The Art of Writing Concise Sentences in Essays
Introduction
Writing concise sentences is a crucial skill that transforms ordinary essays into powerful works of academic and professional communication. When we write with precision, we convey complex ideas more clearly and keep readers engaged throughout our writing. This article explores practical techniques for crafting concise sentences that elevate essay quality, examining why brevity matters in academic writing and how to achieve it without sacrificing meaning.
What Makes a Sentence Concise?
A concise sentence communicates an idea using only necessary words—nothing more, nothing less. It’s not just about brevity; it’s about precision and clarity. Concise writing eliminates redundancy while preserving meaning, making your essays more impactful and easier to read.
Consider these examples:
| Wordy Sentence | Concise Revision | Improvement |
|---|---|---|
| “In my personal opinion, I think that the author seems to be suggesting that society has a tendency to overlook the importance of environmental issues.” | “The author suggests society overlooks environmental issues.” | Eliminated unnecessary phrases and redundancies |
| “Due to the fact that students often procrastinate, they frequently find themselves in situations where they have to complete assignments at the last minute.” | “Because students procrastinate, they often complete assignments at the last minute.” | Replaced wordy phrases with simpler alternatives |
| “The research study conducted by Professor Johnson investigated the various ways in which sleep patterns affect academic performance.” | “Professor Johnson’s research investigated how sleep patterns affect academic performance.” | Used possessive form and simplified structure |
Why Concision Matters in Academic Writing
Concise writing offers several advantages that directly impact how readers receive and evaluate your work:
- Improves clarity – Readers grasp your points more easily when not wading through excessive words
- Strengthens arguments – Direct statements often carry more conviction than rambling ones
- Demonstrates respect for the reader’s time and attention
- Shows mastery of both subject matter and language
- Meets academic requirements more effectively (word counts reflect substance, not padding)
As William Strunk Jr. advised in The Elements of Style: “Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences.”
Common Wordiness Culprits to Eliminate
Redundant Phrases
Many common expressions repeat the same idea unnecessarily:
- ~~”Absolutely essential”~~ → “Essential”
- ~~”Past history”~~ → “History”
- ~~”Basic fundamentals”~~ → “Fundamentals”
- ~~”True facts”~~ → “Facts”
- ~~”End result”~~ → “Result”
Empty Modifiers
Some words add length without contributing meaning:
- ~~”Very unique”~~ → “Unique”
- ~~”Really important”~~ → “Important”
- ~~”Definitely conclusive”~~ → “Conclusive”
Nominalizations (Noun Forms of Verbs)
Converting verbs to nouns often creates wordiness:
| Wordy (Nominalization) | Concise (Using Verb) |
|---|---|
| “Made an announcement” | “Announced” |
| “Conducted an investigation” | “Investigated” |
| “Provided a response” | “Responded” |
| “Reached a conclusion” | “Concluded” |
| “Gave consideration to” | “Considered” |
Prepositional Phrase Overload
Too many prepositional phrases create convoluted sentences:
- Wordy: “The book on the shelf in the corner of the room belongs to the professor from the English department.”
- Better: “The English professor’s book sits on the corner shelf.”
Practical Techniques for Writing Concisely
1. Eliminate Unnecessary Determiners and Modifiers
Words like “there is/are,” “it is,” and “that” often add bulk without value:
- Wordy: “There are many students who struggle with concise writing.”
- Concise: “Many students struggle with concise writing.”
2. Use Strong Verbs
Strong, specific verbs eliminate the need for adverbs and additional explanation:
- Weak: “She walked very quickly to the library.”
- Strong: “She sprinted to the library.”
| Weak Verb Construction | Strong Verb Alternative |
|---|---|
| “Make a decision” | “Decide” |
| “Give assistance to” | “Help” |
| “Take into consideration” | “Consider” |
| “Come to a realization” | “Realize” |
| “Put an emphasis on” | “Emphasize” |
3. Embrace Active Voice
Passive voice typically requires more words than active voice:
- Passive: “The essay was written by the student.”
- Active: “The student wrote the essay.”
4. Cut Redundant Pairs
English often pairs words with similar meanings:
- ~~”Each and every”~~ → “Each” or “Every”
- ~~”First and foremost”~~ → “First”
- ~~”True and accurate”~~ → “Accurate”
5. Practice Sentence Combining
Join related ideas to eliminate repetitive elements:
- Wordy: “The professor provided feedback. The feedback was detailed. The feedback helped students improve.”
- Concise: “The professor’s detailed feedback helped students improve.”
The Revision Process: Strategies for Tightening Your Prose
The 10% Rule
Many writing instructors recommend the “10% Rule”—aim to cut 10% of your first draft’s word count during revision. This practice forces you to evaluate every word’s necessity.
