8 Steps to More Concise Writing

8 Steps to More Concise Writing 8 Steps to More Concise Writing 8 Steps to More Concise Writing By Mark Nichol You know you must streamline your writing, but the devil’s in the details. Here are some specifics about what to look for: 1. Remove Redundancy Avoid double-teaming terms like â€Å"a period of one week,† â€Å"end result,† â€Å"free gift,† and â€Å"personal opinion.† Watch for phrases that echo the quality in question: â€Å"oval in shape,† â€Å"larger in size,† â€Å"shorter in duration,† and the like. Omit redundant words that are already implied as part of an abbreviated term, such as machine in â€Å"ATM machine.† 2. Reduce Phrases to Words Replace a descriptive phrase following a noun with a one-word adjective that precedes the noun: â€Å"People who experienced at traveling know better than to label their luggage,† for example, can be revised to â€Å"Experienced travelers know better than to label their luggage. A modifying phrase, similarly, can be reduced to a simple adverb: â€Å"Sympathizing with her concerns, he nodded in response to her complaint,† for instance, is more concisely expressed as â€Å"He nodded sympathetically in response to her complaint.† Delete extraneous phrases such as â€Å"which is† and â€Å"who were,† as shown here: â€Å"We drove down Lombard Street, which is considered the crookedest street in the world† is easily simplified to â€Å"We drove down Lombard Street, considered the crookedest street in the world.† 3. Omit Gratuitous Intensifiers and Qualifiers Use adverbs that intensify or qualify in moderation: â€Å"They had an extremely unpleasant experience† isn’t accurate unless a subsequent explanation justifies the intensifier extremely, and â€Å"I was somewhat taken aback† isn’t necessarily an improvement on â€Å"I was taken aback.† 4. Expunge Expletives â€Å"There are† or â€Å"there is† is a weak way to start a sentence. â€Å"There is a telling passage toward the end of the story† lacks the focus of (and the more vivid verb in) the sentence â€Å"A telling passage occurs near the end of the essay.† 5. Negate Nominalizations â€Å"The report gave an analysis of the accident† uses a phrase where a single word suffices. (This is known as a nominalization, or smothering a verb.) When you see a â€Å"(verb) a/an (noun)† construction, convert the noun into a verb and replace the phrase with it. In this case, â€Å"The report analyzed the accident† is the more concise result. As with deletion of expletives, a stronger verb is an additional benefit. 6. Delete Superfluous Phrases â€Å"At the present time,† â€Å"for all intents and purposes,† and â€Å"in the event that† are just a few of many meaningless phrases that clutter sentences. Trim them to tighten your writing. 7. Avoid Cliches Likewise, â€Å"face the music,† â€Å"litmus test,† â€Å"tried and true† and other timeworn phrases add nothing to your writing but words; they’re useful only for padding a word count, but instructors and editors (and readers) will notice. 8. Eschew Euphemisms Generally, words that disguise concepts degrade language, which is all about expressing, not repressing, meaning. For example, â€Å"collateral damage,† in reference to warfare (and, by extension, to all interpersonal relationships), invites derision. However, use of some euphemisms, such as those for human disabilities, is a well-meaning effort to preserve the dignity of the disabled, though some people argue that such cosmetic wording actually harms people by diminishing the seriousness of their condition, or that it is for the benefit not of the disabled but of people who would rather not be reminded of the disabled. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:85 Synonyms for â€Å"Help†Latin Words and Expressions: All You Need to KnowSit vs. Set

