What
Writers and College Students Should Know About Wordiness
By Kate Willson
I
teach a few freshman composition classes at a large state university. Each year,
I'm baffled by just how verbose my students' writing is. I put forth quite a bit
of effort each semester trying to get them to focus on clarity and concision,
but it often seems like a lost cause. High school teachers must be training kids
to write as though they're paid by the word. It's difficult to get my students
to unlearn bad writing habits in one semester. I feel satisfied when just a
handful of my students each year abandon their written
long-windedness.
I've noticed that many of my university colleagues in other disciplines also
have a problem getting to the point in writing. I think that concision is
something most writers, of all ages and levels of education, struggle with. Even
though my background is in writing and rhetoric, I admittedly still find it
challenging to make my writing as short and snappy as it could be.
As
we all strive to become more concise, clear writers, here are a few things I
believe we should keep in mind about wordiness:
It
derails readers
A
sentence that's made up of 24 words is less pleasant to read than a sentence
that's made up of 12 words. If you can say the same thing using fewer words, do
it. Wordiness makes things harder on your readers. When you jam too many words
in a sentence, your readers are more likely to get lost, confused, and
frustrated. You're doing your audience a favor when you do your best to keep it
short.
It
prevents you from developing a unique writing style
Kurt
Vonnegut once wrote, "the writing style which is most natural for you is bound
to echo the speech you heard when a child." Chances are, your parents weren't
using SAT vocabulary words and obscenely convoluted sentences to tell you to eat
your vegetables. The language you heard as a child was probably relatively
simple and clear, and it probably made a lot of sense to you. Try writing in the
same manner you speak and in the same manner those around you speak. Doing so
will allow you to develop a writing style that's more natural and appealing to
readers.
Proper
editing can prevent it
Sometimes
our first and second drafts end up wordy. That's OK. Being hyper aware of the
economy of your language can stifle your creativity. So, don't get too hung up
on being concise. Just get your ideas out on paper, edit while you write, and
then go back and edit to eliminate bad writing habits like verbosity. Occasional
wordiness isn't the end of the world, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do
what you can to edit it out of your work.
Next
time you sit down in front of a blank page, keep in mind that wordiness does
more harm than good. And enjoy becoming a more concise, thoughtful
writer!
~ Kate
Willson is a professional writer and blogger. Well-versed in all topics
pertaining to college life, Kate frequently contributes to top online education
sites. Please leave your comments and questions for Kate below!
-----
Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults. and speaks on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (How To Do It Frugally series of book for writers)
. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/writers_books.htm , where writers will find lists and other helps including Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips 
on the Resources for Writers page. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at her Sharing with Writers blog. She tweets writers' resources at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo . Please tweet this post to your followers. We all need a little help with editing. (-:
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