Eliminating Wordiness PDF

**Eliminating wordiness** Believing that adding more words will make your paper sound more formal and important is a common mistake. Phrases like \"*concerning the matter of\...\"* and \"*in light of the fact that\...\"* might sound impressive, but they are just taking up space that could be devote...

**Eliminating wordiness** Believing that adding more words will make your paper sound more formal and important is a common mistake. Phrases like \"*concerning the matter of\...\"* and \"*in light of the fact that\...\"* might sound impressive, but they are just taking up space that could be devoted to more concrete ideas. **Rule 1 : Try not to overuse "I" and "we" in a formal paper. The paper is obviously yours, so phrases such as "*I think", "I believe", or "It seems to me"* are often unnecessary. ** ====================================================================================================================================================================================== **Rule 2 : Avoid using two (or three, or four) words when one will do.** ======================================================================== **Examples:** - *it is possible that → might or maybe* - *has the capacity to → can* - *it is necessary/important that → must or should* - *in light of the fact that → because* - *under circumstances in which → when* - *at this point in time → now or yet* - *in the event of/that → if* - *in the near future → soon* - *because of the fact that/ → because\ due to the fact that* - *give a definition → define* - *give consideration to/ → consider\ take into account* - *grow in size → grow* - *in reference to → about, regarding* - *make a decision → decide* - *on a daily basis → daily* - *with regards to → regarding, concerning* **Rule 3 : Avoid meaningless modifiers.** ========================================= ***The round yellow sun** shone brightly among **the clouds in the sky.*** *(*Isn't the sun always round? Are not clouds usually in the sky?) → **The sun** shone brightly among **the clouds.** **Some more examples:** - ***added** bonus --- a bonus is something that is more than what was expected* - ***true/actual** fact --- a fact is something that is true* - ***free** gift --- a gift is not paid for by the person receiving it, so it is free* - ***safe** haven --- a haven is a place of protection* - ***past** history --- history is past events* - ***advanced** planning --- planning is the act of making a plan* - ***close** proximity --- proximity is the state of being near* - ***carefully** scrutinise --- to scrutinise is to examine something carefully* - ***unexpected** surprise --- a surprise is unexpected* - *combine **together** --- to combine is to bring together* - ***advanced** warning --- a warning is something that tells of possible danger or trouble* - ***brief** summary --- a summary is a short version of something* **Rule 4 : Remove words like "very" and "extremely" and find a better word.** ============================================================================= *The dog ran **very quickly** across the road.\ → The dog **sprinted** across the road.* *Your dog is **extremely cute.**\ → Your dog is **adorable.\ *** **Be careful about modifying words that do not require it. For example, \"really\", \"very,\" and \"positively\" are usually included for emphasis or to intensify, but they do not add any new meaning to the sentence.** *\ Lincoln thought it was **very important** that Congress pass the bill before the end of the year.* *→ Lincoln thought it was **important** that Congress pass the bill before the end of the year.* **Rule 5 : Simplify your sentence structure.** ============================================== *The cliffs are made of basalt, **which is an igneous rock.**\ → The cliffs are made of basalt, **an igneous rock.**\ * *The MERSA virus, **which is resistant to antibiotics,** poses a serious public health risk.\ → **The antibiotic-resistant** MERSA virus poses a serious public health risk.\ * ***One of the most important indications** of the sensorimotor period is the development of object permanence.\ → The development of object permanence is **a key indicator** of the sensorimotor period.* **Rule 6 : Be on the lookout for sentences that start with \"this,\" \"these,\" or \"that,\" as these types of sentences can usually be combined with other clauses.** ====================================================================================================================================================================== *The couch and the table belong to my roommate. **These** will not be sold in the garage sale.\ → The couch and the table belong to my roommate **and** will not be sold in the garage sale. OR\ → **My roommate's couch and table** will not be sold in the garage sale.* **Rule 7 : Rewrite sentences beginning with "there are," "it is," and similar expressions which refer to nothing in particular.** ================================================================================================================================= ***There are** many factors contributing to the obesity epidemic.\ → **Many factors** contribute to the obesity epidemic.* ***It is** unknown whether the vaccine will be effective.\ → **The vaccine's effectiveness** is unknown.* ***Exercise 1*** Cut the clutter! Try to eliminate redundant statements and useless phrases from the sentences. *1. He found his neighbour who lived next door to be attractive in appearance.\...........................................................................................................................* *2. He was really late to his English class due to the fact that he had to finish his macroeconomics exam.\...........................................................................................................................\...........................................................................................................................* *3. In this report I will conduct a study of current trends of business.\...........................................................................................................................\ 4. In this modern world of today, we must necessarily project ahead in planning for the future.\...........................................................................................................................* *5. There are four employees who have filed grievances.\...........................................................................................................................\ 6. A temporary dip in the stock market, it seems to me, does not mean we are heading into a recession.\...........................................................................................................................\...........................................................................................................................\ 7. For all intents and purposes, American industrial productivity generally depends on certain factors that are really more psychological in kind than of any given technological aspect.\...........................................................................................................................\...........................................................................................................................\ 8. In the event that enough people protest, the policy will probably be revoked.\...........................................................................................................................\...........................................................................................................................\ 9. As far as I am concerned, there is no need for governmental intervention in the economy.* *...........................................................................................................................* ***Key:*** *1. He found his neighbour attractive.* *2. He was late for English because he had to finish his macroeconomics exam.* *3. This report studies current business trends.\ 4. In today's world, we must plan for the future.* *5. Four employees have filed grievances.\ 6. A temporary dip in the stock market does not mean we are heading into approaching a recession.\ 7. American industrial productivity depends more on psychological than on technological factors.\ 8.* If enough people protest, the policy will probably be revoked.\ 9. *Governmental intervention in the economy is not needed.*