- What not to cut
- Find what’s core
- Kill lame features
- What if the user…?
- But our customers want it
- Features that trigger errors
- Errors
- When features don’t matter
- Will it hurt?
- Prioritizing features
- Load
- Decisions
- Distractions
- Smart defaults
- Options and preferences
- When one option is too many
- Visual clutter
- Removing words
- Simplifying sentences
- Conversation
- Cutting time
- Removing too much
- You can do it
- Focus
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Simplifying sentences
Almost any sentence can be simplified, and almost any text can be cut. In Revising Prose, Richard Lanham offers a simple method to turn long-winded writing into short, crisp sentences.
Circle the prepositions (of, in, for, onto, into, about). They drain the action from a sentence, so try to eliminate them.
Circle the “is” verb forms (“is taking time”) and replace as many as you can (“takes time”).
Convert passive voice (“time is needed for this project”) into active voice (“this project needs time”).
Cut out slow starts (“One can easily see that…”) and get to the point.
Eliminate redundancies. Don’t say “on a daily basis” when “daily” means the same thing.
These rules make text clearer, more persuasive, and shorter.
For example:
Please note that although Chrome is supported for both Mac and Windows operating systems, it is recommended that all users of this site switch to the most up-to-date version of the Firefox web browser for the best possible results. (41 words)
Simplified version:
For best results, use the latest version of Firefox. Chrome for Mac and Windows is also supported. (17 words)
Use Lanham’s rules to remove the words that pad your sentences.
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