Appropriate Language Use: Replacing Long Expressions With Short Ones

One of the elements of effective writing is Appropriate Language Use. Though appropriate language use applies to any language (Mandarin, English, Spanish, etc.), it does not always mean that one's language has to change in writing to suit an audience.

Appropriate Language Use is carefully choosing the words to fit the writing situation. The subject, purpose, and audience of the message are considered. The tone, style, and clarity of the writing are also considered.

One way to achieve this is by replacing long expressions with short ones. It is called concision. This means the fewest number of words possible is used. Through this, the point is directly hit without losing clarity and completeness of the message.

So, how do we shorten long expressions?

• By removing lengthy or unnecessary words/replacing long expressions with short ones

Here are common phrases/expressions that can be replaced with short ones:

Identifying changes:

* majority of the employees

- notice that “majority of the” is removed and replaced with “most” leaving with “most employees”.

What does this tell? 

When something about the number of a kind, like a group of people (employees, students, parents, etc.) is told, whether a few or majority of them, rule number 1  can be done:

1.) remove the articles (a, an, the) and the prepositions (of, with, in, on, for, by, to, etc.). 

Just like the example (majority of the employees), the article “the” and the preposition “of” is removed, and replaced the word “majority” with a shorter one with the same meaning— “most”. 

So instead of saying:

“majority of the employees”, 

“most employees” can be said.

“a few of the students”→ “few students”

“most of the teachers”→ “most teachers”, etc.

“removing lengthy or unnecessary words/phrases” also means:

2.) use one-word adjectives, adverbs, and conjunctions; even prepositions and other parts of speech, but it is most applicable to the first three mentioned.

examples: 

“in a careful manner” → carefully (adj.)

“on a regular basis” → regularly (adj.)

“on an irregular basis” → irregularly (adj.)

“in any case” → regardless (adv.)

“in the near future” → soon (adv.)

“as a result” → therefore (adv.), among others.

The long versions are mostly just the definitions of these one-word adverbs, adjectives, and prepositions (refer to the dictionary). So to shorten them, one-word versions of these phrases can be used instead.

Last, as an extension to number 2:

3.) use the one-word adjectives synonymous with “very + adjective”.

example:

“very old-fashioned” → archaic

Using the adverb “very” to modify adjectives is not wrong at all. It is grammatically correct. But if the number of words used is to be shortened, the modifier “very” can be removed, and a one-word adjective with the same meaning as the “very + adjective” can be used. Just like the example: “very old-fashioned” when replaced with the synonymous word “archaic”. Click this link to the 126 One Word Adjectives To Use Instead of “very ...”.