What Makes a Good Article?

byDianeScorpio

18.1K followers

Updated 5 years ago

We all occasionally feel the need to read something at least twice. That is normal, especially when digesting crucial information before carrying out a task. However, you should not have to re-read text because its meaning is unfathomable. It is the writer's job to communicate clearly, make complex ideas easy to grasp and pitch them at a level which is suitable for the audience. Careful writers always edit, looking for gaps or areas which may have an element of confusion.

A good writer will undoubtedly understand the difference between writing articles for the internet and writing for print. People reading on the web are in more of a hurry. Therefore, writing and its format must be easy to scan. Online writers should avoid long paragraphs and sentences, as well as complex words if possible. They should use bullet points for lists. Anyone browsing an article for information will find it more easily in bullet form.

Tone

Part of the responsibility of a good writer is to find the right tone for the audience. The writing must be engaging, and for that, the author has to know who will read it. Should it be formal or casual? First, second or third person? Technical or simplified? The writer must be familiar with the reader and their level of experience. A writer who assumes too much knowledge of the audience is likely to frustrate many readers.

Continuity

A good writer should always be conscious of how the article flows. Ideas should be written in a logical order. A sentence which is not remotely related to the one before usually deserves a new paragraph. Equally, new sections should introduce new ideas rather than be a direct follow-on from previous ones. Writers need to read their work to help achieve this cadence and avoid needless repetition. Successive sentences and paragraphs should not start with the same word.

Technique vs Style

Technical ability does not make a good writer, but careless mistakes irritate some readers. Writers with a readable style should strive to be technically competent, while professional writers should also aim to be enjoyable to read. A good writer has both strengths!