Paramedic Method: Revising for Conciseness
Effective writers understand the need for clear, concise prose. One way to help writers
achieve audience-centered, persuasive, and clear prose is know as the Paramedic
Method. Writers use this method to you reduce word count by eliminating unnecessary
words while getting rid of passive voice and redundancies.
Follow the seven steps below to improve the readability of your sentences.
The Paramedic Method
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Circle the prepositions (of, in, about, for, onto, into)
Draw a box around the "is" verb forms
Ask, "Where's the action?"
Change the "action" into a simple verb
Move the doer into the subject (Who's kicking whom)
Eliminate any unnecessary slow wind-ups
7.
Eliminate any redundancies.
*Adapted from the OWL at Purdue