For a deeper dive, we have an on-demand course designed to help you make your writing clear from the start with 3 strategies. Check it out here: courses.highvaluewriting.com/courses/clear-and-concise-writing-3-strategies
I just started a Communications course looking for ways to improve business writing. My first search was "How to make my writing more concise". I landed here and I'm excited to check out the rest of your content.
Sounds great-welcome, Dean! We have lots of vids on writing concisely and meeting audience needs in business writing, etc. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions or topic requests!
Your videos are great. They are a resource I am suggesting to all my students, even at the graduate level, or perhaps I should say, especially at the graduate level. Thank you very much for these important videos.
Hi Jeffrey, thanks so much for your kind feedback. And agreed: I think often, the more schooling we've had, the harder the struggle for concision. Thanks for sharing!
@@HighValueWriting actuality yes. I’m sometimes not sure what I have to do with jargon. I always try to replace or to cancel. But sometimes the world is everywhere (for example on all other official documents) and so I have to use it too. How do you challenge with jargon?
Hi France, I'm sorry we haven't followed up on this yet! Thank you again for the great idea for one of our next video topics! Some quick ideas in the meantime: - When the jargon word is on other documents and you have to use it to be consistent, consider either hyperlinking that word to a definition or putting a one-syllable synonym after it in parenthesis. - When possible, use context clues like visuals or other words to help the reader learn while they are also dealing with jargon. For example using a color that's been used to connote positivity or negativity could give them a (possibly unconscious) understanding of that basic level of the meaning. - Use a really simple sentence structure for the entire sentence that includes the jargon word. That is, make everything else easy for the reader so they can focus their cognition on understanding that word. :)
Thanks a lot for useful content. Just one question: What if the first sentence has no person, it is about abstract idea. Should such sentences still be in active voice?
Hi Zafar, thanks for your excellent question! You are so right that many sentences include abstract subjects, and that this can make using active voice a bit different. I have a few ideas to share: - In some cases, it could be best to transform a sentence with an abstract subject into one with a concrete subject. For example, instead of "It was shared that we have a new schedule" can become "Management shared our new schedule." Or "There were many ways the decision impacted the community" can become "The decision impacted the community in many ways" or "The community benefited (if they did) from the decision." - In other cases, an abstract concept can stand in for a subject and can still be active. For example, "Education helps provide people with more choices" or "Equity is the goal." - It's also ok to use passive in cases where that would help you convey the meaning you want to. For example, even though "Erin ate all the cookies" is clear and active, it could be more polite to say "The cookies were finished," which also keeps your focus on the cookies, which might be the most important thing in that reader's mind. LMK what you think! :) Cheers, Erin
@@HighValueWriting Hi Erin, thanks a lot for your reply. I fully agree. Bringing abstract noun as subject and explaining how it benefits people is useful. You explained us how to achieve flow within a paragraph and across several paragraphs. Do you have some tips on how to start introductions in academic writing (scholarly articles)? In the field of academic writing the first opening paragraph is often considered the hardest to write. On the one hand if you write detailed opening, it feels like you are starting from the middle, on the other hand if you open with too broad par, it also feels reader unable to expect what the author could say next. I hope i could explain this struggle of mine. Hope to hear some tips from you. Thanks a lot.
Hi Zafar, thanks for your reply! :) You are so right about the academic essay introduction. We have a lot to balance! Trying to be specific, yet applied, etc. We do have this video actually! See what you think and LMK if you have questions! th-cam.com/video/vxVyoYAPyOc/w-d-xo.html
Hi friends-A few of you have asked for a version of this video without music. This other High-Value Writing video covers some similar content to this one, but without music. th-cam.com/video/B6GMZ7-t7tI/w-d-xo.html
So Hamlet says to himself, “To Be or... ugh, I have to get rid of that 'To Be' expression or whatever it is... a VERB? Is 'To Be' a verb in this case? It's all words, words, words to me. Bah, where is me bodkin!”
Hi friends! You can enter to win a FREE High-Value Writing WORKBOOK by commenting on our giveaway video by May 31, 2024: th-cam.com/video/KcbkH3pFXJI/w-d-xo.html
Hi @PlankyplaysYT, thanks for checking out our video! I agree, and we've moved away from the music since. You might enjoy this updated video that covers similar strategies but with no music: th-cam.com/video/B6GMZ7-t7tI/w-d-xo.html. Cheers!
Hi Ishak, thank you for your comment, and we agree with you: We have stopped using music in the videos while Erin's talking. :) This video covers some similar topics, but is more recent and doesn't have the music: th-cam.com/video/B6GMZ7-t7tI/w-d-xo.html
The hacks you describe are good - BUT- the music in the background ---I give you an overall F for the video. Why would want distraction --with that music in the background. Have you been to the library (lol)---total silence !!!!!!
