Dr. George Gopen
@georgegopen.bsky.social
Follow me for a proven approach to writing clearly about even complex subjects like science and law. I have trained tens of thousands of professionals who have won billions in funding. Explore training at https://readerexpectation.com
It may be natural for writers to front-load the important information in a sentence; but it is disastrous for readers.
#readerexpectationapproach #sentencestructure #stressposition #betterwriting #ProfessionalWriting
#readerexpectationapproach #sentencestructure #stressposition #betterwriting #ProfessionalWriting
January 19, 2026 at 4:32 PM
It may be natural for writers to front-load the important information in a sentence; but it is disastrous for readers.
#readerexpectationapproach #sentencestructure #stressposition #betterwriting #ProfessionalWriting
#readerexpectationapproach #sentencestructure #stressposition #betterwriting #ProfessionalWriting
A sentence is too short when it has no viable candidate for a Stress position, indicated by a colon, semi-colon, or period.
#readerexpectationapproach #betterwriting #stressposition #sentencestructure
#readerexpectationapproach #betterwriting #stressposition #sentencestructure
January 19, 2026 at 4:32 PM
A sentence is too short when it has no viable candidate for a Stress position, indicated by a colon, semi-colon, or period.
#readerexpectationapproach #betterwriting #stressposition #sentencestructure
#readerexpectationapproach #betterwriting #stressposition #sentencestructure
A sentence is too long when it has more viable candidates for Stress positions than colons, semi-colons, or periods.
#stressposition #readerexpectationapproach #sentencestructure #betterwriting
#stressposition #readerexpectationapproach #sentencestructure #betterwriting
January 19, 2026 at 4:31 PM
A sentence is too long when it has more viable candidates for Stress positions than colons, semi-colons, or periods.
#stressposition #readerexpectationapproach #sentencestructure #betterwriting
#stressposition #readerexpectationapproach #sentencestructure #betterwriting
A main clause that ends with no colon, semi-colon, or period causes serious trouble for a reader, who must guess what to stress.
#stressposition #readerexpectationapproach #betterwriting #ScientificWriting
#stressposition #readerexpectationapproach #betterwriting #ScientificWriting
January 19, 2026 at 4:31 PM
A main clause that ends with no colon, semi-colon, or period causes serious trouble for a reader, who must guess what to stress.
#stressposition #readerexpectationapproach #betterwriting #ScientificWriting
#stressposition #readerexpectationapproach #betterwriting #ScientificWriting
Place the words you want your reader to stress in a Stress position — just before a colon, semi-colon, or period.
#readerexpectationapproach #goodstress #ScientificWriting #ProfessionalWriting #betterwriting
#readerexpectationapproach #goodstress #ScientificWriting #ProfessionalWriting #betterwriting
January 19, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Place the words you want your reader to stress in a Stress position — just before a colon, semi-colon, or period.
#readerexpectationapproach #goodstress #ScientificWriting #ProfessionalWriting #betterwriting
#readerexpectationapproach #goodstress #ScientificWriting #ProfessionalWriting #betterwriting
Linguists definition of "Stress position": A Stress position is any moment of full syntactic closure.
#BetterWriting #Englishlanguage #ScientificWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#BetterWriting #Englishlanguage #ScientificWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
January 19, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Linguists definition of "Stress position": A Stress position is any moment of full syntactic closure.
#BetterWriting #Englishlanguage #ScientificWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#BetterWriting #Englishlanguage #ScientificWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
A sentence must connect backward and forward to its neighbors as smoothly as a fine sentence flows from its start to its end.
#readerexpectationapproach #EffectiveCommunication #ScientificWriting #ClarityInWriting #contextcontrolsmeaning
#readerexpectationapproach #EffectiveCommunication #ScientificWriting #ClarityInWriting #contextcontrolsmeaning
January 16, 2026 at 7:37 PM
A sentence must connect backward and forward to its neighbors as smoothly as a fine sentence flows from its start to its end.
#readerexpectationapproach #EffectiveCommunication #ScientificWriting #ClarityInWriting #contextcontrolsmeaning
#readerexpectationapproach #EffectiveCommunication #ScientificWriting #ClarityInWriting #contextcontrolsmeaning
State as early as possible in a sentence the words that logically connect this sentence back to the one that preceded it.
