two independent clauses separated by and Lorelei likes to write, and she likes to edit. VS Lorelei likes to write and edit. ### Run the writing test! https://writersdiet.com/writing-test/ Is your writing "Fit" or "Flabby?" ##### What would the opposite argument be? [[🐓 Idea Farm/6 Long Form Sources/Trying Not To Try|Trying Not To Try]], if you are too tags: #note/statement | #on/writing | #on/editing ##### Sources: Lingard, L., & Watling, C. (2021). _Story, Not Study: 30 Brief Lessons to Inspire Health Researchers as Writers_ (Vol. 19). Springer International Publishing. [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71363-8](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71363-8)