Wordsworks » Write words

Do you really need all those words?

Gareth — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:57:46 +0000

This month’s writing tip is about less is more. Literally. It’s about using fewer words to communicate more clearly and effectively.

Part of that is about learning to use straightforward language and minimising jargon and bluster. But that’s for another newsletter.

A quick way to add a bit of zing to your writing is to learn to cut out unnecessary words. There are dozens of expressions, common phrases and clichés, that we all use out of habit, but which add nothing but clutter to our sentences.

For example, in the sentence:

We invested a total of £10m in the new building – a total of can be safely deleted without it changing the meaning of the sentence at all. Similarly with the sum of or the amount of.

There are dozens of phrases like this that can either be removed completely or expressed more concisely.

Here’s a few more:

despite the fact that – despite
designed (or aims) to provide – provides
in spite of the fact that – although
in all probability – probably
on a monthly basis – monthly
full and final – just full (or just final)
first and foremost – first
it would be safe to say that X is… – X is…
in excess of – more than
in respect of – for
in the event of – if
prior to – before
with regard to – about
in order to – to
as and when – when
each and every – each (or every)

So the next time you find yourself automatically using one of these phrases – or many more like it - ask yourself, do you really need all those words?

Is it ‘c’ or ’s’?

Chris — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:54:39 +0000

English is renowned for its quirky, often logic-defying spelling rules. Gives it character, a mark of our mongrel heritage, we’re told. It doesn’t make it any easier to write, though.

One common area of confusion is when seemingly the same word has two spelling variations – one with a ‘c’, and one with an ’s’. Words like practice and practise, or licence and license.

The simple answer is that you should use the ’s’ version if it’s a verb, or the ‘c’ version if it’s a noun.

So verb: the solicitor plans to practise law in the City.
And noun: He hopes to build up a strong commercial property practice.

Or verb: the magistrates refused to license any more bars on the high street.
And noun: So the bar owner did not receive his new licence.

One way to remember is to think of advise and advice. Because these two are pronounced differently (the former with a ‘z’ sound, the latter a soft ‘c’ like in ice), they’re not confused as often. But they do follow he same rule – the verb form uses an ’s’…to advise your colleague…while the noun takes a ‘c’…it was useful advice.

So, if you’re using the word as a verb, like to advise, to practise or to license, it’s spelt with an ’s’. If you’re using it as a noun, like my licence, a practice, or good advice, it’s a ‘c’.

WriteWords newsletter

Gareth — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:38:02 +0000

There’s been a few changes since the last issue of Write Words. We’ve moved offices (still in Manchester, just a nicer part), and we’ve had a personnel change (goodbye Sally hello Chris . We’ve also decided to change the frequency of Write Words to once every two months, to lighten the load on your Inbox.

On the client side, plenty of exciting new projects to get stuck into. We’ve been commissioned to plan and write the content for a new departmental website at the University of London, we won a tender to plan, write and edit a quarterly magazine for the Northwest Regional Development Agency, we’re working with Celerant Consulting on writing some sector brochures, and we’re doing a monthly newsletter for Career Management Consultants.

That’s on top of the regular stuff from the likes of KPMG, Britannia and Savills, plus a whole host of smaller (but no less important projects), so plenty to keep us busy!

Three’s company

Gareth — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 10:02:21 +0000

They say three’s company (don’t they? It might be two, but for our sakes, let’s say three), and when it comes to fluid, high impact writing, three is certainly the magic number. The rule of three is simple. It says that when you’re describing something – the features of a new service or the benefits of a new product – a list of three characteristics is always the most effective.

Two isn’t quite enough, and leaves readers thinking, is that it? While four is too many, and sounds ungainly, if not desperate. Three, in contrast, is powerfully modest.

Something that’s described as innovative, cost effective and simple to use, sounds more alluring than something which is just innovative and cost effective, and less desperate than something which is innovative, cost effective, simple to use and reliable.

Three strikes the right balance of comprehensiveness, clarity and conciseness. And as a result, the sentence sounds stronger, more memorable and far more hard-hitting. (Do you see what we did there?)