Tight Writing

Eliminating unnecessary words that aren’t needed

Keith RobinsonCoordinator of News and Public Affairs

Department of Agricultural CommunicationPurdue University

June 12, 2012

Tight Writing

Eliminating unnecessary words that aren’t needed

Keith RobinsonCoordinator of News and Public Affairs

Department of Agricultural CommunicationPurdue University

June 12, 2012

Tight Writing

Eliminating unnecessary words that aren’t needed

Keith RobinsonCoordinator of News and Public Affairs

Department of Agricultural CommunicationPurdue University

June 12, 2012

"I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter."

Blaise Pascal 17th century French mathematician, inventor, writer, philosopher …

"I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter."

"Veni, Vidi, Vici."

Julius Caesar, Roman emperor(100 BC - 44 BC)

"Veni, Vidi, Vici." ("I came, I saw, I conquered.")

Every sentence can be tightened,including this one.

Every sentence can be tightened.including this one.

The shop is located in room 170 of Smith Hall

at the corner of University and State streets.

The shop is located in room 170 of Smith Hall

at the corner of University and State streets.

Landowners can learn about good management practices and resources for their forests and wild lands at the upcoming Indiana Tree Farm Field Tour and Forest Landowners Clinic.

 

Landowners can learn about good management practices and resources for their forests and wild lands at the upcoming Indiana Tree Farm Field Tour and Forest Landowners Clinic.

 

He believes that creating maps of all the potential routes for cancer cell formation is a significant key to developing better cancer drugs.

He believes that creating maps of all the potential routes for cancer cell formation is a significant key to developing better cancer drugs.

Barber said that departments within the college are beginning to strongly recommend that students have at least one internship experience before graduation.

Barber said that departments within the college are beginning to strongly recommend that students have at least one internship experience before graduation.

Barber said that departments within the college are beginning to strongly recommend that students have at least one internship experience before graduation.

In an AP report from the Middle East about a group of nations, including the U.S., having a conference to decide how to aid the Syrian rebels:

The summit meeting of the “Friends of the Syrian People” follows a year of failed diplomacy. …

The summit meeting of the “Friends of the Syrian People” follows a year of failed diplomacy. …

By Christopher Wills

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov. Rod Blagojevich was thrown out of office Thursday without a single lawmaker coming to his defense, brought down by a government-for-sale scandal that stretched from Chicago to Capitol Hill and turned the foul-mouthed politician into a national punchline. (39)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Scandal-plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich was removed from office Thursday. (9)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov. Rod Blagojevich was removed from office Thursday. (8)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – He’s outta there! (3)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gone! (1)

Neither Brumbaugh nor Basich said the problemhas impacted their businesses negatively.

Neither Brumbaugh nor Basich said the problemhas impacted their businesses negatively.

Neither Brumbaugh nor Basich said the problemhas hurt their businesses.

When it comes to soybeans, growers have a few more options as far as seed treatments are concerned. (18)

When it comes to With soybeans, growers have a few more seed treatment options. as far as seed treatments are concerned. (10)

Not only do the profits all go back to fund programs to educate students, but the real-life experience helps the students grasp the concepts that they're taught in class. (29)

Not only do the all profits all go back to fund educational programs to educate students, but the real-life experience helps the students grasp the concepts that they're taught in class. (20)

From:

Not only do the profits all go back to fund programs to educate students, but the real-life experience helps the students grasp the concepts that they're taught in class. (29)

To:

Not only do all profits fund educational programs, but the experience helps students grasp the concepts they're taught in class. (20)

Weed pressures, on the other hand, could be a more visible problem for grain farmers this spring. Indiana has had enough warm days for winter annuals to germinate, said weed scientist Bill Johnson. Those weeds go dormant when the weather returns to below freezing, but each time the weather is warm, it promotes growth. (54)

Weeds pressures, on the other hand, could be a more visible problem for grain farmers this spring. Indiana has had enough warm days for winter annuals to germinate, said weed scientist Bill Johnson. Those weeds go dormant when the weather returns to in below-freezing temperatures, but each time the weather is warm weather promotes their growth. (45)

From:

Weed pressures, on the other hand, could be a more visible problem for grain farmers this spring. Indiana has had enough warm days for winter annuals to germinate, said weed scientist Bill Johnson. Those weeds go dormant when the weather returns to below freezing, but each time the weather is warm, it promotes growth. (54)

To:

Weeds, on the other hand, could be a more visible problem for grain farmers this spring. Indiana has had enough warm days for winter annuals to germinate, said weed scientist Bill Johnson. Those weeds go dormant in below-freezing temperatures, but warm weather promotes their growth. (45)

Thousand cankers disease, which cannot be treated, had been confirmed in western states during the past 10 years. But in the last several years, it has been spotted in Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Virginia. (33)

Thousand cankers disease, which cannot be treated, had been confirmed in nine western states during the past 10 years. But in the last several years, it has been spotted in Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Virginia since 2010. (31)

Factors that could cause prices to rise are global instability and disruptions in supply. (14)

Factors that could cause prices to rise are global instability and disruptions in supply. (14)

Global instability and disruptions in supply could force prices upward. (10)

On the other hand, factors that could bring prices down include rate of economic growth, an increase in crude oil production, and higher-than-normal crude oil stocks. (26)

On the other hand, factors that could bring prices down include rate of economic growth, an increase in crude oil production, and higher-than-normal crude oil stocks. (26)

On the other hand, sluggish economic growth, an increase in crude oil production and higher-than-normal crude oil stocks could bring prices down. (22)

Close Your Eyes

The beef checkoff’s Research, Education and Innovation (REI) programs manage the safety, human nutrition, and product enhancement research, as well as the Beef Quality Assurance, Beef Innovations Group and Culinary Innovations programs that provides the tools, technologies and knowledge to all sectors of the supply chain, thereby facilitating improvements and increased understanding of beef products offered to the public. (59)

Close Your Eyes

The beef checkoff’s research, education and innovation programs manage safety, human nutrition and product research. They provide technology and knowledge to all sectors of the supply chain, helping the industry to improve beef products and increase the public’s understanding of them. (42)

The beef checkoff’s Research, Education and Innovation (REI) programs manage the safety, human nutrition, and product enhancement research, as well as the Beef Quality Assurance, Beef Innovations Group and Culinary Innovations programs that provides the tools, technologies and knowledge to all sectors of the supply chain, thereby facilitating improvements and increased understanding of beef products offered to the public.

The beef checkoff’s research, education and innovation programs manage the safety, human nutrition and product enhancement research. as well as the Beef Quality Assurance, Beef Innovations Group. and Culinary Innovations programs that They provide the tools, technology and knowledge to all sectors of the supply chain, helping the industry to improve thereby facilitating beef products and increase the public’s understanding of them.

The beef checkoff’s research, education and innovation programs manage safety, human nutrition and product research. They provide technology and knowledge to all sectors of the supply chain, helping the industry to improve beef products and increase the public’s understanding of them.

EDIT THYSELF!