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http://lanyrd.com/2014/society-for-technical-communication/sctyqh (STC14 Summit session page on Lanyrd) We all want to create concise, compelling messages that win people over. But even the best writers use too many words, filler words that dull their messages and turn readers off. Who knows what opportunities you may have lost due to writing you didn’t even know was flabby. Marcia has perfected a time-saving, pain-free technique that you can use to eliminate filler words (and sentences and paragraphs) from any text. This technique takes the guesswork out of concise writing by showing you exactly what to look for. Once you’ve got this technique down, you’ve got it forever. You’ll know how to: * Increase keyword density. * Cut translation costs. * Bring your writing to a 24-carat, attention-getting luster.
Citation preview
Write Tight (er)
Marcia Riefer Johnston@MarciaRJohnston
#STC14
Part 1: The Technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#STC14
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#STC14
No headline?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#STC14
No headline?
No bullets?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#STC14
No headline?
No bullets? No
verbiage?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#STC14
No headline?
No bullets? No
verbiage?
How concise!
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#STC14
No headline?
No bullets? No
verbiage?
How concise!
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
What does conciseness mean (and not mean)?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Minimalism
What does conciseness mean (and not mean)?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Concise means “minimal.”
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Concise means “minimal.”Not short.
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Concise means “minimal.”Not short.
“Cut me a short string.”
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Concise means “minimal.”Not short.
“Cut me a short string.” Huh?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Concise means “minimal.”Not short.
“Cut me a short string.” Huh?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Concise means “minimal.”Not short.
“Cut me a short string.”
Make text (like string) as long as needed.
Huh?
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Make text, like string, as long as needed. @MarciaRJohnston #STC14
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Concise means “minimal.”
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Not robospeak.
Concise means “minimal.”
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Not robospeak.
Concise means “minimal.”
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Not robospeak.
Push button.
Concise means “minimal.”
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Not robospeak.
Push button. Push the button.
Concise means “minimal.”
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Not robospeak.
Keep the the.
Push button. Push the button.
Concise means “minimal.”
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Minimal.
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Minimal.
Enough to meet your audiences’ needs
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Minimal.
Enough to meet your audiences’ needs
Enough to accomplish your purpose
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Minimal.
Enough to meet your audiences’ needs
Enough to accomplish your purpose
No more
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Minimal.
Enough to meet your audiences’ needs
Enough to accomplish your purpose
No more No less
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Write Tight(er): A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself, Your Company, or Your
Products through Your Words
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Audience needs: “What’s in it for me?”
Write Tight(er): A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself, Your Company, or Your
Products through Your Words
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Audience needs: “What’s in it for me?”
My purpose: Get you here
Write Tight(er): A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself, Your Company, or Your
Products through Your Words
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
No more
Audience needs: “What’s in it for me?”
My purpose: Get you here
Write Tight(er): A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself, Your Company, or Your
Products through Your Words
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
No more No less
Audience needs: “What’s in it for me?”
My purpose: Get you here
Write Tight(er): A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself, Your Company, or Your
Products through Your Words
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
How much difference can conciseness make?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
How much difference can conciseness make?
“Measured usability was dramatically higher for the concise version [of the website]—58% better.” !
Nielsen Norman Group www.nngroup.com/articles/
how-users-read-on-the-web
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
In what ways does conciseness help me sell?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Small screens
In what ways does conciseness help me sell?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Small screens
Translation costs
In what ways does conciseness help me sell?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Small screens
Translation costs
Readability
In what ways does conciseness help me sell?
#spectrum14 Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
Small screens
Translation costs
Readability
Think usability, engagement.
In what ways does conciseness help me sell?
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
How can I write more concisely?
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Dump these words!*
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact that
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjust
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order to
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)proverbial
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)proverbialdifferent (as in many different, 36 different)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)proverbialdifferent (as in many different, 36 different)particular
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)proverbialdifferent (as in many different, 36 different)particularverbiage
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)proverbialdifferent (as in many different, 36 different)particularverbiageany other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)proverbialdifferent (as in many different, 36 different)particularverbiageany other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)proverbialdifferent (as in many different, 36 different)particularverbiageany other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)not, no (& other negative words)the fact thatjustbegin to, try to, tend to, in order toperiod of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)proverbialdifferent (as in many different, 36 different)particularverbiageany other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
Dump these words!**unless you need them
Time-saving, pain-free technique
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
See be-verbs.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
See be-verbs.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
See be-verbs.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
See be-verbs.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
See be-verbs! @MarciaRJohnston #STC14
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Examples
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Bias tape has the advantage of being able to be applied smoothly around curves as well as straight.”
