Maths Support Service - Writing Skills

Writing Skills

Think about what are you writing and for who! For example:
- Notes, coursework, presentations etc. all require different writing styles (some general guidelines are considered below).
- If you are writing for self reference only, you should know how much detail you need to include in your notes.
- If you are writing for someone else e.g. coursework, full details need to be included in your work.

Keep your work neat and tidy! It’s no good writing anything down if no-one can understand what it is you have written.
Maths is not only about writing numbers and formulas. Use words and sentences to join equations and explain your work.
Include clear explanations of what you are doing and why you are doing it.
- This will help you when you come to review your work.
- It will help anyone else who has to read your work.
Be precise!
- For example, 1/3 is not equal to 0.3.
- Use notation correctly. Does x2 mean, x × 2, or x₂, or x²?
- Include units where required. The difference in volume between 1m³ and 1cm³ is quite substantial!
Make sure your work makes sense.
- Read through your work.
- Ask a friend to read through your work.
- Compare your notes/solutions to those in a text book.

Why not check out our other study skills guides: