Writing concise sentences

Concise sentences

Redundancy and Redundancy– 12 p.m. noon, end result, advance planning, true

facts, successful achievements

Cut out useless introductory phrases– With reference to your question, I think we should

go on Thursday.– It seems unnecessary to point out that it is now

raining.

Concise sentences

Reduce clauses to phrases– The University of Arkansas, which was founded in 1871, is

the state’s flagship campus. – Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is the state’s

flagship campus.

Reduce phrases to single words– Citizens who knew what was going on voted him out of

office. – Knowledgeable citizens voted him out of office.

Concise sentences

Circumlocution or “talking around”– in (the) possession of has, have– ahead of schedule early– give rise to cause– during the time that while– in the event that if– in this day and age today– the reason why is that because– this is a topic that this topic

Concise sentence exercise

Avoid expletive constructions– It is to be expected that politicians are wordy.

Politicians are expected to be wordy.

– There are some writers who cannot help being wordy. Some writers cannot help being wordy.

Eliminate Clichés – Dog-eat-dog world (competitive)– busy as a bee (busy)

Concise sentences

Avoid using ‘that’ when possible– Here’s the shirt (that) I just bought.– I believe (that) I will learn a lot in this class.– We thought (that) the game started at 2 p.m.– Grammar is one subject (that) I need to study.