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Bias tape has the advantage of being able to be applied smoothly around curves as well as straight.”
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Bias tape has the advantage of being able to be applied smoothly around curves as well as straight.”
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Bias tape has the advantage of being able to be applied smoothly around curves as well as straight.”
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The fix might not be self-evident.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The fix might not be self-evident.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The fix might not be self-evident.
You have to think.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The fix might not be self-evident.
You have to think.
(Not too painful.)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“A scheme of which every part promises delight can never be successful.”
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“A scheme of which every part promises delight can never be successful.”
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Our IT team wants to be predictive.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Our IT team wants to be predictive.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Our IT team wants to be predictive.
What does the team
want to do?
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
what?
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Write when there is something that you know; and not before; and not too damned much after.”
—Ernest Hemingway
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Write when there is something that you know; and not before; and not too damned much after.”
—Ernest Hemingway
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“ There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things
that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things
we don’t know we don’t know.” (attributed to a one-time US secretary of defense)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“ There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things
that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things
we don’t know we don’t know.” (attributed to a one-time US secretary of defense)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“ There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things
that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things
we don’t know we don’t know.” (attributed to a one-time US secretary of defense)
We don’t know diddly—
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“ There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things
that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things
we don’t know we don’t know.” (attributed to a one-time US secretary of defense)
We don’t know diddly—except to avoid be-verbs.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
See be-verbs.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Be-verbs are everywhere. See? @MarciaRJohnston #STC14
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Jane fully expects a big publisher to snap up her first novel.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Jane fully expects a big publisher to snap up her first novel.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
We hope that people will actively participate.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
We hope that people will actively participate.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Please listen carefully to the following choices so that we can immediately direct your call to the appropriate person.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Please listen carefully to the following choices so that we can immediately direct your call to the appropriate person.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Please listen carefully to the following choices so that we can immediately direct your call to the appropriate person.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Mahatma Gandhi truly changed the world.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Mahatma Gandhi truly changed the world.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.comHowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.comHowToWriteEverything.com @MarciaRJohnston
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Fred likes his toast very dry.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Fred likes his toast very dry.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Fred likes his toast very dry.
Fred likes his toast so dry.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Fred likes his toast very dry.
Fred likes his toast so dry.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Fred likes his toast very dry.
Fred likes his toast so dry.
Fred likes such dry toast.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Fred likes his toast very dry.
Fred likes his toast so dry.
Fred likes such dry toast.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Exception:the doge meme
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Exception:the doge meme
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Exception:the doge meme
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/11/15/doge_pronunciation_how_do_you_pronounce_the_name_of_the_shibe_doge_meme.html
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/11/15/doge_pronunciation_how_do_you_pronounce_the_name_of_the_shibe_doge_meme.html
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
not, no (& other negative words)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Do not use negative phrasing.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Do not use negative phrasing.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
If you want viewers to focus on something, do not show faces looking away from it.
(This image is from an eye-tracking study by James Breeze as cited in Garr Reynolds’s book Presentation Zen.)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
If you want viewers to focus on something, do not show faces looking away from it.
(This image is from an eye-tracking study by James Breeze as cited in Garr Reynolds’s book Presentation Zen.)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The Oregon Ducks have not lost a “Civil War” game to their archrivals, the Beavers, in seven years.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The Oregon Ducks have not lost a “Civil War” game to their archrivals, the Beavers, in seven years.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The Oregon Ducks have not lost a “Civil War” game to their archrivals, the Beavers, in seven years.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The Oregon Ducks have not lost a “Civil War” game to their archrivals, the Beavers, in seven years.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
the fact that
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Given the fact that Joan understood topic-based writing, everyone went to her with questions.
