SEE 14: Introduction to
tone.
Stylistics
Prepared by: J. Manalastas (Instructor)
NEUST-Gapan Academic Extension Campus
Introduction to stylistics is a language and
style course that will help the students in
exploring (primarily literary) texts. This
focuses on the relationship between style
and stylistics using stylistic devices and
explain how the language creates meanings
and effects.
1. Understanding Style
Some Stylistic Principles
There is extensive literature on good writing
style, and this chapter is not intended to
duplicate that literature. However, there are
a few stylistic issues to discuss that relate
directly to computer documentation.
In general, two principles underlie these
stylistic considerations:
Time is a valuable commodity -
Readers of computer documentation
are generally in a hurry. They have
turned to the documentation to find
answers to problems and are
justifiably impatient to get on with the
task at hand. Anything that impedes
the customers' speedy understanding
is bad style.
Readers are worldwide - Foreign
markets are a significant source of
revenue for manufacturers of
computer products, and more
frequently than ever before,
documentation is being translated into
languages other than English.
Write Simply, Directly, and Accurately
Straightforward, uncluttered writing is easier
to understand and translate than more
convoluted text. Keep sentences and syntax
simple. Use short, familiar words. Respect a
reader's level of technical knowledge and
competency and make sure that your writing
does not convey an arrogant or patronizing
A reader expects you to be an expert on the
subject or product discussed in your
document. Write in a style that affirms your
expertise. For example, too many sentences
that include "you can" or "it is
recommended" may confuse a reader who
asks "but should I do this?" Instead, use
imperative verbs that tell a reader accurately
and concisely what to do. If you explain that
a choice exists, describe for a reader the
advantages and disadvantages of the
alternatives, and make recommendations
depending upon different scenarios.
Avoid Humor
One of the great temptations for writers of
computer documentation is the urge to inject
a note of levity into the text to relieve a
reader's (or author's) uneasiness with the
material. This temptation should be resisted -
even genuinely humorous commentary is a
distraction and will become annoying on
subsequent readings. Many attempts at
humor are likely to fail outright. Likewise,
humor that descends into "user-friendly
chumminess" never works. A sympathetic
reader may forgive you for trying to "lighten
up" the text, while another reader may
resent a cloying tone.
For example, you might think that all readers
will enjoy this humor injected into a tutorial:
You can use a mouse (one without fur)
with the window environment on your
computer.
However, "one without fur" detracts from the
content of the sentence and distracts a
reader.
Most importantly, humor is difficult (if not
impossible) to translate successfully. Humor
is strictly cultural; what may be funny to
Americans could be obscene to readers in
another country.
Avoid Jargon
Writers frequently incorporate jargon
associated with the subject matter into their
documentation, in part to demonstrate their
mastery of the subject, and in part because
jargon adds "color" to documentation. This is
another temptation that you should resist.
Jargon can be difficult for "non-initiates" to
understand and will impede comprehension.
Jargon also can be ambiguous; different
fields of expertise can interpret the same
jargon in different ways. Finally, jargon can
be very difficult to translate.
For examples, the words listed below can be
interpreted as valid computer terms or
jargon used in the industry. If you use them,
make sure that you, and the reader,
understand their context and meaning in
your document.
------------------------------
Argument enter
Boot execute
Bring up floppy
Bundle getting help
Client help facility
Command interoperability
Comment out make up
Data less mount
Default option
Disk full power up/down
Diskless server
End user string
------------------------------
Be Consistent
Consistency is not just some abstract goal to
be achieved for its own sake; rather, the
intention is to reduce the impact of the
mechanics of communication on readers.
Readers project some significance onto every
change in tone, language, or typographic
convention you use. A consistent style
enables readers to internalize the language
and text conventions of a document so that
understanding occurs on an almost
subliminal basis, and so that truly significant
points stand out more clearly. This is one of
the most valuable aspects of good style.
Anticipate a Reader's Questions
One of the most important contributions a
writer makes is to anticipate a reader's
questions and provide appropriate answers.
As the subject expert, a writer can create a
climate of understanding that is far more
significant than merely recounting facts
about the product.
For example, when you review a procedure in
your document with a reader's perspective in
mind, ask these questions:
What assumptions have I made about
what the reader knows?
Do steps follow in a logical sequence?
Are there any gaps in the instructions?
Are even the simplest words used
precisely? For example, did I write
"any" when I meant "all"?
Did I define all technical terms?
Have I incorrectly put conceptual and
explanatory material within steps,
rather than in paragraph text?
Avoid Sexist Language
Regarding the issue of sexism in language -
appearances count.
Writers who could never be described as
sexist must be careful that their writing does
not convey sexism. Equal opportunity in the
workplace means that not all roles are filled
by men. However, language has developed
so that "men" often refers to "men and
women," and that "he," "him," and "his" are
regarded by some people as gender-neutral
words. In decades past, this sentence would
have been perfectly acceptable:
 Ask your system administrator for his
advice.
Today, the consistent usage of "he" and "his"
is far less acceptable. These pronouns carry
too much assumption about the sex of an
individual. Writers who defend using such
pronouns must contemplate this: Many
readers will interpret a writer's intentions
negatively, and consciously or
subconsciously reject the work.
Your creative challenge is to eliminate not
only the real sexism, but also the perceived
sexism, from your writing. Stylistically, there
are some boundaries.
Acceptable Methods of Achieving
Common Gender
Consider the following suggestions as ways
to achieve common gender:
Write plural antecedents and pronouns
as often as possible.
