Writing might seem like an easy task, but it is not everyone’s cup of tea. It is not about jotting down the first words that come into your mind. Instead, you need to think about the best way your intentions can come across in the paper, pay close attention to the technical writing elements, and ensure perfect cohesion among the themes.
The Characteristics Of Good Writing
Opinions always vary on what everyone should consider ‘good writing.’ While some believe that complex language enhances the quality, others believe simple is the best.Â
However, every piece of writing, regardless of whether it is for academics, journalism, or any other field, has a few distinct qualities that make it stand out from the crowd. Let’s dive into these in more detail.
1. Well-organized
Any writing that is organized meticulously and exhibits itself in a sequential, logical manner is easier to read and leaves a better impression on the reader. The order of how you present your words determines the flow of your writing, which is essential to improve the readability of your writing.
2. Language
Good writing should balance flowery language that the writer lifts out of the encyclopedia and pedestrian language that serves no artistic purpose in the paper. A reader should be able to discern the meaning of the piece without opening a dictionary every few minutes.
3. Clarity
Clarity is crucial to any writing to ensure that the readers don’t find themselves lost midway or re-read passages multiple times to understand the gist. In addition, you need to be more careful if you have a habit of running off-tangent from the main plot at times.
4. Grammar and style
There is nothing more infuriating for a reader than having to read through incorrect spellings and grammar. The grammar rules are definite, while the writing style varies from one author to the other. Even if you don’t have a unique style yet, it is best to avoid copying anyone else’s style and passing it as your own.
5. Factually correct
Incorrect facts in any writing, especially in journalism, are proof of sloppiness and decrease the credibility of the work and the writer. Even while writing fiction, the story needs to be within believable parameters.
6. Thought-provoking and memorable
The mark of good writing is in its longevity. If the reader doesn’t have any new perspectives or feel any overwhelming emotion, it is a failure in terms of writing. Furthermore, the success of any writer is determined by how memorable their words were to any reader. Therefore, if you forget about something you read a few days ago, there is a high chance it wasn’t worth remembering.
15 Amazing Free Resources To Improve Your Writing
The advancement of technology makes it easier for some students and professionals to hire assignment help services to polish their writings. However, you don’t have to spend your hard-earned money on expert writers when you can achieve the same results with a few online tools.
Due to the demand from students, many developers have come up with apps and online resources that can solve a variety of challenges you might face during your writing journey.
1. Google Docs
Choosing the right word processor tool can make a surprisingly significant difference in your writing. Most people generally stick to Microsoft Word and Google Docs. However, Google Docs is the clear winner if you’re writing in collaboration with someone.Â
A person with the link to the document can access it from any part of the world. In addition, you can also see any changes that the other writers make to the paper in real-time, making it the perfect collaboration tool.
2. Typing Master Speed Test
Any person who has a habit of typing slowly would face challenges meeting strict deadlines. Unfortunately, at times, people don’t notice this problem until it’s too late, and their writing quality suffers due to cutting corners and rushing at the last minute. Hence, the TypingMaster Typing test is an excellent tool that can help you improve your speed.
With more than 500 typing exercises and various lessons, you can hone your skills and become familiar with the keyboard. In addition, you can take multiple tests on the software to check your progress.
3. Grammarly
Checking your grammar to ensure that your writing is error-free is crucial if you wish to maintain a high standard. Hence, Grammarly is a popular tool that will come in handy. In addition, you can download the extension so that the app can check your work as you write.
If English is not your first language or you struggle with writing a proper sentence, Grammarly would be your knight in shining armor. The software detects grammatical errors, highlights them, and provides the correct suggestions. Additionally, it also suggests more appropriate words and improves the vocabulary of the entire work.
4. Hubspot’s Topic Suggestion Tool
It’s not easy to come up with unique ideas to write about on the spot. However, during such moments, the topic suggestion tool at Hubspot can lend you a helping hand. All you have to do is type a few nouns, and the software will generate enough titles to inspire you immediately.
While you might have to make some changes to the titles, the tool does a fantastic job providing you with enough options to keep you busy for a while.Â
5. FocusWriter
Distraction is every writer’s greatest enemy. If you have a pending deadline to meet but get distracted every few minutes, it would be impossible to focus on the writing quality. Hence, FocusWriter presents a clean interface that is free of any clutter to ensure you can focus on writing at all times.
6. Wordcounter
It can be challenging for many writers to avoid repetitive words and phrases in their work. However, you can quickly sort them out during the proofreading stage using the word counter tool. In addition, it can highlight the commonly repeated words and phrases to help you develop an idea of which areas need editing.
7. Readability Score
A web application like Readable.com and Webfx.com provides a helpful readability score that is perfect for figuring out the grade level for your writing. You cannot expect to write a professional blog with a low readability score, nor should the score be too high for anything meant to cater to the general audience. Hence, you can use this score to adjust the readability of your content easily.
8. Trello
Excellent writing is possible only when you are organized, so you know the best way to proceed with your task. Many students and professionals who have to write collaborative pieces swear by Trello and its fantastic effectiveness at maintaining an online bulletin board that helps you arrange all tasks as cards.
9. Milanote
The Milanote is similar to Trello because it is also an organizational tool that acts as a board. As writing an academic paper or blog would require tons of research and notes, you can pin them to the board for your perusal without having to search for them for hours.Â
10. Plagiarism checker
All educational institutions have strict policies regarding plagiarism. Therefore, even if you plagiarise content unknowingly, you can run the risk of expulsion and suspension. Hence, a free plagiarism checking tool like DUplicheker.com and Smallseotools.com can help you avoid such outcomes.
11. A Soft Murmur
A Soft Murmur is a perfect application for those who write their best with ambient background noise to keep them company. The website version, as well as the app, are free to use. Depending on your preference, you can adjust which background noise works best for your writing.
12. Noisli
Another application that helps create a perfect productive environment is Noisli. All you have to do is create an account, and the application will provide you with the basic features without any cost. The paid version can unlock more playlists and help you make the most of it.
13. Answer The Public
Sometimes when you’re out of topics to write on, a simple search on Answer The Public will help you check people’s questions regarding specific keywords. For example, if you type in the keyword “cake,” you can see all the popular searches regarding that word, such as “How to make a cake?”, “Is cake harmful to health?” etc.
14. Marinara Timer
Human concentration does not last forever. Hence, if you try to concentrate on your paper for more than half an hour, you are bound to lose focus. Thus, the best way to stay on top of your writing is to use the Marinara Timer that follows the Pomodoro technique<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>.Â
The app has a default timer of 25 minutes which you can adjust to your preference during which you would concentrate on writing. Following every block of 25 minutes, you can take a five-minute break in between, and then a more extended one once you complete three to four cycles.
15. Hemingway Editor
Hemingway Editor is another app like Grammarly that can help you improve your writing quality by highlighting readability and grammatical errors, minimizing passive voice, and suggesting more appropriate word choices.
Summing it up
Writing has never been an easy task, but that does not mean you have to settle for anything less than the best. While the process is bound to be daunting at times, the use of free online resources can make things more manageable. They provide all the assistance you need to ensure your writing can improve significantly. Try out some of these yourself and see the world of difference they make to your works.
Author –Â Karen Hamada is a professional blogger and academic content writer at a reputable organization in the UK. She has been working as an independent essay structure writer for decades and has had his works published in the top magazines like Forbes, The Telegraph, and the English Heritage Member’s Magazine.
