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Fat-Free Writing (Part 2)
by Vicki M. Taylor

In part two of the Fat Free Writing Series, we'll learn how to avoid redundant phrases, clear out words that clutter our sentences, avoid qualifiers, and deflate our diction (use simple words.)

In technical writing, it's important that a sentence only have one meaning. Users shouldn't have to guess about your intentions by interpreting every sentence. Make your sentences concise.

Concise sentences are brief but informative. You get right to the point by avoiding wordiness.

For example, "At this point in time, I would like to say that we are ready to move ahead to the next section of this article." Wouldn't it be much better for you, as the reader, to see "Now, we are ready to move to the next section?" We both win. You have less words to read, I have less words to type. It's a win-win situation.

Eliminate Redundancy

Why should you or your reader suffer through long phrases when a single word works just as well? You can replace most redundant phrases with a single word and not lose any of the meaning.

The chart below gives a good example of redundant phrases and the single word alternatives.

Another form of redundancy is using two words to say the same thing. For example, the following two-word phrases can be changed to one word or the other and maintain the same meaning.

• Dead corpse
• Final conclusion
• Utmost perfection
• Mental awareness
• Mutual cooperation
• Totally monopolize
• Past experience
• Mix together

  
  

If you trim the fatty words wherever you can, you won't let your writing get flabby.

There are always exceptions to every rule and this is true for technical writing as any other type. You must determine your audience and write accordingly.

In part three of this series, we'll learn how to determine our audience and other ways to review our documentation to make sure we are as specific as possible.

Copyright © 2001 Vicki M. Taylor

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