After examining Yahoo's style guide for writing for the web (http://styleguide.yahoo.com), it is easy to see that writing on the Internet calls for a more direct, active, and focused voice. Often when writing papers, it may take a lengthy sentence to explain and your point across. Also, in academic writing the you of yous and Is are generally not accepted, so other words and the formation of the sentence must be changed in order to accommodate those needs. Web writing on the other hand, accepts the use of you and I, making it easier to write direct, active sentences. For the web, I assume the choices are made in order to keep the reader engaged and entertained, rather than explain an argument or thesis when longer sentences in order to thoroughly get your point across. Both styles of writing call for active voice, but Yahoo's style guide suggests the use of string verbs and short sentences. Personally, I do not like the use of short, choppy sentences, so usually I lean towards longer more eloquent prose. This is usually more acceptable in academic writing, but for the web I can understand why shorter to the point sentences are preferred. Over all, the style guide can be useful for all kinds of writing. Some of the headlines for the different sections are:
Proofread and Test before you Publish
Shorten and Strengthen Sentences
Write for the Web
Identify your Audience
Define you Voice
All of the sections can be useful in any type of writing, however you must be conscious of what type of writing your are doing and pick and choice which advice best suits your needs. However, the title of the page can fit all kinds of writing perfectly "Start Strong, Stay Strong"
A useful tool to analyze your writing online is the Writer's Diet at http://www.writersdiet.com. This tool looks at your writing and tells you whether it is lean, fit and trim, needs toning, flabby, or heart attack territory. It does this by looking at the use of different words in the text such as verbs, nouns, and prepositions. After plugging in the above paragraph the Writer's Diet said my work was "fit and trim" because of my use of different types of words. However, it did suggest that my verbs need toning but my use of it, this, that, and there is lean along with my nouns. The tool is useful to see how direct and active your writing is, but of course the Writer's Diet is not going to be accurate in every case because it lacks the ability to "read" the text.
