This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
Published on July 15, 2019, a writer from The Standard highlighted the importance of avoiding blanket declarations and ambiguity in writing.
According to the writer, objectivity is crucial in opinion pieces, commentaries, and analyses. However, objectivity should not be misconstrued as massaging people's egos. It is about telling the truth, even when it is not pleasing to all.
The writer used several examples to illustrate the dangers of blanket declarations and ambiguity. For instance, the statement 'Kenyans love funerals – other people's, of course, not their own' is misleading and false. The term 'Kenyans' is holistic, representing over 45 million people, and it is irresponsible to use blanket words in telling a story.
The writer also criticized the use of ambiguous language, such as 'Big Funeral,' which might as well be the name of an individual who provides captive audiences. The position of the verb 'provides' in the sentence is responsible for the ambiguity, and moving it to the end of the sentence makes it clearer.
Furthermore, the writer pointed out that employing declarations like 'Absolutely perplexing' is demeaning, misleading, and false. The statement 'big crowds mean more money given as offering' is also false, as there are instances where a single politician gives more money to churches than their congregants have given in decades.
The writer concluded that effective writing requires objectivity, clarity, and precision. Blanket declarations and ambiguity can lead to misleading or false information, disrespecting readers and undermining the credibility of writers.
