Better Writing

Compact, precise and literal writing is desirable in most disciplines, but is essential in technical fields. Wordy, imprecise and metaphoric text dilutes and confuses the reader of a technical document. In this exercise we will work on improving our skills.

• Checklist for concise writing:
  • Eliminate small words: Scan each sentence for groups of small words. Often the sentence can be re-worded to eliminate them. Goal: increase average character count per words.
  • Avoid gratuitous adjectives and adverbs unless they are really needed: Remove adjectives and adverbs that only vaguely help the reader. Goal: Really, truly, eliminate unneeded adjectives and adverbs.
  • Remove redundant sentences: Scan each paragraph for sentences that don't carry their own weight. Goal: Each sentence should be essential so that, if you remove it, the paragraph will not make sense.
  • Remove redundant paragraphs: Do for paragraphs what you did for sentences.
• Tips for Compact Writing: Grammar Girl , Mignon Fogarty
• Technical Writing Overview: Overview , David A. McMurrey.
• A Template for Writing an Original Technical Report: Primary Research Report , David A. McMurrey.
• Writing Tips: Three Sins of Authors in Computer Science and Math , Jonathan Shewchuk.

Exercises

1. Identify three elements of your survey paper that are out of sync with the suggestions in the above links.
2. Revise your text for better alignment.
3. Turn in both the original and revised text on assigned due date.