Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order (FutureLearn)

Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order (FutureLearn)

Learn creative ways to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your written words. Level up your writing skills with impactful word selections and sentences. Successful written communication begins with the correct word choice and word order. This four-week course will show you how to achieve that in your writing process.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Presented by the University of Michigan, this is the first in the Good with Words: Writing and Editing series.
If you want to add style and sophistication to your legal writing or any other written piece, this is an ideal place to start.

Learn why word choice and order are essential to the writing process
On this course, you’ll see how the words you use change the meaning, tone, and effect of what you write.
You’ll be able to choose the right words, and add the right compelling details, to inspire the results you want in your readers.

Use strategic syntax in all your writing
You’ll find out how sentence structure influences the decisions people make, and how to produce structures that no one else can write.
The course will also help you develop your writing skills so that you can arrange complex legal and other information in unique, reader-friendly ways.

Hone your writing skills with exceptional wordsmiths
The lead educator on this course has extensive experience in legal writing, and has received several accolades for his work.
With this guidance and the strong academic support that the University of Michigan provides, you’ll soon reach your writing potential.

What topics will you cover?
During this course, you’ll look at:

  • The words under the words: how the words you choose can change the decisions that people make
  • The infinite power of grammar: how the order of the words you choose can change the decisions people make
  • The rule of three: combining word choice with word order
  • The power of the particular: filling your writing with compelling details

Learning on this course
You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Learn how the words you choose can change the decisions people make.
  • Use syntax strategically.
  • Write with originality and produce sentences that nobody else can write.
  • Arrange a complex set of information in a reader-friendly way.

Who is the course for?
This course is designed for lawyers and law students interested in developing their legal writing skills. Other individuals looking for high-level training in written communication will also find it valuable.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

TESOL Strategies: Enriching Classrooms (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Glasgow

TESOL Strategies: Enriching Classrooms (FutureLearn)

Learn the basic principles, considerations and strategies for cultivating a rich language-learning environment. Explore strategies to support the language needs of learners. With increased migration and refugee flows, most teachers are encountering increasingly diverse students in their mainstream classrooms. This course, for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), is designed for teachers at all levels, working with language learners across the curriculum.

Nov 22nd 2021
3 Weeks
A-level Study Boost: Unseen Poetry and the Creative Process (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading

A-level Study Boost: Unseen Poetry and the Creative Process (FutureLearn)

Discover effective techniques to analyse unseen poetry and learn about the creative writing process. Improve your skills in analysis and creative writing. What do you do when you encounter a poem for the first time? How can the process of writing poetry help you to enjoy and understand the written word in new ways? On this course, you’ll explore strategies for close reading and creative writing using a poem called ‘Patagonia’ by Kate Clanchy as a case study.

No sessions available
2 Weeks
Fundamentos de la escritura académica (Coursera) Coursera
Tecnológico de Monterrey

Fundamentos de la escritura académica (Coursera)

Además de conocer las reglas de ortografía y de redacción, en la elaboración de cualquier texto es necesario considerar otros aspectos tales como el propósito comunicativo, la relación entre emisor y receptor y el tipo de texto. Por medio de ejercicios, videos y ejemplos reales, el primer módulo (Semana 1 y 2) guía al alumno para identificar diferentes tipos de textos y los marcadores textuales que caracterizan a cada uno de ellos. Se hace especial énfasis en textos cuyo principal propósito es informar.

Aug 17th 2026
4 Weeks
Write Your First Novel (Coursera) Coursera
Michigan State University

Write Your First Novel (Coursera)

If you’ve ever had the dream, the desire or even just a vague notion that you would like to write a novel, this course is for you. Whether you are a full-time student, have a full-time job, a family to take care of or all of the above, you can do it. Really! And I will help you get there.

Aug 17th 2026
+25 Weeks
Discovering Your PhD Potential: Writing a Research Proposal (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Leicester

Discovering Your PhD Potential: Writing a Research Proposal (FutureLearn)

Learn how to research and write a high-quality research proposal for postgraduate applications. A carefully prepared and thorough research proposal is usually crucial for applications for advanced or doctoral study, and can provide the launchpad for the first stages of that postgraduate study. This online course will give you the awareness, skills and tools to write a well thought-out and achievable research proposal, helping you improve the quality of your postgraduate applications. It will also give you a taste of the self-study required in postgraduate doctoral research.

May 2nd 2022
5-12 Weeks
The Strategy of Content Marketing (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Davis

The Strategy of Content Marketing (Coursera)

This course is a partnership between the leading content marketing authority, Copyblogger, and UC Davis Extension. In this course, you will learn the core strategies content marketers use to acquire and retain customers profitably. Specifically, you will learn how to develop, organize and implement a content marketing strategy, analyze and measure the effectiveness of content marketing, write compelling copy, use a strategic framework when writing, and build your professional brand and authority through content marketing. You will also learn how to put the ideas presented to you into action and build your own personal brand through content marketing.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Explore Filmmaking: from Script to Screen (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
National Film and Television School - NFTS,The British Film Institute - BFI

Explore Filmmaking: from Script to Screen (FutureLearn)

Learn from award-winning filmmakers how films go from script to screen with this film production course from the BFI Film Academy. Deepen your understanding of the filmmaking process. Over six weeks, a team of award-winning filmmakers will take you through their approach to telling stories.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
Research Writing: How to Do a Literature Review (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Wollongong

Research Writing: How to Do a Literature Review (FutureLearn)

Learn how to write a strong literature review with this course designed for research students, at any level, in any discipline. Improve your ability in a fundamental part of research: a literature review. Many students are required to write a critical review of current academic literature in their area of interest - researchers, postgraduates and undergraduates. Developing a great critical review is vital, but not always taught.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
How to Succeed at: Writing Applications (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
The University of Sheffield

How to Succeed at: Writing Applications (FutureLearn)

This free three week course will help you produce a perfect CV, application and online profile when applying for a job or course. Experts from The Careers Service here at The University of Sheffield share their top tips to help you write exceptional applications, CVs (or résumés), covering letters and personal statements.

Nov 11th 2024
3 Weeks