Editing Wordiness
Writing for the Web
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Contents
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Replace text with visuals or links
Check modifiers
Check sentence openings
Check the number of prepositions
Look at verbs
Look for redundancy
Look for unnecessary words
Resources
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Replace text with visuals
or links
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Use visual techniques
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Use graphics to replace text.
Use tables to summarize information.
Layer information.
Link to nice-to-know and background
information.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Example: diagrams, short
paragraphs, lists
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Example: table to condense info
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Tables: before and after
Before
Revised
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Example: Layering information
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Check your modifiers
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid strings of noun modifiers
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This page introduces the beginner to the
World Wide Web (WWW), the Internet’s
distributed hypermedia information
system.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid meaningless modifiers
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kind of
sort of
basically
for all intents and
purposes
definitely
actually
generally
somewhat
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a lot of
very
really
usually
quite
a bit
as a rule
mainly
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid intensifying words and
vague adjectives
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Examples: very, really, usually, quite, a bit, as
a rule, mainly, many, somewhat, well,
actually
GIFs are very common and very popular.
There are many, many marketing
considerations that need to be addressed
when designing a web site.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid strings of adjectives
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Examples: adjectives used with the following:
up, down, over, together, out, of, etc.
Don’t put structural markup inside of
anchors. (inside)
If your business does have a computer, the
Internet could be hooked up to your system
in one day. (connected)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Check sentence openings
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid beginning a sentence with
there is and it is
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There are many important features that must
be considered when creating a business Web
site.
You must consider several important features
… or Consider…
It is our objective to combine all of these skills
together to make the best-rounded web site
design team on the web!
Our objective is to…
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid that, who, and which
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There are many editors that you can
use that will assist with creating the
HTML tags.
Many HTML editors are available…
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Begin sentences with the
important words
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The reason the Internet has grown so fast is
because it is based on the free exchange of
information.
The Internet has grown…
What you’re doing when you view a web
page is telling your browser to fetch a
document and display it.
When you view a Web page…
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Check the number of
prepositions in a sentence
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid overusing prepositions
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The most important part of the functionality of the
site is meeting the marketing goals of the site.
A site’s most important function…
The main area in which we work at ___ is in the
Web page design field.
Our focus is Web page design.
The descriptions used on all Web pages on this
Web site are representations of the products or
services supplied by the distributors or vendors
when available.
This site’s Web pages accurately describe…
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid unnecessary prepositions
with verbs
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I have separated out different
attributes that can be applied to the
same tag onto separate lines.
(separated)
If you already have Shockwave
installed, continue on.
(continue)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Look at your verbs
Are they “strong”?
Are they short?
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid weak linking verbs (am,
are, been, being, is, was, were)
Use one strong action verb.
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You will want to test your Web pages
with several different browsers to see
what effects will take place.
Test your…
One way to make your Web site easier
to use is to do testing with users.
Test your Web site…
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid verbs with “to”
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You will need to download and install the
plug-in.
Download and install…
HTML documents have to be posted on
a server.
(must be posted…)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid weak verbs
(smothered verbs)
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have sufficient knowledge
make a distinction
furnish an explanation
read a conclusion
realize an improvement
were able to develop
held a meeting
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know
distinguish
explain
conclude
improve
developed
met
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid verbs converted to nouns
(stretched-out verbs)
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Take into consideration the cost of maintaining
WWW data.
(Consider…)
Can the verification of links be carried out regularly?
(Can you verify…)
We offer a full array of services, from custom Web
page design and development, to the hosting,
maintenance, and marketing/promoting of your Web
site.
(hosting, maintaining, marketing, promoting)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Look for redundancy
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid redundant adjectives,
adverbs, conjunctions, & phrases
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The HTML spec recommends that headers
be used in sequential order.
(sequentially)
This revolutionary new product lets you add
audio to your Web site.
(revolutionary)
Internet is essentially a whole bunch of
computers connected together by wires.