Awkward: Tell each user to shut down
his machine.
Better: Tell the users to shut down
their machines.
Eliminate the possessive as much as
possible when you're writing in the
third person.
Awkward: Ask your system
administrator for his advice.
Better: Ask your system administrator
for advice.
Use the word "you."
Awkward: If the user decides he wants
to change the settings . . . .
Better: If you want to change the
settings . . . .
Instead of using a personal pronoun,
repeat its antecedent - when doing so
doesn't sound unpleasant or unnatural
(distance between occurrences of the
noun usually helps).
Awkward: If a system administrator
installed the software, wait until he
can help you.
Better: If a system administrator
installed the software that you're
having trouble with, wait until the
administrator can help you.
Consider the following suggestions as
somewhat daring:
Give names to "third persons."
This technique won't work for all types
of documentation, but it can be
effective in a tutorial or other type of
user's guide. Consider naming names -
obviously male or female - to
humanize your writing and eliminate
the "he or she" clumsiness.
For example, if you want to tell a user
how to copy a file from someone else's
directory, try this:
Before you can copy a file from
someone else's directory - Sally
Smith's, for example - you need
permission. Ask Smith to set her
file permissions to grant you
access. After she has changed
permissions,
you are free to copy the file.
Create your own techniques, keeping
in mind that writing has to sound
natural, has to be taken literally, and
has to inform. Don't settle for
inoffensiveness if you can also be
enlightening.
Unacceptable Methods of Achieving
Common Gender
Eliminating the appearance of sexism by
writing poorly, ungrammatically, or self-
consciously is not a good tradeoff. Keep the
following in mind:
There is no such being as a "s/he."
Never write it.
"Their" relates only to a plural
antecedent. "Ask your system
administrator for their advice" is just
plain wrong.
The "his or her" gambit is
grammatically correct, but unnatural.
Even in pursuit of the fine goal of
eliminating perceived sexism, never
dehumanize people with the pronoun
"it."
Style
Definition of Style:
The style in writing can be defined as the
way a writer writes and it is the technique
which an individual author uses in his
writing. It varies from author to author and
depends upon ones syntax, word choice,
and tone. It can also be described as
a voice that readers listen to when they read
the work of a writer.
Types of Style
There are four basic literary styles used in
writing. These styles distinguish the work of
different authors from one another. Here are
four styles of writing:
Expository or Argumentative style
Expository writing style is a subject-oriented
style. The focus of the writer in this type of
writing style is to tell the readers about a
specific subject or topic and in the end the
author leaves out his own opinion about that
topic.
Descriptive style
In descriptive writing style, the author
focuses on describing an event, a character
or a place in detail. Sometimes, descriptive
writing style is poetic in nature in, where the
author specifies an event, an object or a
thing rather than merely giving information
about an event that has happened. Usually
the description incorporates sensory details.
Persuasive style
Persuasive style of writing is a category of
writing in which the writer tries to give
reasons and justification to make the readers
believe his point of view . The persuasive
style aims to persuade and convince the
readers.
Narrative style
Narrative writing style is a type of writing
where the writer narrates a story to. It
includes short stories, novels, novellas,
biographies and poetry.
Examples of Style in Literature
Here are some examples of different writing
styles from literature:
Example #1
An excerpt from The Pleasures of
Imagination by Joseph Addison
The pleasures of the imagination, taken in
their full extent, are not so gross as those of
sense A man of polite imagination is let
into a great many pleasures A man should
endeavor, therefore, to make the sphere of
his innocent pleasures as wide as possible,
that he may retire into them with safety
Delightful scenes, whether in nature,
painting, or poetry, have a kindly influence
on the body, as well as the mind, and not
only serve to clear and brighten the
imagination, but are able to disperse grief
and melancholy
This is an example of expository writing style
in which the author describes advantages of
imagination with facts and logical sequence
and tells his delight of imagination. Then, he
discusses its benefits and finally gives
opinions in its favor.
Example #2
Here is an excerpt from a poem.
A drop fell on the apple tree,
Another on the roof,
And made the gables laugh,
The breezes brought dejected lutes,
And bathed them in the glee;
And signed the fete away.
(Summer Shower by Emily Dickinson)
This poem is giving an example of
descriptive style. Emily gives a description of
a summer rainstorm in detail and visualizes
with images so that the readers could
visualize this storm in their own minds as if it
is actually happening.
Example #3
It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stoppst thou me?
The bridegrooms doors are opened wide,
The guests are met, the feast is set:
Mayst hear the merry din.
(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel
Taylor Coleridge)
In this poem, Coleridge uses narrative style
and tells a story about the ancient mariner.
He uses dialogues, disputes, actions and
events in a sequence, thus provides a perfect
example of the narrative style of writing.
Example #4
An excerpt from Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The studio was filled with the rich odor of
roses, and when the light summer wind
stirred amidst the trees of the garden The
sullen murmur of the bees shouldering their
way through or circling with monotonous
insistence
This is a good example of descriptive writing
style since the author gives visualizations,
feelings, description of a location and details
about bees that could be seen and heard.
Function of Style
A unique literary style can have great impact
on the piece in which it is used and on the
readers. When authors write and put their
ideas into words, they meet with a large
number of choices which include: words,
sounds, logic, sentence structures. However,
different authors use different literary styles
that depend on their distinct expression and
their utilization of these choices. And their
choice creates their niche.