Sample exercises before more….

Clarity, simplicity, concreteness

Conciseness
Impact
Sensitivity

In business writing…
 CLARITY

Find the difference in the meaning in the

following pair of synonym:

 Advise and inform

 Counsel and tell

 CLARITY

Can you find the difference in meaning the

punctuation makes:

“The teacher”, said the student “is stupid”

 The teacher said, “the student is stupid”

1. student said….

2. teacher said….
 CLARITY

Ambiguous sentences – bring clarity:

If the baby dislikes the raw milk, try boiling it

….try boiling the milk

 SIMPLICITY

Improve the following sentences by using simpler

words and phrases for those underlined

 We despatched the goods to you yesterday per

passenger train

 … sent…. by
 CONCRETE

Rewrite using concrete words:

 The cost of the online database search was reasonable.

 Amount in figure
 CONCISE

Remove the redundant words:

No other alternative

The actual fact

… other
… actual
 CONCISE

Eliminate redundancy

There was world-wide recognition by all

…. by all
 CONCISE

Avoid unnecessary repetition

 This solution calls for quick and expeditious action

 … quick or expeditious
 CONCISE

Avoid Roundabout constructions

 It is our conclusion that production should stop

 We conclude….
 CONCISE

Avoid Cluttering phrases

 In some instances, we sell directly to the retailer

 Sometimes….
 CONCISE

Cut down on Surplus words

 Enclosed herewith are two copies of the status report

…. herewith
 CONCISE

Use single words in place of lengthy phrases:

 Lengthy phrases  Simple words

in the event that If

in the majority of cases Usually/ mostly
 CONCISE

Use single word instead of many words

underlined

 Our chairman is a man who always looks on the brighter

side to things

 … an optimist
 CONCISE

Revise the following sentences for more

economical wording

Martin is engaged in the process of revising the

application

Martin is revising the application

 IMPACT

Rewrite in active voice to make it powerful

 The policy was enforced by the committee

 The committee enforced the policy

 SENSITIVITY

Write using non-discriminatory language

 Handicap parking spaces are strictly for use by the

crippled.

 … the physically challenged/ differently abled

 Rewrite in conversational style

 Enclosed herewith is the brochure about which you made inquiry

 Enclosed is the brochure you asked about

Change the 'we-viewpoint' sentences to
'you-viewpoint' sentences

 We will deliver your order by 12th.

 You will receive the goods ordered by 12th

Rewrite to bring in positive effect:

 Your misunderstanding of our January 7th mail……

 Your interpretation of January 7th mail…..