Writing with concision means intentionally using language and sentence structure to improve clarity and cut excess or unnecessary elements. Listed below are strategies you can use to make your writing more concise. Remember to always work with your audience and assignment in mind

Limit Modifying Phrases

Eliminate phrases that modify the noun if they do not clarify the meaning of the sentence or if they include unnecessary information.

• Wordy: The dishwasher in the kitchen is broken.
• Concise: The dishwasher is broken.

Minimize Prepositional Phrases

Avoid unnecessary prepositional phrases (preposition plus a noun).

• Wordy: The assignment on writing about discourse communities is due on Friday by 5:00 p.m.
• Concise: The discourse community writing assignment is due by Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Avoid Unnecessary Relative Clauses

Relative clauses beginning with that, who, and which should be changed to short phrases, or deleted.

• Wordy: The candidate who ran for president was likeable.
• Concise: The presidential candidate was likeable.

Reword Infinitive Phrases

Eliminate infinitive phrases (to plus a verb) by using another form of the verb.

• Wordy: The shortage of essential items has caused customers to become dissatisfied.
• Concise: The shortage of essential items has dissatisfied customers

Modify Other Phrases

Change wordy phrases into single words or direct expressions when possible.

• Wordy: At this point in time, add the eggs to the mixture.
• Concise: Now, add the eggs to the mixture.

Use Active Voice

Avoid passive-voice phrases by changing them to active voice.

• Wordy: An account was created by Emma Garcia last week.
• Concise: Emma Garcia created an account last week.

Eliminate Extra or Empty Words

Use one word that captures the main idea instead of multiple words that approximate it.

• Wordy: The view was pretty, nice, and interesting.
• Concise: The view was breathtaking.

Avoid Inflated Writing

Use common and precise language whenever possible. Using overly academic language to impress readers often makes writing sound inflated.

• Wordy: My sanguineous professor disesteemed my election of “grandiloquent.”
• Concise: My wise professor disapproved of my choice of big words

Avoid Nominalization

Nominalization occurs when a verb functions as a noun. Avoid this by using one active verb instead.

• Wordy: The employee made the decision to quit their job.
• Concise: The employee decided to quit their job.

Omit Redundant Word Pairs

When using word pairs, look to see if both words are necessary.

• Wordy: This gift is an unexpected surprise.
• Concise: This gift is a surprise.