As Dr. Richard Lanham, author of Revising Prose, suggests with his “Paramedic Method” for revising:
- Circle prepositions
- Highlight “is” forms
- Ask “Who is doing what?” to identify the core action
- Put this core action in a simple subject-verb-object structure
- Eliminate unnecessary words identified in steps 1-3
Read Aloud Method
Reading your writing aloud reveals wordiness that silent reading might miss. Pay attention to:
- Where you stumble or run out of breath
- Phrases that sound awkward or repetitive
- Sentences that could be expressed more directly
Reverse Outlining
After writing a draft:
- Identify the main point of each paragraph
- Evaluate if each sentence contributes to that point
- Cut any sentences that don’t directly support the paragraph’s purpose
Balancing Concision with Other Writing Goals
Academic Expectations vs. Brevity
While concision is valuable, academic writing has other requirements:
- Adequate evidence – Supporting claims often requires detailed explanation
- Nuance – Some complex ideas need qualification and careful unpacking
- Disciplinary conventions – Some fields have specific structural expectations
As Professor Helen Sword notes in her book Stylish Academic Writing, the goal is “elegance and efficiency, not just economy of words.”
When Elaboration Is Necessary
Certain contexts require more words:
- Explaining complex or novel concepts
- Addressing counterarguments thoroughly
- Providing necessary context for unfamiliar audiences
- Creating appropriate tone through more elaborate phrasing
Subject-Specific Considerations
Different disciplines have different expectations:
| Field | Concision Considerations |
|---|---|
| Legal Writing | Precision may require careful qualification and specific terminology |
| Literary Analysis | May include more detailed textual evidence and interpretive language |
| Scientific Writing | Values extremely economical prose with precise technical terms |
| Philosophy | May require elaborate unpacking of complex concepts |
Perspectives from Writing Experts
George Orwell’s rules from “Politics and the English Language” remain relevant:
- Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print
- Never use a long word where a short one will do
- If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out
- Never use the passive where you can use the active
- Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent
William Zinsser, in On Writing Well, emphasizes: “The secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every word that serves no function, every long word that could be a short word, every adverb that carries the same meaning that’s already in the verb, every passive construction that leaves the reader unsure of who is doing what—these are the thousand and one adulterants that weaken the strength of a sentence.”
Examples of Concise Writing in Action
Before and After Examples
| Before | After | Changes Made |
|---|---|---|
| “In this modern day and age, it is of great importance that students fully understand and appreciate the significance of writing in a manner that is concise.” | “Today’s students must understand the value of concise writing.” | Eliminated dated phrases, reduced nominalization, simplified structure |
| “The researcher conducted a thorough investigation into the various factors that potentially contribute to the overall phenomenon of student procrastination.” | “The researcher investigated factors contributing to student procrastination.” | Removed empty modifiers, converted nominalization to verb, eliminated redundant qualifiers |
| “It should be noted that the conclusions that were reached by the committee members were based on data that was collected over a time period of approximately six months.” | “The committee’s conclusions relied on data collected over six months.” | Used possessive form, eliminated passive voice, removed unnecessary phrase markers |
Model Concise Academic Passages
From Steven Pinker’s The Sense of Style: “The curse of knowledge is the single best explanation I know of why good people write bad prose. It simply doesn’t occur to the writer that her readers don’t know what she knows—that they haven’t mastered the patois of her guild, can’t divine the missing steps that seem too obvious to mention, have no way to visualize a scene that to her is as clear as day. And so she doesn’t bother to explain the jargon, or spell out the logic, or supply the necessary background knowledge.”
Note how Pinker uses:
- Strong, precise verbs
- Limited modifiers
- Active voice
- Concrete examples
- Clear sentence structures of varying length
Common Questions About Concise Writing
How short should my sentences be?
Sentence length should vary for rhythm and emphasis, but aim for an average of 15-25 words in academic writing. Longer sentences can work when well-structured; extremely short sentences create emphasis.
Does concise writing mean using fewer words overall?
Not necessarily. Concise writing means using only necessary words to express your ideas clearly. Sometimes this results in shorter essays, but the focus should be on efficiency rather than brevity for its own sake.
How can I be concise while meeting minimum word counts?
Rather than padding with extra words, deepen your analysis—include more examples, explore implications, address counterarguments, or consider additional perspectives on your topic.
Is concise writing appropriate for all academic disciplines?
Yes, though the specific expectations vary by field. Scientific writing tends to be extremely concise, while humanities might allow more elaborative language. All academic writing benefits from clarity and precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between being concise and being brief?
Concise writing uses only necessary words to express an idea clearly. Brief writing simply uses few words, potentially sacrificing clarity or completeness. Conciseness focuses on efficiency while preserving meaning.
How can I identify redundant words in my writing?
Look for phrases where multiple words express the same concept (like “absolutely essential”), prepositional phrase chains, and words that don’t add new information. Reading aloud helps identify unnecessary language.
Should I always avoid adjectives and adverbs?
No, but use them selectively. Choose adjectives and adverbs that add essential information. When possible, replace weak verb + adverb combinations with stronger verbs (e.g., “walked quickly” → “hurried”).
How do I write concisely without sounding abrupt or rude?
Concise writing doesn’t mean eliminating courtesy or nuance. Maintain politeness through word choice and tone rather than extra words. Remember that clarity often comes across as more respectful than verbosity.