Online writing needs to concise and to the point. The following tips can help you write concise online text:
Keep topics, paragraphs, sentences, and words as short as possible.
For instance, two short paragraphs are preferable to one long paragraph. Two short sentences are preferable to one long sentence. Also, why use two words when one will do?
Write self-contained topics that fully answer one question.
Eliminate unnecessary material.
Cross-reference rather than include supplementary information.
Whenever possible, use graphics instead of text.
However, make sure the graphics convey the same information as the text would have.
The following tips can also improve your hypertext writing:
Do not bury information.
Put all critical information near or at the top of the screen.
Vigorously apply the principles of clear writing.
Use a transparent writing style that does not draw attention
to itself.
Make headings and subheadings of topics as specific and obvious
as possible.
Provide a brief introduction, especially if the topic is longer
than one screen.
For each topic, begin with a generic transition.
The generic transition relates the title of the topic to the content.
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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.