This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
Effective communication is crucial in conveying information to others. It involves the act of passing or exchanging information through various means, including writing, speaking, signs, and pictorials. The language we use can either facilitate or hinder communication, making it essential to choose words and sentences carefully.
On August 26, 2019, The Standard published an article highlighting the importance of clear communication in writing. The article emphasized the need to avoid direct translations from one language to another, which can result in poorly constructed sentences.
Gerunds, which are nouns that function like verbs, can be particularly challenging to use correctly. For instance, the sentence 'Maweu said the deceased was shot as he tried to remove his Nissan Matatu of registration KCU 552 X from the parking' could be improved by using commas and periods to separate the ideas.
Shorter sentences are often preferable to long ones, as they can be easier to understand. The positioning of words in a sentence is critical to conveying the intended meaning. For example, 'James comes here' and 'Here comes James' have different meanings despite using the same words.
Subject-verb agreement is also essential in writing. Singular subjects take on singular verbs, but nouns like 'everybody' and 'everyone' can be tricky to use correctly. For instance, 'everybody is accounted for' is the correct sentence, not 'everybody are accounted for.'
Finally, diction is crucial in writing. Using the correct words and phrases can help create vivid images in the readers' minds. For example, 'the left chest' can be misleading, as there is no right or middle chest. Instead, 'the left side of the chest' is a more accurate description.
