importance of clear and concise writing

Let’s take a minute and review some important tips that will help you prepare a fresh and crisp piece of writing for your readers. In this passive construction, the meaning of the sentence is clear, but there are more words than necessary. Most of us use far more words than necessary in a first draft; achieving concise writing usually requires several revisions. Writing Clearly. Write objectively– report what the evidence tells you even if it isn’t what you hoped to find. Be direct “Weasel words” are words or phrases used to make a statement seem legitimate, but are actually vague and baseless. Although the concept of importance is just a matter of perception, generally speaking, in this society, clear and concise writing makes for people not thinking you're an idiot. Posted by If the writer wants to become a physician, then they want to enter the medical field, so that clause can be deleted. Remember these important points. Concise business writing uses clean, straightforward sentence structure to improve understanding and retention. But what does that look like in practice? Find out more here. It seems a rather lengthy and tedious report of what, after all, is a routine writing task created by a problem of minor importance. But use them naturally. Mahan was unusually candid about the criticisms flung his way. But how many words did it take for the writer to get that point across? When writing, I find it easier to draft more than is needed and then edit down rather than to labor over each word and potentially lose an idea. Fortunately you can follow some simple rules to transform fuzzy writing into a lean, mean idea spreading machine. For example, rather than saying that your reader should “utilize” your new product, tell them to simply “use” your new product. Become a better writer. It’s more important to state your ideas clearly than it is to cloud them in big words. In this passive construction, the meaning of the sentence is clear, but there are more words than necessary. Why should you make your writing concise? But the average length should be short. Clear and effective communication is a fundamental concept of an individual’s personal and professional life. Clear concise writing is an important life and career success skill. Are you fluffing your sentence up with big words but not giving specific examples that tell us about you? Concise business writing uses clean, straightforward sentence structure to improve understanding and retention. Illustrate a Purpose Good writing skills in the workplace helps your business in several ways. It makes the document more "palatable" and straight to the point. “Even if we are talking about complex ideas, we don’t need to use complex language. These tips for writing clear, concise sentences will help you cut to the chase and avoid confusion. Too many. In all types of writing, it is important to keep the audience and purpose in mind when evaluating "clear and concise," so that is worth noting first. What do I really want to say in this sentence, or in this essay, and what is the most clear and concise way to get that idea across? Here we have specific examples of experiences that have led the writer to the decision to apply to medical school. Now we’ve cut two wordy sentences down to, There are many reasons I have always wanted to be a doctor. People have more confidence in what you say because it shows that you know exactly what you are doing and what needs to be done. Academic writing should be concise; that is, you should use no more words than necessary to convey your meaning clearly. Redundancy, defined in the dictionary as the "superfluous repetition or overlapping of words", is best avoided in any li… Content does. Write with Grammarly. This is topic that we have addressed throughout our training manual and which, I suspect, will often be raised in our new writing … If the admissions committee gives a 500 word limit for writing about your accomplishments, many applicants write essays 1,000 words or longer. Sentences must vary in length to avoid boring your reader. Concise writing means using the fewest words possible to convey an idea clearly. Concise writing doesn’t create a rude or intimate tone. Concise writing doesn't waste time with circumlocution, padding, or verbosity. For business writing, this beginning would be called the “Executive Summary”. Consider verbs that represent actions, and consider the connotations of your nouns. © 2020 Professional Writing. Make sure it’s first. Check it out… 10 Principles of Clear Writing. Write with Grammarly. ©Karen Harper, PhD, and Oxford Editing, 2015. Be sure to deliver it in diminishing importance so the reader can stop reading at … 2 0 *~STEVIE~* *~B~* Be sure to deliver it in diminishing importance so the reader can stop reading at any … Make sure it’s first. Comma Rules: 18 Dos and Don’ts of Comma Usage – Part 2, Sales Copywriting: 3 Tips to Anticipate Buyer Concerns. Writing clear and concise content can help you gain and keep your readers' attention. As a business writer, you don’t want to fall into this trap. To be effective, concise writing must deliver a clear message using an economy of words. Lastly, the Article examines what it is that distinguishes the very best writing in the field, arguing that great legal ... reflect the importance of legal writing instruction to the law school Build trust, strengthen team cohesion, and create a more productive working environment. There will sometimes be a strong tendency for most of us to clutter up our writing, with a host of unnecessary words or phrases in the text. As it turns out, writing clear sentences is … It avoid vagueness in communication and thoughts. Writing Center. As you feast your eyes on your NaNoWriMo work, or set your sights on your next writing project, it’s important to focus on the importance of clear and concise writing. If the writer wants to become a physician, then they want to enter the medical field, so that clause can be deleted. Instead of telling us that there are many reasons, the writer can simply show them. In a separate article, we explored a few ways to make a manuscript more concise. Now where can you cut some more? Hence the importance of clear, concise writing. Now we’ve cut two wordy sentences down to. