In his book, On Writing Well, William
Zinsser says, "Clutter is the disease of American writing.
We are a society strangling in unnecessary words."
Clutter has been defined as the use of laborious
phrases instead of short words that mean the same thing. How
many times have you read the text on a web page and when you
were finished, you had to read it again because you're weren't
really sure what you had just read? Frustrating, isn't it?
Many writers seem to think that by using
ornate generalizations and sophisticated phrasing, they are
demonstrating their writing talents. But good writing is not the use of abstract, obscure words and phrases. Good writing
is precise, focused, and vigorous. Good writing is using words
that have power and impact. Good writing says what needs to
be said with the least amount of words.
Here's an exercise. Look at the following
"sick" sentence and see if you can make it "healthy"
by removing the clutter.
He said, by way of illustration, that
he made an application to the board in January for a sufficient
amount of funds to make a purchase of three computers.
How well did you do? Were you able to treat
the disease? Could you qualify as a word doctor? See below
for one possible "treatment."
He said, for example, that he had applied
to the board in January for enough funds to buy three computers.
Nan Yielding has nearly 10 years experience as an online business owner. She is the owner of Writing-Etc.com and offers internet marketing services and assistance to help website owners attract more customers and increase sales.
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