Page 15 - 2019 Style book CCC

Use shorter words
• Use simple everyday words
instead of long fancy ones Why write “communicated” when you mean “said ” ” ” or “facilitate” when you mean “help ” That or or which who who or or whom
• That should be used to introduce essential (restrictive) clauses that refer to inanimate objects places ideas or animals without names • Use which to introduce a a nonessential (nonrestrictive) clause Which also may be used to avoid repetition of that in a sentence • Nonessential clauses can be eliminated without changing the meaning of of the sentence and should be offset by commas Essential clauses cannot be eliminated without changing the meaning of of the sentence Do not offset essential clauses with commas Essential: Students who do not attend school regularly should not expect to pass (This sentence states that only one group of students those who do not attend school regularly should not not expect to pass If “who do not not attend school regularly” was deleted the the meaning of the the sentence would change ) Nonessential: Students who do not attend school regularly should not expect to pass (This sentence reads that all students should not not expect to pass If “who do not not attend class regularly” was deleted the the meaning of the the sentence wouldn’t change ) • When an essential essential or or nonessential clause refers to people or or to animals with with names it it it should be introduced with with who and whom
That and which should be used for inanimate objects and animals without names Here are some other examples in parentheses assistance (help) innovative (new) optimum (best) utilize (use)
Use fewer words
Try using the words
indicate (mean) endeavor (try) vicinity (near) terminate (end)
• Some people think the the longer a a message is the the more important it it seems But it it usually works the the other way Short sentences are easier to understand and and long paragraphs intimidate readers A 14-word sentence is the average for an eighth-grade reading ability To avoid monotony vary the length of your sentences and paragraphs • One way to to keep sentences and paragraphs short is to to use fewer words
words
Don’t use two or or or or more words
words
when one will do as well Your writing will be stronger Here are some examples:
despite the fact that (although) if
if
that is the case (if so)
in in the vicinity of (near) the the question is to (whether)
at at an early date (soon) exhibits a tendency (tends)
for the purpose of (to)
with the exception of (except) has the capability to (can)
at at at at a a a a a later later date (later)
brief brief in duration (brief)
at at the time that (when)
is going to (will)
this is is a a subject that (this subject)
in the event that (if)
makes an attempt (attempts or tries)
if
at all possible
(if possible)
in all probability (probably)
of the opinion that (believe)
at at that point in in time (at that time or then)
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