{"id":1662,"date":"2019-02-05T09:25:52","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T14:25:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/graduate-writing-center\/?p=1662"},"modified":"2019-02-05T07:54:02","modified_gmt":"2019-02-05T12:54:02","slug":"concise-writing-tips-and-tricks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/graduate-writing-center\/concise-writing-tips-and-tricks\/","title":{"rendered":"Concise Writing: Tips and Tricks"},"content":{"rendered":"
I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.<\/blockquote>Blaise Pascal, French philosopher and mathematician<\/cite><\/div><\/section>\n

Tips for writing concisely by Danielle Perry<\/a>, GWC Tutor<\/h3>\n

Writing concisely is an important aspect of scientific writing and a skill that takes practice to develop. Being concise can help you reach your audience more directly and effectively. The following post provides helpful tips from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center to achieve clear, concise, and direct writing.<\/p>\n

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  1. Use the active voice, when possible<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Using strong active verbs leads to direct and concise sentences.<\/p>\n

    Passive: <\/em><\/strong>It was instructed<\/u> by the professor that the assignments must be<\/u> submitted by the due date.<\/p>\n

    Active:<\/em><\/strong> The professor instructed<\/u> that the assignment be<\/u> submitted by the due date. <\/p>\n

    Passive:<\/em><\/strong> It was earlier demonstrated<\/u> that climate change can be caused<\/u> by air pollution.<\/p>\n

    Active:<\/em><\/strong> Early studies demonstrated<\/u> that air pollution can cause<\/u> climate change.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

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    1. Put the action of the sentence in the verb. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Try to avoid making verbs into nouns by adding \u2013tion<\/em><\/p>\n

      Example: <\/em><\/strong>An evaluation<\/u> of the methods needs to be done<\/u>.<\/p>\n

      Instead: <\/em><\/strong>The methods need to be evaluated<\/u>.<\/p>\n

                  Or<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

      We need to evaluate<\/u> the methods.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

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      1. Reduce wordy verbs\/phrases.<\/strong>\n