Vagueness of wording is frequently signaled by one of three
weakeners:
- Intensifiers like very -- if your word has to be intensified
into precision, you can probably find a more precise word. "Very
hard" sometimes means "complex."
- Qualifiers like somewhat -- as above, if your word
has to be qualified into meaning, you can probably find a more
precise word. "Somewhat happy" may occasionally mean
"satisfied."
- Not -- try to turn your idea to a positive and more
precise statement. "Not difficult" frequently means
"easy." Negative words other than "not" are
often strong.
Examples
1. In particular, the people in the room who had not seen
the screens before could not always keep up with the speed and
change of the information flow presented.
Rewrite: In particular, the people in the room who
had never seen the screens before sometimes lagged behind the
information flow.
2. The ABC Form does not require any data entry.
Rewrite: The ABC Form requires no data entry.
3. At Acme Company, it was very important to be flexible and
enthusiastic, especially when the tasks were mundane.
Rewrite: At Acme Company, it was essential to be flexible
and enthusiastic, especially when the tasks were mundane.
4. Rental concessions are not common in the local area and
only one property reports concessions at this time.
Rewrite: Rental concessions are unusual in the local
area; only one property reports concessions.
5. In 1998, RapidGraph was not generating enough cash internally
to fund its operations.
Rewrite: In 1998, RapidGraph was unable to fund its
operations from internally generated cash.
6. The projections are a little overoptimistic if you assume
same store sales, and consistent franchise fees.
Rewrite: The projections are optimistic if you assume
same store sales and consistent franchise fees.
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