I had taken a class before about the differences between writing for the web and writing for a print medium, so I didn't really have any preconceived notions about their differences. I understood that the audience really dictates the writing.
Online writing has to be concise. One might use the inverted pyramid method of writing. Placing all the good, meaty, stuff at the top and then filling the rest in. Online readers scan for information, and once they find it, they are are off to the next main topic. Furthermore, online readers are non-linear. They may jump from one page to the next exploring several ideas at once. Whereas, print readers are stuck, for the most part, reading one page at a time, one idea or concept at a time. I think the main thing for writers to understand is the differences in their audiences.
However, good online writing still requires proper structure and grammar. I believe this is where writing for print and writing for the web are similar, or should be similar. Effective online writing should employ all the sound principals of writing for a print medium. I come across web sites all the time that have grammar errors and misspellings. Since it's so easy to change something and republish, I think online writers neglect to proof their writings as much as one writing for print.
To be successful, one must take the elements of both styles and incorporate them into a unique writing style that appeals to his or her audience and relays information accordingly.
Online writing has to be concise. One might use the inverted pyramid method of writing. Placing all the good, meaty, stuff at the top and then filling the rest in. Online readers scan for information, and once they find it, they are are off to the next main topic. Furthermore, online readers are non-linear. They may jump from one page to the next exploring several ideas at once. Whereas, print readers are stuck, for the most part, reading one page at a time, one idea or concept at a time. I think the main thing for writers to understand is the differences in their audiences.
However, good online writing still requires proper structure and grammar. I believe this is where writing for print and writing for the web are similar, or should be similar. Effective online writing should employ all the sound principals of writing for a print medium. I come across web sites all the time that have grammar errors and misspellings. Since it's so easy to change something and republish, I think online writers neglect to proof their writings as much as one writing for print.
To be successful, one must take the elements of both styles and incorporate them into a unique writing style that appeals to his or her audience and relays information accordingly.
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