#readerexpectationapproach #EffectiveCommunication #ScientificWriting #ClarityInWriting #contextcontrolsmeaning
#readerexpectationapproach #EffectiveCommunication #ScientificWriting #ClarityInWriting #contextcontrolsmeaning
January 16, 2026 at 7:37 PM
State as early as possible in a sentence the words that logically connect this sentence back to the one that preceded it.
#readerexpectationapproach #EffectiveCommunication #ScientificWriting #ClarityInWriting #contextcontrolsmeaning
#readerexpectationapproach #EffectiveCommunication #ScientificWriting #ClarityInWriting #contextcontrolsmeaning
To see the actions readers perceive in your paragraph, circle all the verbs and read them in progression. What you wanted?
#WritingSkills #ReaderPerspective #EditingPractice #ClearProse
#BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#WritingSkills #ReaderPerspective #EditingPractice #ClearProse
#BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
January 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM
To see the actions readers perceive in your paragraph, circle all the verbs and read them in progression. What you wanted?
#WritingSkills #ReaderPerspective #EditingPractice #ClearProse
#BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#WritingSkills #ReaderPerspective #EditingPractice #ClearProse
#BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
There are no "weak" verbs or "strong" verbs: The weakness or strength depends on the context in which the verb is found.
#WritingSkills #ClearCommunication #BetterWriting
#BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#WritingSkills #ClearCommunication #BetterWriting
#BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
January 12, 2026 at 6:13 PM
There are no "weak" verbs or "strong" verbs: The weakness or strength depends on the context in which the verb is found.
#WritingSkills #ClearCommunication #BetterWriting
#BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#WritingSkills #ClearCommunication #BetterWriting
#BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
Readers of English expect the action of a sentence to be articulated by its verb.
#writing #communication #businesswriting #readersperspective #readerexpectationapproach
#writing #communication #businesswriting #readersperspective #readerexpectationapproach
January 12, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Readers of English expect the action of a sentence to be articulated by its verb.
#writing #communication #businesswriting #readersperspective #readerexpectationapproach
#writing #communication #businesswriting #readersperspective #readerexpectationapproach
Readers read a clause as being the story of whoever or whatever shows up as its grammatical subject. #writing #communication #businesswriting #readersperspective #readerexpectationapproach
January 12, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Readers read a clause as being the story of whoever or whatever shows up as its grammatical subject. #writing #communication #businesswriting #readersperspective #readerexpectationapproach
"I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live." ~ George Bernard Shaw
January 10, 2026 at 5:35 PM
"I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live." ~ George Bernard Shaw
Darwinian argument for the passive: The passive would not have survived this long if it were not fit for something.
#PassiveVoice #WritingHumor #Darwinian #SurvivalOfTheFittest #LanguageEvolution #WriterLife #NerdJokes #Linguistics
#PassiveVoice #WritingHumor #Darwinian #SurvivalOfTheFittest #LanguageEvolution #WriterLife #NerdJokes #Linguistics
January 6, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Darwinian argument for the passive: The passive would not have survived this long if it were not fit for something.
#PassiveVoice #WritingHumor #Darwinian #SurvivalOfTheFittest #LanguageEvolution #WriterLife #NerdJokes #Linguistics
#PassiveVoice #WritingHumor #Darwinian #SurvivalOfTheFittest #LanguageEvolution #WriterLife #NerdJokes #Linguistics
Theological argument for the passive: God would not have invented the passive if there weren't a good reason for it.
#PassiveVoice #WritingPhilosophy #WritingHumor #WritingWisdom #LanguageLovers #WritingLife #ReaderExpectation #WritingInsight
#PassiveVoice #WritingPhilosophy #WritingHumor #WritingWisdom #LanguageLovers #WritingLife #ReaderExpectation #WritingInsight
January 6, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Theological argument for the passive: God would not have invented the passive if there weren't a good reason for it.
#PassiveVoice #WritingPhilosophy #WritingHumor #WritingWisdom #LanguageLovers #WritingLife #ReaderExpectation #WritingInsight
#PassiveVoice #WritingPhilosophy #WritingHumor #WritingWisdom #LanguageLovers #WritingLife #ReaderExpectation #WritingInsight
Good Passive: The best way to get rid of agency: "Jack loves Jill" -> "Jill is loved by Jack"-> "Jill is loved."
#ReaderExpectation #WritingCraft #PassiveVoice #SentenceStructure #WritingStrategy #AcademicWriting #ProfessionalWriting #EditingSkills #ClearWriting #WritingAdvice
#ReaderExpectation #WritingCraft #PassiveVoice #SentenceStructure #WritingStrategy #AcademicWriting #ProfessionalWriting #EditingSkills #ClearWriting #WritingAdvice
January 6, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Good Passive: The best way to get rid of agency: "Jack loves Jill" -> "Jill is loved by Jack"-> "Jill is loved."
