Choose words that are clear, concise, and appropriate for your audience and purpose**.
This means:
* Clarity: Your words should be easy to understand and free from ambiguity. Avoid jargon, slang, or overly complex language unless it is absolutely necessary and your audience will understand it.
* Conciseness: Use the fewest words possible to convey your meaning effectively. Eliminate unnecessary words, phrases, and redundancies.
* Appropriateness: Consider your audience, your purpose for writing, and the tone you wish to convey. Formal writing requires a different vocabulary than informal writing.
Here's how this rule plays out in practice:
* Instead of: "The individual in question was of an advanced age."
* Use: "The man was old."
* Instead of: "The dog ran speedily down the street."
* Use: "The dog ran down the street."
* Instead of: "The teacher was very angry."
* Use: "The teacher was furious." (More specific and impactful)
Additional factors to consider:
* Specificity: Be as precise as possible. Instead of "good," use "brilliant" or "remarkable" if appropriate.
* Variety: Avoid using the same words repeatedly. Use a thesaurus to find synonyms.
* Figurative language: Metaphors, similes, and other figurative language can add vividness and interest to your writing, but use them sparingly and appropriately.
By following this rule, you can ensure that your writing is effective and engaging for your readers.