Lighten Up on the Verbs
"Replacement of the weak battery should be effectuated."
HUH?
Wouldn't it be more direct and exact if we said, "Replace the battery." ?
We all know technical writers are smart and technically knowledgeable. But, we're not writing for ourselves, we're writing for our readers. Keep it simple and direct. Avoid using complicated action verbs when you want to direct the reader to perform a function.
The chart below indicates how to replace "overweight" complicated verbs with leaner, lighter verbs.
Overweight Verb > Lighter Verb
Utilize, employ > Use
Implemented > Made
Accomplish > Make
Fabricated > Made
Constructed > Made
Ascertain > Check
Terminate > End, stop, finish
Enhance > Increase, brighten, decrease
Rotate > Turn, shift
Perform > Do, carry, run, make
Is aware > Knows
Minimizes > reduces
Tighten Up Flabby Statements
Sometimes, as writers, we get caught up in the flow of words from our fingertips that we lose sight of the audience. We spew forth words at a rapid rate, letting them flow endlessly from our minds through our fingertips, to our pages, covering massive amounts of white space.
What we should be doing is writing as simply and clearly as possible so that our reader will understand our instructions. Look at the chart below and see how we can replace fatty and flabby statements with leaner, lighter words.
In this day and age > Today
The fact of the matter is that I'm hungry. > I'm hungry.
At that point in time > Then
There is no doubt but that > No doubt
He is a man who > He
A person who is credible > A credible person
There are many girls who > Many girls
They were there in person > They were there
Personally, I think > I think
Surrounded on all sides > Surrounded
Blue in color > Blue
Repeat again > Repeat
Two different kinds > Two kinds
Free gift > Gift
Very unique > Unique
Past history > History
End result > Result
The field of astronomy > Astronomy
That's it. Everything you would ever need to know about cutting the fat from your technical writing. I hope you've enjoyed this three part series on Fat Free Writing.
Remember, ask yourself these questions as you write:
1. Can my readers understand me?
2. Is the focus right?
3. Are the import points clearly visible?
4. Is my information correct, accurate, and complete?
5. Is my language good? Is it clear, definite, and unambiguous?
6. Have I cleaned up all grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors?
7. Have I used fatty or flabby statements where leaner words would be better?
If you can keep your technical writing lean, your users will thank you and maybe even refer to your document now and again.
Good luck.
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