Online writing

 Writing Online

1. Introduction

There are many different places you can write online, and a wealth of different tools

for doing so.

Different online spaces require different approaches to communicating. In this

activity we are going to focus on how you write in order to ensure your

communications are effective.

Learning outcome

By the end of this activity you should be aware of the general principles for writing

online.

2. Thinking about the online tools you use

Consider the next question and then read our comments.

Do you use email, forums, Facebook, Twitter, blogs or Wikis?

Think about which of these you use, what you use them for and what the writing style

is like. If you do not use any of them yet, spend a moment recalling what you know

about them.

Comments

Most people use email at work, and the majority probably have an email account for

personal use. The style can vary depending on whether you are using it for formal or

informal communication.

If you are an OU student, or you have an interest or hobby, it is likely you have

experienced using online forums. These are places where you can interact with

others who have a common interest. The writing style is generally informal, although

when discussing academic subject matter, more formal and specialised language

may be used.