Wordiness. It’s one of the main reasons people don’t read something: it’s way too long! For every long (or not-so-long) post online there’s a TL;DR— too long, didn’t read. In online spaces where snappy jokes, seconds-long videos, 280 character limits, and one-line captions reign, length can lose your audience.
The solution is simple: be concise.
What Does It Mean to Be Concise?
Dictionary.com defines concise as “expressing or covering much in few words; brief in form but comprehensive in scope.” Synonyms for concise include succinct, pithy, brief, and to the point. Looking at these, it’s easy to get a feeling of why concise writing appeals to people, particularly in online spaces. People want to see exactly what you mean in an easy-to-understand and digest package, and will lose interest if you ramble on and on.
How Can I Be More Concise?
1. Be precise. English is a glorious language full of words for communication of specific ideas. When you write, use the best word for the situation. Don’t be afraid to search for synonyms that convey exactly what you want to say.
2. Determine your focus. Ask yourself: what am I trying to say? What is my main message? Once you know what you want to communicate, write it in two sentences maximum. This is the core of your content. Make sure to include this in your first and last paragraphs.
3. Make an outline. Either start with an outline before you create your content, or summarize each paragraph with a single sentence after you write your content. Are all the parts of your content necessary? Can anything be combined or deleted? Should the content itself be split into multiple shorter pieces so it will be better received? Don’t be afraid to trim the fat!
4. Evaluate the message of content you’ve already written. If you find you have content that doesn’t fit, remove it! To save yourself stress, cut and paste sections you aren’t sure about deleting into a blank document. That way you can easily add content back in should you decide you need it. This will give you streamlined text.
5. Remove filler words and duplicate words. Common words that can be trimmed include “like”, “sort of”, “feel”, and other softening words.
- “It was that that I wanted” can become “I wanted that.”
- “I feel like it was awkward” can become “It seemed awkward.”
- “I was sort of frustrated” can become “I was frustrated.”
Softening words have their place in first-person writing, but when you are writing an authoritative or direct piece, removing them will make your work clearer, more focused, and more concise.
6. Break your content up into shorter paragraphs. Large blocks of text are intimidating, and many people will skim or read just the first and last sentences of your paragraph. When you break up paragraphs, you will see where redundant or unnecessary words distract from your meaning. Aim for three to four sentences per paragraph at most.
7. Tweak or remove anecdotes and dialog. Anecdotes can be amusing and informative, but rambling stories with an unclear message will cause people to click away. Ask yourself: what is the point of this story? How does it support the message of my content? How does each sentence further the goal of the anecdote? What is the takeaway that ties in with my message? For dialog, ask yourself: Why do I need to use multiple voices here? Are the speakers’ identities clear in each sentence? What is the minimum each speaker can say to communicate my point? Keeping your anecdotes and dialog clear and to the point will keep your audience engaged.
Using the methods described in these seven points will help you to be more concise and focused as a writer. However, if you already do these things, what else can you do to be more concise in your writing? Try the advanced steps below!
Advanced Advice for Being Concise
1. Rephrase in a single sentence. In a new document, summarize each paragraph with a single sentence. After you finish, read through the summaries. Do you need the full paragraph, or will just the sentence do? Can you summarize the message of the content in a single thesis sentence? Have you used that sentence in the content? Cut more this way while preserving your meaning.
2. Set a word goal. Take a word count of your content, then set a limit for yourself that is 50 words below that. Cut that additional 50 words. Be ruthless! This will really help you evaluate what is absolutely necessary, and what is extraneous.
3. Adjust your formatting. Force yourself to use only three sentences per paragraph, combining sentences or splitting paragraphs as necessary. Then repeat the first step of summarizing each paragraph in a sentence and cut what you don’t need.
4. Read your content out loud. Where does it feel clunky, slow, or unnecessary? Rephrase out loud, then type what you said, replacing the awkward content.
5. Don’t post immediately. Wait 24 hours and then reread with fresh eyes. What else can go? What needs to stay? Don’t be afraid to cut, cut, cut!
These twelve steps can absolutely help you evaluate your writing and write more concisely. Besides keeping the attention of your audience, being concise can save you money! Many freelance editors charge by the word or by the page. If you can cut down your word and page count, you will both have pithier content and cheaper project costs when you seek the help of a professional.
Do you have any methods you use to write concisely? Leave a comment below.
Happy writing! ✩