(many, connected)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid redundant phrases
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actual fact
advance warning
at a cost of ____
at a distance of
at a time when
arise up
basic fundamentals
cease and desist
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circle around
close proximity
completely correct
conclusive proof
connect up
cooperate together
couple together
descend down
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid phrases that repeat the
meaning of a word
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The Writer’s Guideline Listing is a
service provided free of charge to the
Internet community. (free)
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If your graphics are too large in size,
they can take forever to load. (large)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid phrases that
unnecessarily define the noun
(such as city of, in color)
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The main title of the original page is in a
light green color that does not stand
out well. (page is light green. . .)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Look for unnecessary
words
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Use active voice
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Frames can be used to keep footers and/or
headers visible at all times.
Use frames. . .
The URL must be entered accurately to
locate a site.
Enter a. . .
All graphics you see were created by me.
I created. . .
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid wordy phrases
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absolutely essential
accompanied by
a large number of
all of
a majority/minimum
of
as a consequence
as a matter of fact
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a small number of
because of the fact
that
by way of illustration
can be no doubt that
concerning the
matter of
consider favorably
convert over to
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid wordy phrases
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For the most part, images do enhance and
add to a site when properly used. (usually)
In the near future, the bulk of this site will
have this user-friendly, easy-to-navigate
design. (soon)
In order to have a popular site, you’ve got to
offer something to the user. (To)
The main reason is that all graphical
browsers support this format. (because)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid a noun followed by a
phrase that defines it--use
adjectives
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The following is a list of places on the Web that will
assist you in creating Web pages. (Web sites)
Here is a list of Web site services which are free.
(free Web site services)
This is a comprehensive list of mailing lists that is
searchable. (searchable list)
These types of graphics can be of a simple nature.
(simple)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid unnecessary transitions
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Well, there is finally a solution to this
age-old problem of Netscape browser
offsets. Actually, there are two
solutions.
What this means is that you will be
judged by your Web site.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid is when, is where, is how,
is what
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Inside these two tags is where you will
put the contents of your Web page. (You
will put. . . inside. . .)
A browser is what you’re viewing this
page with. (You are viewing this page
with a browser)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid clichés
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I have seen bits and pieces of
information about HTML tips and tricks.
I have compiled some of my favorite
tutorials and added my .02 cents worth. I
like them all for different reasons; see if
you can figure out why as you go.
They aren’t all cut and dry.
The use of color can make or break a
Web page.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid phrases that are clues of
wordiness
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It should go without saying that there are
a wide variety of resources for writers
online, both on online services and
(particularly) on the Web.
What I mean is that if you just read the
text, you shouldn’t notice the link unless
it was underlined.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid unnecessary references
to yourself or the reader
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In my opinion, the best two HTML editors are
HotDog Pro and Microsoft FrontPage.
The only problem here is that it’s simply invalid
HTML and some browsers will terminate it for
you, giving the end user the undesired result of
loosing some of the markup that you, the
author, intended.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Combine short, related
sentences to avoid repetition
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Index-style sites organize information in
some kind of structure. The structure is
designed by a human being.
(manmade structure)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Avoid unnecessary repetition
Use it sparingly for emphasis
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Did I mention that GIF images are limited to 256
colors? Okay, GIF images are currently limited to
256 colors.
You have a consultation with a Web site design
specialist to over the goals of the Web site, the
content of the Web site, ideas and concepts
associated with the Web site, and the overall
look of the Web site.
In order for your school’s site to be effective in
communicating its messages, it must be easy to
find, easy to read and easy to navigate.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Use lists and lead-ins to cut
words
Using Adobe Acrobat:
 You can create PDF files.
 You can modify existing PDF files.
 You can add hyperlinks, bookmarks, etc.
Using Adobe Acrobat, you can
 Create PDF files.
 Modify existing PDF files.
 Add hyperlinks, bookmarks, etc.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Resources
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See Useful Lists in the Appendix
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e