9. "Above all, there is, of course,
absolutely no need indeed to decorate
your sentence with words and phrases
of emphasis if, without them, the
sentence undeniably is indeed equally
capable of stressing your point."
10. Why is concise better than wordy?
• Fewer words, stronger expression
• Easier to understand and read, thus,
more persuasive and more user-
centered
11.
12. Note: Concision does not necessarily
equate to short. A long
sentence can, in fact, be more
concise than a short sentence.
The key is word necessity. If
every word in the sentence adds
to its meaning, then the
sentence is concise.
13. "Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence
should contain no unnecessary words, a
paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for
the same reason that a drawing should
have no unnecessary lines and a machine
no unnecessary parts. This requires not
that the writer make all his sentences
short, or that he avoid all details and treat
his subjects only in outline, but that every
word tell.“
- William Strunk, Jr. in Elements of Style
16. "I didn't have time to write a short letter,
so I wrote a long one instead."
17. (Business letter extracts)
Message 1 (50 words): With reference to
your request for an extension on your note
under the date March 20, we have
considered the matter carefully and are
pleased to be able to tell you that we will be
willing to allow you an additional 90 days
to make payment on your note.
Message 2 (18 words): We can allow you
an additional 90 days to pay your note. It
is now due June 20.
18. (E-mail)
Message 1: “Mary, would you like to
meet me for lunch today at noon?”
Message 2: “Mary, I am getting hungry.
I was wondering if you were hungry too.
When people are hungry, that is a sign
that they need to eat. Since we might
both be hungry, I was perhaps
wondering if you might care to join me
for a meal in the near future?”
20. Wordy
absolutely complete
cancel out
exactly identical
various differences
general public
large in size
visible to the eye
weather conditions
potentially dangerous
new development
Examples of redundancies:
Concise
complete
cancel
identical
differences, variations
public, citizens
large
visible
weather, climate
dangerous
development