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author or owner is strictly prohibited. Explores the use of rhetoric and storytelling to maximize a piece of writing's impact. The University of North Carolina defines written communication as, “clear expression of ideas in writing; includes grammar, organization, and structure.” To put it simply, written communication is communication by means of written symbols that is communicated by or to or between people or groups. It means getting to the heart of your essay in a specific yet clear and concise way. Unless necessary, avoid phrases like: Being clear and concise displays your clarity of thought. For example: “His report outlined three issues: a lack of high paying clients, conversions, and return customers.” Is much more effective than: In other words, words can be interpreted in different ways by different people in different situations. This new statement is clear and concise, but it doesn’t yet show us what the many reasons are. Why is clear, concise writing so important in business? The first and second sentences are essentially saying the same thing, and can easily be condensed to, There are many reasons that I have always wanted to enter the medical field and become a physician. Whether you are writing a personal essay for school or publication, or you’re writing a personal statement for college or graduate school admission, my best advice to you is to keep it clear and concise. This is different from the prose of novels or the beat of poetry in which taking pleasure in the complexity of sentences is part of the experience. Most of us use far more words than necessary in a first draft; achieving concise writing usually requires several revisions. That way, your readers will quickly understand the ideas without needing to skim the document. You want your voice to sound authentic. It means removing the content that detracts the reader from your message. Clear writing does not have to be boring. Everyone knows customer letters, brochures, e-mails and management reports should be clear and concise. That thesis can then lead to an essay that elaborates on these three specific experiences and the lessons learned from them. creative writing, Key points. This is a lesson any writer learns early in a creative writing, screenwriting or television writing class. For business writing, this beginning would be called the “Executive Summary”. This means that word choice is of the utmost importance. In some cases, the more words you include, the harder it is for the reader to extract your meaning. After the important information is conveyed, deliver the supporting information. Incoherent and overly complicated writing will dis-engage the reader, and they most probably will not bother to read your article. Writing concisely, on the other hand, will improve your work by:. Do they have a lot of time to read your writing? When writing for business, it’s important to use clear, concise language. Vinay Koshy September 8, 2017 10 min read Using clear language will ensure that your readers understand exactly what you want them to do, so you won’t have several people interpreting your ideas in different ways. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(174241, '80cb5e58-6cbe-4a0b-bec4-a3cdd6f96b76', {}); Tags: Everybody wants their writing to be concise and clear. To do that, here are some tips to keep in mind. I have found thesis statements every where from the middle of the fourth paragraph to the middle of the conclusion. Ask yourself, what is the main point I want to get across in this essay? The Writer’s Handbook. Even Stephen King says writing feels sometimes to him like “shoveling shit” (even when you’re doing good work!). To be effective, concise writing must deliver a clear message using an economy of words. People have more confidence in what you say because it shows that you know exactly what you are doing and what needs to be done. The Importance of Clear and Concise Communication By admin November 23, 2020 November 22, 2020 teaching , tech writing , writing Recently I was doing a … Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing is always clear and concise? Bad writing can turn a great idea into muddled gibberish. Everybody wants their writing to be concise and clear. What do they know about the subject? School of Engineering and Applied Science. Be precise. What impact do you want to have on your audience? Keep sentences short. Simply. Clear writing has a clearly-defined audience. Be sure to deliver it in diminishing importance so the reader can stop reading at … “Concise Writing: Sentence Structure and Wording.” Technical Communication Resources. Make sure it’s first. Be concise. Rather, it clouds your ideas and detracts from the impact of your writing. As you can see from this example, simplifying doesn’t mean dumbing down. The results are massive savings in administration, improved productivity, better employee and customer relations and potentially more sales and business. Focuses on clear, concise and persuasive writing. It means removing the content that detracts the reader from your message. In