Apply a Consistent, Transparent Style (What style of writing works online?)

Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext

Apply a Consistent, Transparent Style

A consistent, transparent style in hypertext helps the reader "quickly and painlessly" learn the conventions used throughout a document (Horton, 1994, p. 270).

In hypertext, all differences of language need to be intentional and meaningful. William Horton (1994) contends that "variety for the sake of variety or artistic expression inevitably leads to confusion when applied to online documents" (p. 270). When writers phrase, format, and display information consistently, their documents become more concise, dependable, and reader-friendly.

A consistent style means the consistent use of:

Words

Grammatical structures

Abbreviations

Spelling

Special conventions

A transparent style does not draw attention to itself. Horton (1994) suggests striving "for a simple, professional, transparent style that keeps the user focused on the information you are presenting and not on how you are presenting it" (p. 106).

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Last Updated: May 2, 2001

(c)2000 by Alysson Troffer. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute any material from this document, in whole or in part, without written permission.


			Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext
			Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext

	Apply a Consistent, Transparent Style
	A consistent, transparent style in hypertext helps the reader "quickly and painlessly" learn the conventions used throughout a document (Horton, 1994, p. 270). In hypertext, all differences of language need to be intentional and meaningful. William Horton (1994) contends that "variety for the sake of variety or artistic expression inevitably leads to confusion when applied to online documents" (p. 270). When writers phrase, format, and display information consistently, their documents become more concise, dependable, and reader-friendly. A consistent style means the consistent use of: Words Grammatical structures Abbreviations Spelling Special conventions A transparent style does not draw attention to itself. Horton (1994) suggests striving "for a simple, professional, transparent style that keeps the user focused on the information you are presenting and not on how you are presenting it" (p. 106).
	[Brief TOC] [Expanded TOC] [Printer-Friendly Version] [Webfolio] [Next]: Make the Text Scannable Comments? Please email me! Last Updated: May 2, 2001 (c)2000 by Alysson Troffer. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute any material from this document, in whole or in part, without written permission.