Conciseness. Summary: This resource will help you write clearly by eliminating unnecessary words and rearranging your phrases. Contributors:Ryan Weber, Nick HurmLast Edited: 2013-02-27 10:18:41 The goal of concise writing is to use the most effective words. Concise writing does not always have the fewest words, but it always uses the strongest ones. Writers often fill sentences with weak or unnecessary words that can be deleted or replaced. This resource contains general conciseness tips followed by very specific strategies for pruning sentences. 1. Often, writers use several small and ambiguous words to express a concept, wasting energy expressing ideas better relayed through fewer specific words.
Wordy: The politician talked about several of the merits of after-school programs in his speech (14 words) Concise: The politician touted after-school programs in his speech. (8 words) Wordy: Suzie believed but could not confirm that Billy had feelings of affection for her. (6 words) (20 words) (9 words) (10 words) The power of simple words - Terin Izil. Many people may be guilty of incomprehensible or overly-elaborate language on occasion—but who are the repeat offenders? In small groups, see if you can identify one or two public figures or groups who fit the bill and draw up the charges. Make a “Wanted” poster that includes two or three examples, for each, of especially obscure communication. Also, offer your own explanation(s) for why this individual or group is so hooked on the $10 words. For inspiration, see how lawyers, medical professionals and federal workers are policing their own professions’ use of language: www.clarity-international.net (the lawyers) www.plainlanguage.gov (the feds) www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy/pdf/Simply_Put.pdf (the meds) To become an American citizen, the U.S. government requires people to pass a test that includes several questions about the U.S.
Writing Style Seminar. Writing Style At its most basic, "style' in writing means two things: 1) the machinery of writing 2) the writer's voice. The nuts and bolts of sentence structure, for instance, are part of the grammar boilerplate we all agree to work with (#1). But beyond that how each of us uses the hardware is what personalizes the writing (#2), or what E.B. White described as that which is "distinguished and distinguishing. " Number 1 has clear guidelines, which means we can all learn what constitutes clear, effective writing "style. " So, what "style" means to most writers is learning the conventions--the wiring diagrams of writing--and using them as effectively as possible. While the intricacies of style can be intimidating, at first, the essential working rules need not be. Here is what some well-known people have said about style: "A man's style in any art should be like his dress—it should attract as little attention as possible.
" "Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. Variety or. Style Seminar Menu. Don't Tell, Show. Move Your Story Right Along: The Elements of Style Rap.