A lot of times, you’ll hear writers use language that is unfamiliar to you. Sometimes, this can be because the writer is trying to be creative and original, while other times, it can simply be because the writer is a non-native English speaker and not quite familiar with the English language. In any case, if you’re reading or writing online, you will undoubtedly come across unfamiliar words and phrases. Whether you’re writing for an English class or a journalism assignment, it’s important to know the common and usual words and phrases so you don’t have to look them up every time you use them.
Key Terms
To properly write a story or magazine article, you’ll need to know various key terms. Sometimes, these will be words that the writer will use to describe the events and people in the story or article. Other times, these will be words that you’ll need to know in order to properly understand what the writer is trying to say. Either way, knowing these terms will help you understand the story or article better and make it easier for you to write something of your own.
Narrative
As the name implies, a narrative is a story or account of events. In journalism, a narrative is often a news article or a feature story, where the aim is to provide readers with important information regarding current events. However, a narrative can also be used in a creative way, when the writer intends to describe a fictional character or event. In either case, a narrative can be written in the first person or third person, depending on whether you’re writing about yourself or another person. A narrative can also be told in a straightforward or creative way, depending on the needs of the writer. Creative narrative writing allows for more flexibility and often results in original and compelling ideas and language. A good narrative writer will be able to take a commonplace event or experience and turn it into an interesting story that will compel readers to keep reading. When writing a narrative, use language that is vivid and descriptive, but don’t use too many adverbs and adjectives. This will make the narrative easier to follow and less wordy. A good rule of thumb is: less is more. One more thing, a good narrative should be interesting, logical, and well-paced.
Analysis
When journalists or writers want to analyze something, they will often use the term “analyze” or “analyze it.” The analysis is usually done to determine the reason behind an event or trend. It can also be used when talking about a book, movie, or song. When writing an analysis, make sure that you have enough data to support your claims. If you don’t have enough data, then either gather some or look for an alternative explanation. It’s also important to cite your sources, so that readers know where you’re getting your information from. When done well, an analysis can be quite compelling and make a good addition to an article or story. It can also help readers understand a topic in a new way or give them some different perspectives to consider. When writing an analysis, always use the active voice, limit your adverbs, and organize your thoughts logically.
Syntax
Put simply, syntax is the manner in which you combine words to make a sentence. This can be a tricky thing to grasp if you’ve never had to write a sentence before, but it’s an important concept to know. When writing, it’s essential to have a good grasp of the English language and how to properly use its various words and phrases. Syntax will often show up in grammar rules and examples, so make sure you know what they mean and have enough examples to help you remember. One of the best resources around for learning English syntax is the Wolfram Language Tutorial, specifically the part about English Grammar and the part about English Word Order. Learning to love the English language and being able to write in an effective manner are two very different things, but they are both necessary if you want to be a successful writer. As a general rule of thumb, know what these terms mean and how to use them: