Tips for Concise Writing

• These tips can help control wordiness or overly formal writing.

Qualifiers

• Limit words like like, really, basically, essentially, or very.

Redundancy

• Remove word pairs that have the same meaning (full and complete, any and all, first and foremost, honest and true, each and every).
• Remove implied ideas (true facts, free gift, each individual).
• Use positive statements instead of negative ones (not replaceable = irreplaceable, not dissimilar = similar).
• Turn adjectives and nouns into adverbs.
• Wordy example: First and foremost, the pieces must be aligned in an accurate manner.
• Concise example: First, the pieces must be aligned accurately.

Sentences

• Transitions are not needed between every sentence or paragraph.
• Repeat keywords or use words like "this" to help readers follow ideas.
• Avoid long opening phrases/clauses at the beginning of sentences to get to the subject faster.
• Slow start example: Whatever results are found during the trials, and they may or may not be favorable, we will stand behind the science.
• Revised example: Whatever results are found during the trials, we will stand behind the science.
• Remove interruptions between subjects and verbs.
• Interrupted example: The report, compiled by fourteen separate government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense and featuring more than 3,000 pages and 732 appendices, was confusing.
• Revised example: The report was confusing, perhaps because it was compiled by fourteen separate government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense and was more than 3,000 pages long—not including 732 appendices.
• Remove interruptions between verbs and objects, move the element to the beginning or end of the sentence.
• Interrupted example: We must make, if we want to be respected, sound choices.
• Revised example: If we want to be respected, we must make sound choices.
• Revised example: We must make sound choices if we want to be respected.
• Avoid using "There is/are" and "It is/are" to maintain focus on the real subject.
• Example: There are several syntactic devices that let you manage where you locate units of new information in a sentence.
• Revised: Several syntactic devices let you manage where you locate units of new information in a sentence.
• Avoid burying the main topic of a sentence in a prepositional phrase.
• Example: The use of this method would eliminate the problem.
• Revised: This method would eliminate the problem.
• Focus on the "real" verb instead of using nominalizations (verbs/adverbs changed into nouns).
• Nominalization example: to effect an installation, to conduct an analysis, to give consideration
• Strong verb example: to install, to analyze, to consider
• Use parallel structure to keep coordinate elements grammatically consistent.
• Not parallel example: I can’t finish my paper because I am sick, my sister’s wedding, and a computer explosion.
• Parallel example: I can’t finish my paper because I’m sick, I’m going to my sister’s wedding, and I’m without a computer.
• Keep modifiers close to what they modify.
• Modifier far away example: Scientists have learned that their observations are as subjective as those in any other field in recent years.
• Modifier close example: In recent years, scientists have learned that that their observations are as subjective as those in any other field.

Emphasis

• The topic of a sentence should be its grammatical subject.
• Place the main subject in the first clause for greater emphasis.
• Example: Although a great imagination was her gift, writing stories was never Matilda’s strength.
• Revised: Although a great imagination was her gift, Matilda was never very good at writing stories.
• Revised: Matilda was never very good at writing stories although she had the gift of a great imagination.
• Put new information, technical terms, or complicated phrases at the end of a sentence.
• Beginning position example: Lincoln’s claim that the Civil War was God’s punishment of both North and South for slavery appears in the last part of the speech.
• End position example: In the last part of his speech, Lincoln claims both North and South suffered slavery as a punishment from God.
• Use passive voice when the actor is unknown or the thing acted upon needs emphasis.
• Passive voice example: The window was broken.
• Passive voice example: The exquisite stained-glass window was broken.
• Use active voice in most cases.
• Active voice example: My little brother broke the window.
• Passive voice example: The window was broken by my little brother.

Improve writing clarity by eliminating wordiness and redundancy. Avoid qualifiers and streamline sentences for better readability. Use positive statements and strong verbs to make your writing more impactful.