Conciseness






Joseph Williams' 5 Principles of Economy

1. Delete words that mean little or nothing
2. Delete words that repeat other words
3. Delete words whose meaning your reader can infer from other words
4. Replace wordy phrases with a single word
5. Change unnecessary negatives to positive (but we're going to skip this one)


1. Delete words that mean little or nothing

Kind of Really Basically Practically
Actually Virtually Generally Certain
Particular Individual Given Various
Wordy Example: Productivity actually depends on certain factors that basically involve psychology more than any particular technology.
Unwordy Example: Productivity depends more on psychology than on technology.


2. Delete words that repeat other words

Full and complete True and accurate Hopes and desires
Hope and trust Each and every First and foremost
Any and all Basic and fundamental Various and sundry
Not a hard and fast rule, but whenever using a pair of adjectives, consider carefully whether your readers really need both—or whether it's simply your preference. Then delete the extra adjective anyway.


3. Delete words whose meaning your
reader can infer from other words

In many cases, the meaning of the main word implies the modifier:
Completely finish Past history Each individual
Basic fundamentals True facts Important essentials
Future plans Sudden crisis Consensus of opinion
Personal beliefs Terrible tragedy End result
Final outcome Free gift Initial preparation
Wordy Example: 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 the most.
Unwordy example: Do not try to anticipate revolutionary events because history shows that the outcome of seemingly minor events surprises us most.


4. Replace wordy phrases with a single word

Here, too, no hard and fast rule can cover all situations, but this table lists a number of fairly common wordy phrases and their more concise one- or two-word substitutes:
The reason for
For the reason that
Due to the fact that
Owing to the fact that
In light of the fact that
Considering the fact that
On the grounds that
 Because, since, why
Despite the fact that
Regardless of the fact that
Notwithstanding the fact that
 Although, even though
In the event that
If it should transpire/happen that
Under circumstances in which
 If
On the occasion of
In a situation in which
Under circumstances in which
 When
As regards
In reference to
With regard to
Concerning the matter of
Where (X) is concerned
 About
It is crucial that
It is necessary that
There is a need/necessity for
It is important that
It is incumbent upon
Cannot be avoided
 Must, should
Is able to
Is in a position to
Has the opportunity to
Has the capacity for
Has the ability to
 Can
It is possible that
There is a chance that
It could happen that
The possibility exists for
 May, might, can, could
Prior to
In anticipation of
Subsequent to
Following on
At the same time as
Simultaneously with
 Before, when, as, after






Exercises

Eliminate unnecessary or redundant verbiage that tends to increase the prolixity and bombast of the following textual expressions.

1. It is difficult to explain the reason for the delay in the completion of the investigation.
2. In light of the fact that no profits were reported for years, the stock values remained largely unchanged.
3. Despite the fact that the results were checked, errors crept into the findings.
4. In the event that the materials arrive after the scheduled date, contact the shipping department immediately.
5. Under circumstances in which a class is over-enrolled, instructors may request that the class be reopened.
6. I should like to say a few words concerning the matter of money.
7. There is a need for more careful inspection of all chicken beaks.
8. It is important that the proposed highway not displace significant amounts of residents.
9. We are in a position to make you a firm offer.
10. It is possible that nothing will come of these lessons.