Concept Task Reference
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Given the fact that Joan understood topic-based writing, everyone went to her with questions.
Concept Task Reference
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that
Dump these words!**unless you need them
just
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
It's just that I just say just a lot. I just have the habit, so it’s just hard to stop saying it.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
It's just that I just say just a lot. I just have the habit, so it’s just hard to stop saying it.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just
Dump these words!**unless you need them
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Michael Noer handed the six-year-old the tablet. With no instruction, and never having seen a computer, the boy began to swipe the screen, launch apps, and play a pinball game.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Michael Noer handed the six-year-old the tablet. With no instruction, and never having seen a computer, the boy began to swipe the screen, launch apps, and play a pinball game.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Try to focus on breathing.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Try to focus on breathing.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Stop trying to hit me, and hit me.” —Morpheus to Neo
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Stop trying to hit me, and hit me.” —Morpheus to Neo
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
—Yoda
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
—Yoda
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“When our tools don’t work, we tend to blame ourselves for being too stupid or not reading the manual or having too fat fingers.”
—Lev Grossman, Time
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“When our tools don’t work, we tend to blame ourselves for being too stupid or not reading the manual or having too fat fingers.”
—Lev Grossman, Time
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
In order to divert 34,000 tons of food scraps from landfills, Portland created a curbside-pickup program for compostable waste.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
In order to divert 34,000 tons of food scraps from landfills, Portland created a curbside-pickup program for compostable waste.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
Dump these words!**unless you need them
period of time
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Jones and Caruthers have worked here for a long period of time.
Sketch by Brian Poulsen. Used with permission.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Jones and Caruthers have worked here for a long period of time.
Sketch by Brian Poulsen. Used with permission.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time
Dump these words!**unless you need them
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
In light of my lack of cash, we stopped at an ATM.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
In light of my lack of cash, we stopped at an ATM.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
In light of my lack of cash, we stopped at an ATM.
In spite of his poor health, Samuel attended his niece’s graduation.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
In light of my lack of cash, we stopped at an ATM.
In spite of his poor health, Samuel attended his niece’s graduation.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
In light of my lack of cash, we stopped at an ATM.
In spite of his poor health, Samuel attended his niece’s graduation.
I prefer that TV in terms of cost.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
In light of my lack of cash, we stopped at an ATM.
In spite of his poor health, Samuel attended his niece’s graduation.
I prefer that TV in terms of cost.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“The word of is, in anything other than small doses, among the surest indications of flabby writing.”
—Bryan Garner Garner’s Modern American Usage
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
“The word of is, in anything other than small doses, among the surest indications of flabby writing.”
—Bryan Garner Garner’s Modern American Usage
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
proverbial
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The proverbial needle in the haystack
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The proverbial needle in the haystack
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
The proverbial needle in the haystack
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general) proverbial
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general) proverbial
Dump these words!**unless you need them
different (as in many different, 36 different)
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Our company understands the pros and cons of all these different technologies.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Our company understands the pros and cons of all these different technologies.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Steve Jobs’s name appears on 212 different Apple patents.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Steve Jobs’s name appears on 212 different Apple patents.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general) proverbial different (as in many different, 36 different)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general) proverbial different (as in many different, 36 different)
Dump these words!**unless you need them
particular
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt, has a particular belief that Android’s open platform leads to more options and more consumer choice.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt, has a particular belief that Android’s open platform leads to more options and more consumer choice.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
While Lady Gaga’s particular sense of style puzzles many, millions of fans say that her affirming theme of bravery and kindness has changed their lives.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
While Lady Gaga’s particular sense of style puzzles many, millions of fans say that her affirming theme of bravery and kindness has changed their lives.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general) proverbial different (as in many different, 36 different) particular
Dump these words!**unless you need them
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are) -ly words (& other vapid adverbs) very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers) not, no (& other negative words) the fact that just begin to, try to, tend to, in order to period of time in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general) proverbial different (as in many different, 36 different) particular
Dump these words!**unless you need them
verbiage
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
We’ll throw some verbiage in there.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
We’ll throw some verbiage in there.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Want a tip for making this technique even
more time-saving and pain-free?
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
Try this.
#STC14 @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com
YOUR WORDS
HERE