1. Chapter 8 Being Concise More is in vain when less will serve.
Precise
Clear
Forthright
Familiar
Concise
Fluid
More is in vain when less will serve.
Sir Isaac Newton
Title slide for presentation about Being Concise (Chapter 8).
Reference for picture:
"Sir Isaac Newton ( )" by Sir Godfrey Kneller - Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons -

2. To be concise, you should learn what kinds of words to cut
Needless adjectives and adverbs
Redundancies
Mapping slide for presentation about being concise
Writing zeroes
Needless passive voice

3. A redundancy is a needless repetition of words
guarantee
my opinion
absolute guarantee
my personal opinion
blended together
bright green in color
blended
bright green
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4. Many redundancies exist in scientific writing
already existing
alternative choices
at the present time
basic fundamentals
currently under way
completely eliminate
continue to remain
currently being
empty space
first began
had done previously
introduced a new
mix together
never before
none at all
now at this time
period of time
private industry
separate entities
start out
still persists
whether or not
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5. Writing zeroes are empty phrases that fatten sentences
it is my intent to show that = 0
as a matter of fact = 0
as is well known = 0
it is noteworthy = 0
the presence of = 0
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6. Many phrases are near zeroes
at this point in time =
at that point in time =
has the ability to =
has the potential to =
in the event that =
in the vicinity of =
owing to the fact that =
the question as to whether =
there is no doubt but that =
now
then
can
can if
near
because
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whether
no doubt

7. When searching for writing zeroes, use your eraser
Vibration measurements made in the course of the Titan flight test program were complicated by the presence of intense high-frequency excitation of the vehicle shell structure during the re-entry phase of the flight.
[Zoofari]
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Before animating the revision, I have the students walk through the example and identify words to challenge. The revision is what the author decided, after balancing precision with conciseness and taking into account the context of this sentence.
Reference for image:
By ZooFari (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Vibration measurements made in the Titan flight were complicated by intense high-frequency excitation of the vehicle shell during re-entry.

8. Needless adjectives often hide behind vague nouns
The objective of our work is to obtain experimental data
that can be used in conjunction with a comprehensive
chemical kinetics modeling study to generate a detailed
understanding of the fundamental processes that lead
to engine knock.
Our goal is to obtain experimental data that can be
used with a chemical kinetics model to explain the
processes that lead to engine knock.
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Before animating the revision, I have the students walk through the example and identify words to challenge. The revision is what the author decided, after balancing precision with conciseness and taking into account the context of this sentence.

9. Many adverbs are unnecessary
rather unique
slows down
well proven
rather unique
slows down
well proven
The achievement of our success relies very heavily on a rather detailed understanding
of the somewhat complex
processes that govern the gas velocities.
Our success relies on understanding the complex processes that govern the gas velocities.
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Before animating the revision, I have the students walk through the example and identify words to challenge. The revision is what the author decided, after balancing precision with conciseness and taking into account the context of this sentence.

10. Needless passive verbs attract long phrases and words
It was then concluded that a second complete solar mirror field corrosion survey should be conducted in July to determine whether the tenfold annual corrosion rate projection was valid and to allow determination whether subsequent corrective measures would be effective in retarding corrosion propagation.
syllable count 83
We decided to survey the solar mirror field a second time in July to see whether the corrosion rate would increase tenfold as projected and to see whether stowing the mirrors in a vertical position would slow the rate. 60
syllable count
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Before animating the revision, I have the students walk through the example and identify words to challenge. The revision is what the author decided, after balancing precision with conciseness and taking into account the context of this sentence.

11. In summary, to be concise, you should learn what to cut in your writing
Needless adjectives and adverbs
Redundancies
Conclusion slide for presentation about being concise
Writing zeroes
Needless passive voice

12. In summary, to be concise, you should learn what kinds of words to cut
Needless adjectives and adverbs
Redundancies
Conclusion slide for presentation about being concise
Writing zeroes
Needless passive voice