Module 4
Correspondence Style

Click on the links below to go to that section of the module.

Conciseness: Words and Phrases

When Einstein spoke of making things simple but not too simple, he could have been talking about conciseness: expressing ideas as briefly and simply as possible and not making ideas unnecessarily complicated. In other words, as a writer you should use as few words as possible to convey your meaning and achieve your purpose.

For most long-winded expressions, you can usually come up with something more concise. Look at the table. Try to come up with a suitable improvement to the bureaucratic example listed. Then click on the Show Answers button to see the suggested improvements.

Instead of these long phrases …

  

… consider these single words
along the lines of
like
as of this date
yet, still, now
at all times
always
at the present time
now, currently
at the time of
during
by means of
with, by
concerning the matter of
about
despite the fact that
although
due to the fact that
because
during the course of
during
for the period of
for
for the purpose of
for, to
for the reason that
because, since
in a manner similar to
like
in a position to
can, be able to
in order to
to
in reference to
on, about
in regard to, in connection with, in relation to
about, concerning, on
in spite of the fact that
although
in the amount of
for
in the event that
if
in the nature of
like
in the near future
soon
in view of the fact that
because, since
on behalf of
for
prior to
before
subsequent to
after
the majority of
most
until such time as
until
with a view to
to
with regard to
about, concerning, on, to
with respect to
about

These expressions are not inherently incorrect, nor must you always avoid them. Just be careful not to weigh down your documents with too many lengthy or complex expressions.