With three of my students writing their theses this year, I decided to formalize some advice on a clear writing style. Yes, writing is an art form, yet I find that following these simple rules would produce understandable technical writing - a vast improvement over not following rules at all.
Here are my notes on how to make a paragraph flow.
- Pick a keyword/phrase/concept/idea that you would want to focus in the paragraph. This keyword should remain the focus of individual sentences throughout the paragraph. This simple trick helps the paragraph “flow”.
- The first sentence of a paragraph should announce what you intend to communicate in the paragraph. For example, “Below we show that …”. Remember you are writing to be easily understood.
- The last sentence should summarize the paragraph and possibly pre-announce what would happen in the following paragraph tying the paragraphs together.
- "Square" rule - typically a paragraph should not occupy more than a "square" on a printed page, i.e., the height of the paragraph should not exceed the column width. Shorter paragraphs are fine. If longer, strongly consider breaking the paragraph in two.
- Read the paragraph ALOUD - even a non-native speaker would be able to tell if the writing "feels" right.
Additional notes: Do not mix passive and active voice in a paragraph.