Influence Of Cultural Differences On HRM Practices Research Paper

Influence Of Cultural Differences On HRM Practices - Research Paper Example In order to understand the implications of culture on HRM practices, it is important to learn how culture is perceived by stakeholders mainly labor in an organization and also how it manifests into organizational policies and procedures. According to Hofstede (2001), a culture is a social phenomenon which is learned, shared, trans-generational, symbolic, patterned and adaptive. Also, it is a multilayered phenomenon which is easy to observe but difficult to change in terms of its foundation. These layers of culture include artifacts, espoused beliefs and underlying assumptions (Schein, 2004). In addition to that, culture defines commonality existing in preferences of the workforce and their responsiveness towards organizational practices. Since it defines shared notions driving workforce, labor tends to discard any practice that is inconsistent with it or creates ambiguity. Furthermore, culture is a stable phenomenon which is difficult to change at least in the short-term. Hofstede (2 001) further asserts that five fundamental dimensions of management define how the behavior of human resource alters itself in different cultures. These dimensions include power distance between management and labor, uncertainty avoidance, individualism vs. collectivism, masculinity versus femininity and long-term versus short-term orientation. A careful analysis of these dimensions would illustrate the rationale behind differences among organizational practices prevailing in US and UAE. In extension to Hofstede’s work, Aycan et al. (2000) explain that a culture governing workforce of an organization comprises of internal traditions, the external environment surrounding the organization and socio-cultural norms existing in that particular social segment whereas this combination is known as a model of cultural fit. Organizations tend to follow HRM practices that conform to their internal model showing compliance with organizational objectives and traditions followed by the wor kforce.  

Soy Whipped Topping Business Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Soy Whipped Topping Business Plan - Assignment Example Soy foods and products include several whipped toppings that are basically made from rice, soy and even coconut. Both rice and soy whips in the market are either in spray cans or boxes. These products normally have a lifespan of a year and are supposed to be refrigerated. The soy whipped topping are good when used with cakes, fruits, desserts, pies, cappuccinos and even beverages such as chocolate tea. The most popular soy whipped toppings currently in the market belong to two brands; Soyatoo and Viana. Soyatoo soy whip brands include: blue-rice whip, brown-cocoa whip and the red-soy whip which are normally in boxes or spray cans of three hundred milliliters (ML). Despite the different colors the three products are made from similar inputs. Over the recent past, different individuals in United States and Europe have continued to develop interest in soy foods and products. This has further increased the demand of these products in the American market. This industry is basically made of various key players. Some of these players in this industry are developing while others have quite established their brands in different markets of the world. This is the reason why some consumers in America have in the past raised concerns regarding some existing soy whip products in the market and more specifically on issues of lactose presence as well as the functioning of the whip spray cans. As true entrepreneurs, we considered this as a good opportunity that required intervention and we decided to start a business of making soy whipped toppings and target lactose intolerant people in the market amongst other. Our soy whipped topping products will be in line with the respective customer’s needs and also of substantially high q uality. When starting a business, it is normally important for one to start by deciding on the particular form of business to operate since each form of business develops a different legal operating structure different from the others. In

Power and Organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Power and Organization - Essay Example â€Å"A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would not otherwise do† (Dahl 1961 p. 202-203). Dahl chose to analyze decision-making on key issues only, and, furthermore, did not state objective criteria for the selection of such â€Å"key issues† (Dahl 1961). He held that he was able to identify subjective interests in the form of dominant policy preferences made visible by patterns of political participation in concrete key issue decision-making. Peter Bachrach & Morton S. Baratz (1962; 1963; 1970) fervently criticized this one-dimensional approach, asking whether a sound concept of power could be predicated on the assumption that it was totally embodied and fully reflected in â€Å"concrete decisions†.  Power is a term, which is defined in different ways by different theorist because power can be used as a means of influence in different ways. Way back, Max Weber has defined power as â€Å"Power is the probability that one a ctor within the relationship will be in the position to carry out his own will despite resistance (Weber, 1947, P.152). Nord has defined power in the context of mobilization of energy and resources to achieve one set of goals as against other sets of Goals. He defines power as follows. â€Å" Power is the ability to influence flows of the available resources towards certain goals as opposed to other goals. Power is assumed to be exercised only when these goals are at least partially in conflict with each other (Nord, 1978, P.675). Robbins has defined power in the more elaborate way when he says† Power refers to a capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B so that B does something he or she would not otherwise do. This definition implies 1) A potential that need not be actualized to be effective 2) A dependence relationship, and 3) That B has some discretion over his or her behavior†.

