Wanna write better? Check this out.

You ever hear of the “old/new contract?”

Below, you’ll find two explanations of the old/new contract — taken from Ramage, Bean, and Johnson.

They’re a little academic, but you’re smart. You’ll be fine.

Which one follows the contract? Why?

Version 1

The old/new contract is another principle for writing clear closed-form prose. Beginning your sentences with something old something that links back to what has gone before - and then ending your sentence with new information that advances the argument is what the old/new contract asks writers to do. An effect called coherence, which is closely related to unity, is created by following this principle. Whereas the clear relationship between the topic sentence and the body of the paragraph, between the parts and the whole, is what unity refers to, the clear relationship between one sentence and the next is what coherence relates to.

Version 2

Another principle for writing clear closed-form prose is the old/new contract. The old/new contract asks writers to begin sentences with something old-something that links back to what has gone before—and then to end sentences with new information that advances the argument. Following this principle creates an effect called coherence, which is closely related to unity. Whereas unity refers to the clear relationship between the body of a paragraph and its topic sentence, between the parts and the whole, coherence refers to the clear relationship between one sentence and the next, between part and part.

Pretty slick, ey?

How much of your writing breaks this contract?

My guess?

A fucking shitload.

Before your make your ‘lil social media post today, consider the old/new contract. Try and rewrite the caption it knowing what you know now.

Later.