Writing that is difficult to read:
Here are some techniques that can make writing difficult to read:
1. Complex Sentence Structure:
* Long, convoluted sentences with multiple clauses: "The dog, who had been sleeping soundly in his basket, suddenly awoke with a start, his ears perked, as a loud thump resonated from the kitchen, causing him to leap from his bed and race towards the source of the noise, barking furiously all the while."
* Excessive use of parentheticals and appositives: "The meeting, (which was scheduled for 3 PM but was subsequently delayed due to unforeseen circumstances), was attended by the committee members, (all of whom were highly regarded in their respective fields)."
* Misplaced modifiers: "Running down the street, the dog chased the mailman."
2. Unclear Pronoun Reference:
* Using pronouns without clear antecedents: "He went to the store and bought it." (Who is "he"? What is "it"?)
* Shifting pronouns within a sentence: "The cat sat on the mat. She licked her paw." (The pronoun changes from "cat" to "she".)
3. Jargon and Technical Terms:
* Using overly specialized language without explanation: "The data matrix was queried for anomalies, but the results were inconclusive due to the high degree of variance in the control group."
* Unnecessary abbreviations and acronyms: "The CEO of the CFO sent an email to the COO regarding the upcoming IPO."
4. Passive Voice Overuse:
* Using passive voice when active voice would be clearer: "The ball was thrown by the boy." (vs. "The boy threw the ball.")
* Creating ambiguity: "The report was completed." (Who completed it?)
5. Lack of White Space and Formatting:
* Dense, unbroken paragraphs:
* No headings, subheadings, or bullet points:
* Excessive use of bold, italics, and underlining:
* Poorly chosen fonts:
6. Unconventional Punctuation:
* Excessive use of em dashes:
* Misuse of colons and semicolons:
* Incorrect use of quotation marks:
7. Unclear Purpose and Organization:
* Rambling or disjointed thoughts:
* Lack of a clear thesis statement:
* Sudden shifts in topic without transition:
8. Poor Word Choice:
* Using obscure or overly formal language:
* Repeating the same words too often:
* Using clichés and jargon:
9. Abstract Concepts and Lack of Concrete Examples:
* Reliance on vague generalizations:
* Failure to provide specific details and illustrations:
10. Intentional Obfuscation:
* Using deliberately complex language to mislead or confuse the reader:
* Employing convoluted syntax and obscure vocabulary to make the meaning unclear:
These are just some of the ways that writing can be made difficult to read. By avoiding these pitfalls, you can create clear, engaging, and accessible writing.