Ritalin is Like Cocaine :: Drugs Addiction Essays

What is Ritalin? Ritalin, or methylphenidate, is a stimulant derived from the same family as cocaine. Manufactured by the Ciba-Geigy Corporation, a division of Novartis, Ritalin sales have increased by 700% since 1990. The United States market accounts for over 90% of the sales (Breggin, 1998). Ritalin is dispersed in pill form in varying amounts, either for short or long effects; the short-term form lasts 3-5 hours while the long-term form may last 6-8 hours. (SR) Ritalin is the slow release form that lasts longer. Ritalin, like other stimulant medications, works by increasing the production of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, in the brain. (Reif, 1998) Who uses Ritalin? Doctors generally prescribe Ritalin as their first choice in treating ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Approximately 3-5% of children in the world have ADHD, of those, about 4 million take Ritalin (Breggin, 1998). It is thought that ADHD may occur from low levels of dopamine and epinephrine in the brain; although that is a highly controversial topic, it makes Ritalin an obvious treatment. (http://www.restores_homepage.com/the_ritalin_generation.htm) What is ADHD? Many psychologists regard ADHD as a state deficit, where children are highly aroused to compensate for the body’s feeling of under arousal. (Kerns, Eso, Thomson, 1999) Three main features of ADHD are 1.Impulsivity, the children often act before they consider consequences 2.Hyperactivity, the children struggle to sit still 3.Inattentiveness, the children have difficulty focusing on a subject because of the overload of stimuli in the environment. Research may indicate that ADHD has biological origins and set symptoms, such as fidgeting, excessive talking, difficulty maintaining concentration, impulsive behavior, lack of focus and messiness. (http://www.mnsi.net/~collinsw/ritalin.htm) According to the Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, in a recent conference held by the NIMH, National Institute of Mental Health, the validity of the diagnosis of ADHD was held in question. (www.breggin.com) The cause of ADHD is unknown as of yet, and speculation is all psychologists have to diagnose and treat patients. The DSM-IV has categorized ADHD by the three dimensions listed above and included 18 symptoms under the three categories, which include some listed above. ADHD has undergone significant renaming and evaluation since the last publication of the Diagnostic Statistic Manual. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity, was referred to as ADD or sometimes ADD-H, Attention Deficit Disorder with hyperactivity. (www.journals.cup.org) Who Advocates Ritalin? Teachers, parents and doctors continue to advocate Ritalin despite the claims made by antagonists of the stimulant treatment.

