Page 157 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade7_Flipbook

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Lesson: Writing Concisely and Precisely Learning Target
• Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy.
Think of your writing as a machine for communicating ideas. Well-designed machines have exactly as many parts as they need to function properly. In the same way, your writing should contain only precise language that accomplishes what you need it to; it should not contain extra words.
Writing Concisely
The word concise means “expressing much in a few words” or “brief but complete.” Writing that is concise is clear and complete and not wordy. To write concisely,
• Use only the words you need to make your point.
• Avoid using long, difficult words when short, simple ones will do.
• Do not repeat words except when necessary to help your reader understand your point.
You can often delete unnecessary words or word groups, or you can replace clauses with phrases, phrases with words, and long words with shorter words.
Unnecessary words: In the future, please turn in assignments on time, by or on the deadline. Removed unnecessary words: Please turn in assignments on time.
Clause: I finished my math and science homework while I was in study hall. Replaced with a phrase: I finished my math and science homework in study hall.
Phrase: We outlined the letters for the banner in a careful way. Replaced with a word: We outlined the letters for the banner carefully.
Long word: Use a diminutive word, please.
Replaced with a shorter word: Use a small word, please.
There are many wordy expressions that can be replaced with shorter ones:
Grammar Activities • Unit 4 5
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