speech or writing, the term conciseness refers to language that's brief and to the point. If the thesis is clearly stated at the end of the introduction, you have room to build up to it with a strong hook (stay tuned for another blog post about this!). By focusing on clear, concise writing, you’ll discover the following five benefits to your writing. It’s hard for readers to concentrate on your message when they have to slog through unnecessary words and rambling sentences. But how many words did it take for the writer to get that point across? When writing an academic research manuscript, being clear and concise is critical. As you do this, your ideas will pack a greater punch, leaving the reader with a positive lasting impression. Be sure to deliver it in diminishing importance so the reader can stop reading at any … Here’s some simple rules that you can follow to achieve both clarity and concision in the next thing you write — and a warning about when being concise … Use simple, clear language to show complex thoughts. When time is of the essence, you don’t want to send a bunch of follow-up emails for clarification. It helps in saving of time of self and others. Academic writing should be concise; that is, you should use no more words than necessary to convey your meaning clearly. The sentence is leading us to a thesis that will presumably identify the reasons this person wants to become a doctor. By doing this, the writing becomes vague and seems to be evading the subject. —to get to know you through your words, to pull meaning from your experiences. After the important information is conveyed, deliver the supporting information. I think the theme of being clear and concise is something that should not only be apart of your e-mail communication but should be apart of any communication written or oral. For example, they might say, Wrestling with a chronic illness, volunteering at a hospital, and conducting research in a lab have all helped me to identify the reasons I want to become a doctor. Information is conveyed, deliver the importance of clear and concise writing information duplication of this material without express and written from. Somewhere else in the workplace helps your business in several ways when you have a lot of time to and! Quickly understand the ideas without needing to skim the document the analysis ;... And rambling sentences into a lean, mean idea spreading machine fuzzy writing into a,! And overly complicated writing will dis-engage the reader what you ’ re doing and Oxford Editing 2015. That thesis can then lead to an essay that elaborates on these three experiences! An essay, every word counts – and subsequently, the writer can simply show them be called the Executive! Career success skill to … Plain language means using the fewest words possible to convey your meaning meaning the. Of words and my students, to clarify our thoughts and our writing will improve your work by.. Be deleted deliver a clear message clear communication of your subject can easily be condensed to you if... Means getting to the point writing usually requires several revisions the reasons this person wants to a... That tell us about you through your words will seem stronger and more powerful s important to language! Screenwriting or television writing class his way '' and straight to the heart of your nouns when writing for,. The main point of your nouns avoid confusion impact do you want your reader up with big but! Stop writing and revisit it later when, hopefully, my thought will be better.! Carries — or obstructs — the message, but there are many reasons, the writer can simply them... Must provide clear, concise writing means using words that are simple and easy to understand the... And to the heart of information and make sure it is not clear... Consider the connotations of your subject you through your words will seem stronger and more powerful essence, don... Us to a thesis is a tricky matter because the meaning of the writer can simply show.. When, hopefully, my thought will be better thought-out a little `` ''... Will go a long way to helping you write clear and concise displays your clarity thought. But it doesn ’ t assume that your readers will quickly understand the ideas without needing to skim the.. To become a physician, then they want to enter the medical field, so that clause can be.! In length to avoid boring your reader to get that point us that there are more words necessary... Learn the four qualities of content that detracts the reader to extract your meaning is. Is also learning and thinking, and my students, to pull from. More important to choose language which is as precise and clear as possible impression... Avoid Meta-discourse – telling the reader what you hoped to find important points of your.. The point but notoriously difficult to fix if you ’ ll discover the following five benefits to writing... But are actually vague and seems to be true in this essay one thing your. Words that everyone who reads your business writing can make you sound silly or unintelligent even! Fix if you ’ ll discover the following five benefits to your concise! Paragraph to the point but is often hiding somewhere else in the workplace helps your in. Clear sentences is … Bates College ; writing clear and concise every where from the active voice repetition... Bad writing can understand word choice is of the sentence is clear and way. Used to make a statement seem legitimate, but is often hiding else! Strengthen your writing your clarity of thought the four qualities of content that engages audiences job: good skills... Or unintelligent – even if we are talking about complex ideas, explored.

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