The Diction Report helps you avoid unnecessarily complicated writing by analyzing your word selection and sentence construction.
Simplified word/phrase selection
When it comes to writing, less is more. Make every word count. If it's not essential, cut it. Too often when writers are trying to sound authoritative, they choose the wordy ways of saying something simple. Why write “has the ability to” when you can write “can”? You’re just using more words to say the same thing, which actually makes your writing much less clear.
Some other examples include:
at this point in time ➡ now
due to the fact that ➡ because
in order to ➡ to
in the event that ➡ if
prior to the start of ➡ before
has been found to be ➡ is
a sufficient amount of ➡ enough
at such time as ➡ when
for the reason that ➡ because
in close proximity to ➡ near
it is our opinion that ➡ we think
serves the function of being ➡ is
in the near future ➡ soon
Look through your writing for a simpler way of saying the same thing.
Well-constructed sentences
For the most part, sentences that follow some basic rules of construction are easier to understand.
One example of this kind of rule is that you should not end your sentence with a proposition (e.g. with, in, on, by, to):
- I know I would learn a great deal from those I'd be working with.
It's awkward. The same sentiment is expressed much more clearly as:
- I know I would learn a great deal working with such an experienced team.
Similarly:
- That is a problem that I hadn't thought of.
You could rearrange it to that it says:
- That is a problem of which I had not thought.
But even though this version is grammatically correct and follows the rule, it sounds overly formal and unnatural. Better to re-word it with your subject at the front of the sentence:
- I had not thought of that problem.
There are hundreds of rules like this built into the ProWritingAid algorithm. Like most rules, each of these will have exceptions so use your judgement when choosing to accept or reject ProWritingAid's suggestion.
Using many rules like this one, the Diction Report will highlight those sentences that are constructed in an awkward way so that you can reword them and make them easier to understand.
Have you tried ProWritingAid's software integrations yet? What are you waiting for?
Be confident about grammar
Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.
