Have you heard about parallel construction and bullet points?
It’s not as hard as it sounds.
First, you just need to pick the bullet points that don’t match.
So, one of these things is not like the others:
- plan
- review
- analyse
- the development of
- implement.
Did you pick it?
Of course it’s the second last bullet point.
That’s the one that doesn’t belong. It sort of trips you up when scanning the list.
Better bullet points use parallel construction, which means they have the same format and start with the same type of word. This makes them easier to read.
Even better bullet points start with the shortest, most active words possible.
So ‘the development of’ becomes ‘develop’.
And now the list flows properly:
- plan
- review
- analyse
- develop
- implement.
| Cinden Lester has more than 25 years’ experience as a professional writer, editor and communications specialist. She worked as a broadcast journalist, in private sector marketing and public relations, and in government communications before establishing her own Canberra-based communications consultancy in 2000.
Contact Cinden if you’d like help with your writing. |
