Long-term editor, Zara, shares her insights into how she helps clients to reduce wordiness. Looking out onto the vineyard where she works with her husband when she is not helping clients to publish their academic journal articles, she explains:
“It is important to convey ideas concisely and accurately. The more concise the better, as it reduces the potential for ambiguity.” She offers an example:
Wordy: There are several studies that suggest a positive association between more moderate exercise in childhood and bone density.
Concise: Several studies suggest a positive association between more moderate exercise in childhood and bone density.
Zara explains that the above phrases are equivalent in meaning however the second version uses fewer words, and this is always her preference.
