What is “wordiness”?: Difference between revisions

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Many students fail research papers because of wordiness. '''Wordiness''' is the use unnecessary words that make a sentence or paragraph confusing or too long. A common mistake is to use big words. Students will try to use big words to sound smart and impress their teachers. Sometimes using big words will make sentences sound ridiculous. For example :
'''Wordiness''' can refer to the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning, or using words that are open to misinterpretation. <ref>Kilborn, Judith. "LEO Strategies for Reducing Wordiness." LEO Strategies for Reducing Wordiness. The Write Place, 2000. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.</ref>It can be attributed to using long phrases and words with multiple syllables when short ones will do. It is more prevalent in student papers that have length requirements, because they may pad their writing to meet word counts.  


*'''Wordy:''' That baby is gargantuan.
==Elements of wordiness==
*'''Concise:''' That baby is huge.
There are several elements that can contribute to wordiness:<ref>Powers, Shelly. "Wordiness." Undergraduate Writing Center. The University of Texas at Austin, Mar. 2009. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.</ref>
A list of things that make a sentence awkward are provided on the website: Word Choice/Wordiness.
*'''[http://litmuse.mga.edu/litwiki/index.php/What_is_%E2%80%9Credundancy%E2%80%9D%3F Redundancy]''': Using two words that mean the same thing, or making the same point repeatedly with no purpose.
*'''misused idioms'''
**'''Example''': Mary grabbed a handful of cold snow.
*'''unclear pronouns'''
*'''Unclear pronouns''': It is unclear what object or person the pronoun belongs to.
*'''misused words'''
**'''Example''': The boy hugged his dog and he bit him.
*'''jargon'''
*'''Jargon''': Using unnecessary technical terms that confuse the reader.
*'''garbled syntax'''
**'''Example''': We have a Code 187 in the CJ.
*'''loaded language'''
*'''[http://litmuse.mga.edu/litwiki/index.php/When_is_something_%E2%80%9Cclich%C3%A9d%E2%80%9D_or_%E2%80%9Ctrite%E2%80%9D%3F Clichés]''': Overused phrases that can be replaced by single words or unique wording.
*'''Calloquialisms'''
**'''Example''': Her skin was as soft as a baby's bottom.
*'''Weak words''': The written equivalent of 'um,' words that are not necessary to the sentence.
**'''Example''': Artists sort of rely on creative skills that they are basically born with.


'''Redundancy''' is another mistake made when it comes to wordiness. A statement that is used two or more times is redundant. Words that are used right next to each other with the same meaning are redundant. Diana Hacker notes, “a sentence is wordy if its meaning can be conveyed in fewer words” (124). She gives examples of redundant phrases such as “ ''close proximity''” and “''true fact''” (125). These words have similar meanings and can be reduced to one word. Diana also emphasizes the point to “look for any opportunities to reduce clauses and phrases to single words” (127). Her example is,
==Conciseness==
Being concise helps make writing less wordy. Diana Hacker notes, “a sentence is wordy if its meaning can be conveyed in fewer words” (124). <ref>Hacker, Diana. <u>A Writer's Reference.</u> 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin's, 2003</ref>She gives examples of redundant phrases such as “close proximity” and “true fact” (125). These words have similar meanings and can be reduced to one word. Diana also emphasizes the point to “look for any opportunities to reduce clauses and phrases to single words” (127). Pamela Arlov states that "wordiness sometimes happens when writers do not take the time to be concise" (428).<ref>Arlov, Pamela. Wordsmith: <u>A Guide to College Writing.</u> 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2004.</ref>
*'''Wordy:''' Mark's small car, a Honda Fit, was good for road trips.
*'''Concise:''' Mark's Honda Fit was good for road trips.


*'''Wordy:''' "Susan's stylish pants, made of leather, were too warm for Miami.
==External Links==
*'''Concise:''' Susan's stylish leather pants were too warm for Miami" (Hacker 127).
[http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/word-choice/ Word Choice] : Tips for choosing the right words.
Pamela Arlov states that "wordiness sometimes happens when writers do not take the time to be concise" (428). She also gives an example of this.


*'''Wordy:''' "The fact is that, fact, like opinions, can usually be stated without preamble
[http://www2.gsu.edu/~accerl/wordiness/WO.html Wordiness] : Examples of commonly used phrases and words that can be shortened.
*'''Concise:''' Fact, like opinions, can usually be stated without preamble" (Arlov 428).
 
Eliminating big words and redundant words will make getting an "A" on a paper easy.


== Work Cited ==
== Work Cited ==
 
<references/>
Arlov, Pamela. Wordsmith: <u>A Guide to College Writing.</u> 2nd ed.
    Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2004
 
Hacker, Diana. <u>A Writer's Reference.</u> 5th ed. Boston:
    Bedford/St.Martin's, 2003
 
"Word Choice/Wordiness" <u>Handouts and Links.</u> 2002. 02 Mar 2005
    <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/word_choice.html/>

Latest revision as of 09:26, 6 December 2013

Wordiness can refer to the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning, or using words that are open to misinterpretation. [1]It can be attributed to using long phrases and words with multiple syllables when short ones will do. It is more prevalent in student papers that have length requirements, because they may pad their writing to meet word counts.

Elements of wordiness

There are several elements that can contribute to wordiness:[2]

  • Redundancy: Using two words that mean the same thing, or making the same point repeatedly with no purpose.
    • Example: Mary grabbed a handful of cold snow.
  • Unclear pronouns: It is unclear what object or person the pronoun belongs to.
    • Example: The boy hugged his dog and he bit him.
  • Jargon: Using unnecessary technical terms that confuse the reader.
    • Example: We have a Code 187 in the CJ.
  • Clichés: Overused phrases that can be replaced by single words or unique wording.
    • Example: Her skin was as soft as a baby's bottom.
  • Weak words: The written equivalent of 'um,' words that are not necessary to the sentence.
    • Example: Artists sort of rely on creative skills that they are basically born with.

Conciseness

Being concise helps make writing less wordy. Diana Hacker notes, “a sentence is wordy if its meaning can be conveyed in fewer words” (124). [3]She gives examples of redundant phrases such as “close proximity” and “true fact” (125). These words have similar meanings and can be reduced to one word. Diana also emphasizes the point to “look for any opportunities to reduce clauses and phrases to single words” (127). Pamela Arlov states that "wordiness sometimes happens when writers do not take the time to be concise" (428).[4]

  • Wordy: Mark's small car, a Honda Fit, was good for road trips.
  • Concise: Mark's Honda Fit was good for road trips.

External Links

Word Choice : Tips for choosing the right words.

Wordiness : Examples of commonly used phrases and words that can be shortened.

Work Cited

  1. ↑ Kilborn, Judith. "LEO Strategies for Reducing Wordiness." LEO Strategies for Reducing Wordiness. The Write Place, 2000. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
  2. ↑ Powers, Shelly. "Wordiness." Undergraduate Writing Center. The University of Texas at Austin, Mar. 2009. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
  3. ↑ Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin's, 2003
  4. ↑ Arlov, Pamela. Wordsmith: A Guide to College Writing. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2004.
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