Brevity: Difference between revisions

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[[Blog_Writing_for_College_Students|Home]]

~~'''~~Brevity~~'''~~ is essential for all writing. It forces the writer to be more intentional with their words and keeps readers from having to read through chunks of unneeded text~~. '''Brevity''' according to [<a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/brevity">brevity</a>Webster]] "is the quality of being brief: such as the use of few words to say something"~~.

[[File:developingbrief.jpg|thumb|upright=2| Brevity relies on focusing your thoughts.]]

As one of the [[Foundational_Writing_Skills#Brief_and_Concise|foundational writing skills]], Brevity is essential for all writing. It forces the writer to be more intentional with their words and keeps readers from having to read through chunks of unneeded text.

=== Writing for Brevity ===

When writing for brevity ~~and avoiding~~ "humbug and general vagueness" ~~Orwell suggests that you do the following:~~<ref>Carroll, 14</ref>

When writing for brevity, try to avoid "humbug and general vagueness"<ref>Carroll, 14</ref>. Orwell suggests that you do the following:

# Never use a long word where a short one will do.

# If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

# Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

# Never use a foreign phrase, scientific word or jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

Writers should always be brief, precise, and direct. When writing a word it should mean exactly what it intends, no more and no less. Always use the precise word that your writing requires. When writing for digital media, have a dictionary and thesaurus close at hand <ref>Carroll, 8</ref>.

Writers should always be brief, precise and direct. When writing a word it should mean exactly what it says it means, no more and no less. Always use the precise word that your writing requires. A dictionary and thesaurus should always be close especially when writing for digital media<ref>Carroll, 8</~~ref~~>.

== Notes==

==References==

#Carrol, Brian. (2010). ~~''"~~[http://~~www.scribd~~.com/~~doc/64429015~~/~~Writing~~-~~for~~-~~Digital-Media~~ Writing for Digital Media]"''. New York: Routledge. Retrieved 28 March 2013.

#Carrol, Brian. (2010).[http://bookmoving.com/book/writing-digital-media_3430.html ''Writing for Digital Media'']. New York: Routledge. Retrieved 28 March 2013.

==See Also==

*[[Foundational Writing Skills|Foundational Writing Skills]]

*[[Scan-ability|Scan-ability]]

*[[Inverted Pyramid|Inverted Pyramid]]

*[[Proofreading|Proofreading]]

[[Category:New Media]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[Blog_Writing_for_College_Students|Home]]
-'''Brevity''' is essential for all writing. It forces the writer to be more intentional with their words and keeps readers from having to read through chunks of unneeded text. '''Brevity''' according to [<a href="http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/brevity">brevity</a>Webster]] "is the quality of being brief: such as the use of few words to say something".
+[[File:developingbrief.jpg|thumb|upright=2| Brevity relies on focusing your thoughts.]]
+As one of the [[Foundational_Writing_Skills#Brief_and_Concise|foundational writing skills]], Brevity is essential for all writing. It forces the writer to be more intentional with their words and keeps readers from having to read through chunks of unneeded text.
 === Writing for Brevity ===
-When writing for brevity and avoiding "humbug and general vagueness" Orwell suggests that you do the following:<ref>Carroll, 14</ref>
+When writing for brevity, try to avoid "humbug and general vagueness"<ref>Carroll, 14</ref>. Orwell suggests that you do the following:
 # Never use a long word where a short one will do.
 # If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
-# Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
+# Never use a foreign phrase, scientific word or jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
+Writers should always be brief, precise, and direct. When writing a word it should mean exactly what it intends, no more and no less. Always use the precise word that your writing requires. When writing for digital media, have a dictionary and thesaurus close at hand <ref>Carroll, 8</ref>.
-Writers should always be brief, precise and direct. When writing a word it should mean exactly what it says it means, no more and no less. Always use the precise word that your writing requires. A dictionary and thesaurus should always be close especially when writing for digital media<ref>Carroll, 8</ref>.
+== Notes==
+<references/>
 ==References==
-#Carrol, Brian. (2010). ''"[http://www.scribd.com/doc/64429015/Writing-for-Digital-Media Writing for Digital Media]"''. New York: Routledge. Retrieved  28 March 2013.
+#Carrol, Brian. (2010).[http://bookmoving.com/book/writing-digital-media_3430.html ''Writing for Digital Media'']. New York: Routledge. Retrieved  28 March 2013.
+==See Also==
+*[[Foundational Writing Skills|Foundational Writing Skills]]
+*[[Scan-ability|Scan-ability]]
+*[[Inverted Pyramid|Inverted Pyramid]]
+*[[Proofreading|Proofreading]]
+[[Category:New Media]]