Precision of language comprises a key difference between more effective writers and average ones. That’s why we’ve repeatedly addressed different specific instances of precision of language in this forum. Today we’re going to examine another such instance involving the word average.
An average is a quantity derived by dividing the sum of two or more individual quantities by the number of quantities. The word appears as a noun, a verb, and an adjective. Most of the confusion less effective writers have involves its use as a verb.
Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. A more effective writer understands that an average by definition requires more than one unit or element. Furthermore, each individual steel bar has its own length, which may or may not be the average length. Thus, a more effective writer would employ precision of language to revise the example sentence.
An average is a quantity derived by dividing the sum of two or more individual quantities by the number of quantities. The word appears as a noun, a verb, and an adjective. Most of the confusion less effective writers have involves its use as a verb.
Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. A more effective writer understands that an average by definition requires more than one unit or element. Furthermore, each individual steel bar has its own length, which may or may not be the average length. Thus, a more effective writer would employ precision of language to revise the example sentence.
The fifty steel bars in the lot average 205 cm in length.
Technically, the concept of average does not recommend using the word as a verb. Its now common use in spoken English has proliferated that application widely. However, as we’ve often seen in this forum, spoken English and written English are not the same animal.
Precision of language separates the more effective writers from the less effective average ones. So don’t be an average writer! Understand the proper use of average, and you can present your messages in writing more effectively. That in turn will improve the estimation your audience gives to both you and your brands.
Precision of language separates the more effective writers from the less effective average ones. So don’t be an average writer! Understand the proper use of average, and you can present your messages in writing more effectively. That in turn will improve the estimation your audience gives to both you and your brands.
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