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This Isn’t as Clear as You Think It Is: Suwak’s Concise Writing Tip #1
Today I’m going to discuss a writing mistake that both new and experienced writers often make. I sometimes make it myself. Despite being cognizant of it, I continually find myself editing it out of the first (and sometimes second) drafts of my writing.
The mistake I’m referring to is the ambiguous use of the word “this.” The same problem applies to the use of “that” and “those,” but “this” is the most egregious offender.
The mistake can be most easily discussed through an example.
We spent the training session directing students to practice their foundational techniques, while we experimented with new moves. This led to further refinement.
In the example above, it’s unclear if “this” is referring to the students practicing foundational techniques, to the teachers experimenting with new moves, or to both.
The mistake becomes even more problematic when done in technical communication and copywriting, where readers are often confronted with subjects outside of their personal expertise and where clarity is at an even greater premium.
Readers can be doing many things other than your reading your…