Felix Mendelssohn Essay

Felix Mendelssohn was born in Hamburg, Germany on February 3, 1809. He was one of four children, Fanny, Rebekah, and Paul were his siblings. He showed off his talent at a young age by playing the piano, violin, painting and gifted in many languages. When he moved to Berlin, Felix studied piano and composition under Ludwig Berger and Karl F. Zelter. Zelter took his 12 year old student to visit Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German poet. Goethe was very fascinated by the young man and later heard his B minor pianoforte quartet and showed such appreciation that Mendelssohn dedicated the piece to Goethe. Not only did Mendelssohn find inspiration in the works of Goethe, but he also was inspired byt the works of William Shakespeare. At the age of 17, he composed the overture to â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream Opus 21†. Mendelssohn then went on to study at Berlin University where he decided that music was his passion and chosen profession. After his college years, Mendelssohn t raveled and performed all around Europe. In 1812 he visited London, a city where he quite enjoyed performing, and he performed his â€Å"Hebrides Overture†. â€Å"In 1833, he took on the post of conductor at Dà ¼sseldorf, giving concert performances of Handel’s â€Å"Messiah† among others. That same year, he composed many of his own vocal works, including â€Å"Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us,†, and the Opera, â€Å"Trala. A frischer Bua bin i†, as well as the â€Å"Italian Symphony†Ã¢â‚¬  (Todd). At the age of 26, Mendelssohn moved to Leipzig and became conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. He performed works by Bach and Beethoven but at the time was not really interested in Bach’s music. Early in 1829, Mendelssohn had made his debut as a Maestro. He was the first to conduct Bach’s â€Å"St. Matthew Passion† since the composer’s death in 1750. In 1832, Mendelssohn married Cà ©cile Jeanrenaud, the daughter o f a Protestant clergyman. They had five children, Carl, Marie, Paul, Felix and Lilli. Over the years that followed, he gave many successful performances of his work, and those of other great composers as well. Mendelssohn composed numerous works for the piano, which was pretty popular at the time. In 1843, Mendelssohn founded and directed the Leipzig Conservatory, where he also taught if his busy schedule allowed it. â€Å"In addition to his post at the Conservatory, Mendelssohn was named director of the Music Section of the Academy of Arts in Berlin by King Frederick of Prussia, but this appointment wasn’t entirely pleasing for Mendelssohn, who was often asked to compose on demand. He was left with little time for his own work, but he still managed to compose such masterpieces as the Ruy Blas overture, stage music for Shakespeare’s † A Midsummer Night’s Dream†, of which the now world-famous â€Å"Wedding March† was a part of, and â€Å"The Scottish Symphony†, the third of the five symphonies he composed during his lifetime† (Lewis). Felix Mendelssohn was very close to his family. From his sister Fanny to his father, to his own wife and children, and he cherished the moments spent with them. When his father died in 1835, Me ndelssohn felt like he had lost his best friend. Seven years later, his mother died, adding to the tragedy. His sister Fanny suffered a stroke while rehearsing for a Sunday concert. She died on May 14th, 1847. He himself suffered two strokes, the last of which killed him on November 4th, 1847. He was 38 years old. He was buried alongside his sister in the cemetery of Holy Cross Church in Berlin. Some critics may argue that he would have been another Bach or Mozart if he had suffered more in life, as the â€Å"tortured artist† clichà © dictates. Schuman agreed with Mendelssohn on one thing: criticism. â€Å"To a certain extent the German nation has recovered from one mistake in judgment; the tendency to evaluate Schuman above Mendelssohn was a very long time mistakable† (Grove). â€Å"Nearly a hundred years after his death, the Nazis tried to discredit him, taking down his statue in Leipzig, and even going as far as forbidding the study and performance of his musicâ⠂¬  (Lewis). Of course, none of their efforts to silence the voice of genius had any success, and Mendelssohn is now considered the 19th century equivalent of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mendelssohn will remain the most successful composer of his time, surely deserving a place alongside greats such as Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven. He was most known for Violin Concerto in E Minor, incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, five symphonies, including no. 3 â€Å"Italian† and no. 4 â€Å"Scottish† and the oratorios Elijah and St. Paul. Works Cited Grove, George, and Stanley Sadie. Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians. London: MacMillan Publishers, 1980. Print. Lewis, Ronald. â€Å"Felix Mendelssohn Biography.† Felix Mendelsohn.com. 2002. Web. 15 March 2012. http://www.felixmendelssohn.com/felix_mendelssohn_bio_001.htm Todd, R. Larry. Mendelssohn: A Life in Music. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print.

An Interview With Professor Clarissa Wilkerson, Jd, Cpa

On Wednesday, February 24, 2016, I conducted an interview with Professor Clarissa Wilkerson, JD, CPA. As an accounting major, I am extremely interested in pursuing a career in accounting and am a student in Professor Wilkerson’s class. Her enthusiastic personality continues to inspire me to pursue a career in this field. After explaining my career goals and the details of this assignment, she gladly accepted when I asked if she would be willing to conduct an interview to help me complete this interview report. Professor Wilkerson received her Master’s degree in Taxation from Georgia State University. She is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and has considerable experience in the field of accounting. A few of the topics we discussed were: the importance of teamwork, the way technology is changing accounting, the value of understanding finance and economics in relation to accounting, and the usefulness of receiving a degree in accounting and earning a CPA license. During the interview, Professor Wilkerson stressed that teamwork is a desirable skill to possess when entering the accounting field. She stated that it is important to provide examples of experiences working with teams or leading teams during the interview process, because most employers will place entry-level accountants in groups or teams. The importance of teamwork is twofold; engaging in teamwork is an opportunity to show leadership skills while simultaneously meeting the challenge of