Today’s EyeEdit Tip: Take time to choose words that express exactly what you want to say.

Faced with a full mail box, your readers may be more likely to respond to you if they understand your meaning right away.  Vague wording can  cause breaches that cost time and money to repair.  On the other hand, specific wording can stimulate prompt action.

In your writing, try replacing the modifiers below with exact facts and figures to state how many, how high, what speed, what time:

A few (ten? one thousand?)

High (measured in inches? miles?)

Large (six square centimeters? forty kilometers?)

Many (twenty? fifteen thousand?)

More (two per cent? seventy per cent?)

Slow (five miles per hour? fifty miles per hour?)

Soon (in thirty minutes? in thirty days?)

Quiz

How would you change the sentences below to say exactly what you mean?

  1. Please send your check for the full amount as soon as possible.
  2. This item is a low-cost product.
  3. We provide fast service.

Suggested Responses to Quiz

You might replace the italicized phrases with more precise terms. For example:

  1. Please send your check for $718.75 by September 18, 2010.
  2. This Italian leather handbag costs $50, half the usual price.
  3. Our full-house pizza will reach you within twenty minutes of your order.

Happy writing,

EyeEdit Team

Copyright 2010 Eye Edit.  All rights reserved

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