(Conciseness)
I have made this letter longer than usual, only because
I have not had time to make it shorter.
--Blaise Pascal

We're all wordy. In fact, we probably picked
up wordy writing habits in school, with all
those teachers insisting we write at least three
pages. What choice do we have but to pack in
as many words as possible to meet that
mandate? The first step toward concise writing
is to recognize what constitutes wordiness.
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Kind of
Practically
Generally
Individual
Really
Actually
Certain
Given
Basically
Virtually
Particular
Various
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Productivity actually depends on certain factors
that basically involve psychology more than any
other particular technology.
Prune the meaningless modifiers, and we get
something more concise:


Productivity depends more on psychology
than on technology.
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Sometimes we double words for emphasis:
Full and complete
Hopes and desires
Each and every
Any and all
Basic and fundamental
True and accurate
Hope and trust
First and foremost
Various and sundry
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Completely finish
Free gift
Final outcome
Each individual
Consensus of opinion
Sudden crisis
Future plans
Initial preparation
Personal beliefs
Past history
Important essentials
True facts
Basic fundamentals
End result
Terrible tragedy

Replace

The reason for
For the reason that
Due to the fact that

with:

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In light of the fact that
Owing to the fact that
Considering the fact that
Because, since, or why.
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Replace
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In the event that
If it should happen/transpire that
Under circumstances which
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with:
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If.
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Replace
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As regards
In reference to
With regard to
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with:

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About.
Concerning the matter of
Where X is concerned
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Replace
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It is crucial that
It is necessary that
There is a need for

with:
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Must, should.
It is important that
It is incumbent upon
Cannot be avoided

Replace
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Is able to
Is in a position to
Has the opportunity to
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with:
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Can.
Has the capacity for
Has the ability to
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Replace
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It is possible that
It could happen that
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with:
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There is a chance that
The possibility exists that
May, might, can, could.
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Replace
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Prior to
In anticipation of
Subsequent to
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with:

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Following on
At the same time as
Simultaneously with
Before, when, as, after.
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Replace
The point I am trying to make
In a very real sense
As a matter of fact
with: Nothing. These are empty phrases.
Never use them.
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Passive:
Joe's work was not viewed favorably by
everyone.
Active:
Not everyone viewed Joe's work favorably.
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A noun can be formed from a verb by adding a
suffix: dismiss/dismissal, repent/repentance,
devote/devotion. But these constructions make
for weaker, wordy writing.
Weak: Many patients made the discovery that
communication with other patients via the Internet
was helpful in providing support to everyone.
Strong: Many patients discovered that
communicating with other patients via the Internet
helped everyone emotionally.
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Wordy:
In my personal opinion, it is necessary that we all not fail
to listen to and think over in a very careful manner each and every
suggestion that anyone offers us.
Every opinion is personal, so cut personal. And since a statement like
this is obviously opinion, cut in my opinion. It is necessary means must.
We implies all. Listen to and think over means consider. In a careful
manner means carefully, and very adds nothing. Each and every is
redundant, so we need only each. A suggestion is, by definition,
offered to someone, so neither do we need that anyone offers to us. And
since the negative not fail implies its positive, and positive language is
always more effective than negative, change the sentence to an
affirmative.
Concise:
We must consider each suggestion carefully.

A) Do not try to anticipate in advance those
events that will completely revolutionize our
society because past history shows that it is the
eventual outcome of seemingly minor events
that has unexpectedly surprised us most.

B) The holes must be aligned in an accurate
manner.
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C) Imagine a picture of someone engaged in
the process of trying to learn the rules for
playing chess.
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D) Specifying the target or consumer that you
want to reach with your product is the main
step in advertising.
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E) The educational process and athletic
activities are the responsibility of the county
government.