Brevity: Difference between revisions
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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 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 === | === Writing for Brevity === | ||
When writing for brevity, try to avoid "humbug and general vagueness" | 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. | # Never use a long word where a short one will do. | ||
# If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. | # If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. | ||
# Never use a foreign phrase, | # 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 | 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>. | ||
== Notes== | == Notes== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 02:43, 3 May 2013
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, try to avoid "humbug and general vagueness"[1]. 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, 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 [2].
Notes
References
- Carrol, Brian. (2010).Writing for Digital Media. New York: Routledge. Retrieved 28 March 2013.