Question

Eliminating Wordiness

Directions: Revise these sentences to state their meaning in fewer words. Avoid passive voice, needless repetition, and wordy phrases and clauses. The first sentence has been done as an example.

1. Many local farmers plan to attend next Friday's meeting.

2. Although Bradley Hall is regularly populated by students, close study of the building as a structure is seldom undertaken by them.

3. He dropped out of school on account of the fact that it was necessary for him to help support his family.

4. It is expected that the new schedule will be announced by the bus company within the next few days.

5. There are many ways in which a student who is interested in meeting foreign students may come to know one.

6. It is very unusual to find someone who has never told a deliberate lie on purpose.

7. Trouble is caused when people disobey rules that have been established for the safety of all.

8. A campus rally was attended by more than a thousand students. Five students were arrested by campus police for disorderly conduct, while several others are charged by campus administrators with organizing a public meeting without being issued a permit to do so.

9. The subjects that are considered most important by students are those that have been shown to be useful to them after graduation.

10. In the not too distant future, college freshmen must all become aware of the fact that there is a need for them to make contact with an academic adviser concerning the matter of a major.

11. In our company there are wide-open opportunities for professional growth with a company that enjoys an enviable record for stability in the dynamic atmosphere of aerospace technology.

12. Some people believe in capital punishment, while other people are against it; there are many opinions on this subject.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) (1) In the locality, several farmers might attend next Friday’s meeting.

(2) Bradley Hall is usually crowded with students who rarely notice much about the structure itself.

(3) In order to help support his family, he dropped out of school.

(4) Within a few days, the bus company will announce their new schedule.

(5) A student who is interested in socialising with foreign students could resourcefully meet one.

(6) It is rare to find someone who has never told a deliberate lie.

(7) Breaking safety rules is generally what leads to trouble.

(8) More than a thousand students attended a campus rally. The campus police attested five students for misbehaving and the administration charged several others for conducting a meeting without a permit.

(9) Students value subjects that are useful after graduation.

(10) In the near future, college students will value a meeting with an academic adviser to discuss the matter of a major.

(11) In our company, there is an enviable record for stability and in the dynamic atmosphere for aerospace technology; this is why there are opportunities for professional growth.

(12) People can be for or against capital punishment. This subject can have many opinions.