#ReaderExpectation #WritingCraft #PassiveVoice #SentenceStructure #WritingStrategy #AcademicWriting #ProfessionalWriting #EditingSkills #ClearWriting #WritingAdvice
#ReaderExpectation #WritingCraft #PassiveVoice #SentenceStructure #WritingStrategy #AcademicWriting #ProfessionalWriting #EditingSkills #ClearWriting #WritingAdvice
Good Passive: If it is the only way to get the most important information next to a colon, semi-colon, or period.
#PassiveVoice #WritingAdvice #AcademicWriting #ProfessionalWriting #WritingCraft #ClearWriting #ReaderExpectation #WritingStrategy
#PassiveVoice #WritingAdvice #AcademicWriting #ProfessionalWriting #WritingCraft #ClearWriting #ReaderExpectation #WritingStrategy
January 6, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Good Passive: If it is the only way to get the most important information next to a colon, semi-colon, or period.
#PassiveVoice #WritingAdvice #AcademicWriting #ProfessionalWriting #WritingCraft #ClearWriting #ReaderExpectation #WritingStrategy
#PassiveVoice #WritingAdvice #AcademicWriting #ProfessionalWriting #WritingCraft #ClearWriting #ReaderExpectation #WritingStrategy
Good passive: If it is the only way to make the grammatical subject state whose story the sentence is.
#PassiveVoice #Grammar #SentenceStructure #ClarityInWriting #BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#PassiveVoice #Grammar #SentenceStructure #ClarityInWriting #BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
January 1, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Good passive: If it is the only way to make the grammatical subject state whose story the sentence is.
#PassiveVoice #Grammar #SentenceStructure #ClarityInWriting #BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#PassiveVoice #Grammar #SentenceStructure #ClarityInWriting #BusinessWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
Good passive: If it is the only way to get to the front of the sentence the words that link it to the previous sentence.
#WritingTips #PassiveVoice #SentenceStructure #AcademicWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#WritingTips #PassiveVoice #SentenceStructure #AcademicWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
January 1, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Good passive: If it is the only way to get to the front of the sentence the words that link it to the previous sentence.
#WritingTips #PassiveVoice #SentenceStructure #AcademicWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
#WritingTips #PassiveVoice #SentenceStructure #AcademicWriting #ReaderExpectationApproach
The passive is not only OK; it is better than the active in all situations in which the passive does a better job than the active.
#ScientificWriting #TechnicalWriting #PassiveVoice #BetterWriting #ProfessionalDevelopment #ReaderExpecattion
#ScientificWriting #TechnicalWriting #PassiveVoice #BetterWriting #ProfessionalDevelopment #ReaderExpecattion
January 1, 2026 at 5:06 PM
The passive is not only OK; it is better than the active in all situations in which the passive does a better job than the active.
#ScientificWriting #TechnicalWriting #PassiveVoice #BetterWriting #ProfessionalDevelopment #ReaderExpecattion
#ScientificWriting #TechnicalWriting #PassiveVoice #BetterWriting #ProfessionalDevelopment #ReaderExpecattion
Rulish advice: Aside from rules of grammar, there should be only one rule for writing: No Rules.
#ReaderExpectation #Writerslife #Grammar
#ReaderExpectation #Writerslife #Grammar
January 1, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Rulish advice: Aside from rules of grammar, there should be only one rule for writing: No Rules.
#ReaderExpectation #Writerslife #Grammar
#ReaderExpectation #Writerslife #Grammar
#Badadvice made good: "A sentence that contains more than 29 words is too hard to read." No; it is just too hard to write.
December 27, 2025 at 5:58 PM
#Badadvice made good: "A sentence that contains more than 29 words is too hard to read." No; it is just too hard to write.
Inadequate advice: "A paragraph's first sentence must be a Topic Sentence" doesn't work for writers in the professional world.
December 27, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Inadequate advice: "A paragraph's first sentence must be a Topic Sentence" doesn't work for writers in the professional world.
Useless advice: "Omit needless words." On some level, you thought you needed all those words.
#badwriting #useless
#badwriting #useless
December 26, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Useless advice: "Omit needless words." On some level, you thought you needed all those words.
#badwriting #useless
#badwriting #useless