Hi Alex, this video covers much of the same content with no music: th-cam.com/video/B6GMZ7-t7tI/w-d-xo.html. You'll find the music is gone from our videos after the first three or so.
I'd suggest that you always wear earphones when watching TH-cam videos in a library. Even without the music, you would still hear her speaking (lol)!!!!! So, I give your comment an overall F for speaking before thinking, and being unnecessarily rude.
![#1 STRATEGY to become FLUENT in English [and why you DON'T NEED to 'speak like a native speaker’]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0V0WeEnsec0/mqdefault.jpg)
For a deeper dive, we have an on-demand course designed to help you make your writing clear from the start with 3 strategies. Check it out here:
courses.highvaluewriting.com/courses/clear-and-concise-writing-3-strategies
I appreciate how clear and concise you are!
Thanks so much, Alan; I'm happy to hear it! :)
I appreciate how clear and concise you are in your videos.
I appreciate that; thanks, Nancy!
I appreciate how you keep things clear and concise!
Thank you, Patricia! I really appreciate that feedback.😄
Love it: "Verbs are the most powerful part of a sentence."
Thanks, friend! Yes, I rely on verbs for so much! They both create concision *and* set a tone... all in one word! Talk about concise... ;)
This was great, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jessica! Thanks for your comment. :)
I appreciate your clear and concise approach!
Thanks Robert. Concise is Nice!
Thanks so much for your feedback, Robert! I appreciate your comment! 😄
Thanks for making everything clear and concise!
You bet! Thanks so much for your comment, Helen!
I wish all my teachers was concise as you.
🤪🤪 Ah, thank you Henry-glad to hear the vid was helpful!
I just started a Communications course looking for ways to improve business writing. My first search was "How to make my writing more concise". I landed here and I'm excited to check out the rest of your content.
Sounds great-welcome, Dean! We have lots of vids on writing concisely and meeting audience needs in business writing, etc. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions or topic requests!
Welcome! 🎉
Thanks, Erin!! it really helped me in my college application..
I'm so glad to hear it; thanks for your comment!
@@HighValueWriting
Your videos are great. They are a resource I am suggesting to all my students, even at the graduate level, or perhaps I should say, especially at the graduate level. Thank you very much for these important videos.
Hi Jeffrey, thanks so much for your kind feedback. And agreed: I think often, the more schooling we've had, the harder the struggle for concision. Thanks for sharing!
Love all your examples!!
Nice strategy.I am impressed
Glad to hear you enjoyed the strategies, Emmanuel! Thank you for your comment.
Thank you, Erin! I am staying.
Wonderful, Doreen! Happy to learn with you here at the channel!
Great tips, thank you!
You are so welcome!
Just in time when I write my thesis. This answers some of my questions too. Thank you!
I just found and appreciate your TH-cam Channel. I am too wordy & have much "opportunity" to write more concise emails. I appreciate your help! 😀
Hi Kory, nice to meet you, and thanks for your kind feedback! I hope you find these strategies helpful! :)
This is a biggest problem in my writing, talking and communication. Thank you for this . 😊😊
Wonderful; so glad to hear it was helpful, Lukas!
You're a life saver
Thank you and glad to hear the vid was helpful! :)
Good videos. Thank you!
Thanks, France; I'm so glad you're enjoying them! Do you have any questions on any of them? I'll be doing some follow-up videos soon. :)
@@HighValueWriting actuality yes. I’m sometimes not sure what I have to do with jargon. I always try to replace or to cancel. But sometimes the world is everywhere (for example on all other official documents) and so I have to use it too. How do you challenge with jargon?
Hi France, I'm sorry we haven't followed up on this yet! Thank you again for the great idea for one of our next video topics!
Some quick ideas in the meantime:
- When the jargon word is on other documents and you have to use it to be consistent, consider either hyperlinking that word to a definition or putting a one-syllable synonym after it in parenthesis.
- When possible, use context clues like visuals or other words to help the reader learn while they are also dealing with jargon. For example using a color that's been used to connote positivity or negativity could give them a (possibly unconscious) understanding of that basic level of the meaning.
- Use a really simple sentence structure for the entire sentence that includes the jargon word. That is, make everything else easy for the reader so they can focus their cognition on understanding that word.
:)
You're not annoying at all, unlike most TH-camrs. You didn't even use the irritating phrase Writing Journey...
Subscribed!!
lol! And “learning journey” too. #goodinstincts
Thanks for your support, Anthony! Glad you found the strategies useful!
Love your videos, thank you
Thank you, Scott; much appreciated! Let me know if you have any topic requests! Have a great weekend.
"Visual" verb. Game changer! Thanks Erin🙏🏽
Wonderful! Yes, powerful, visual verbs get the job done-in fewer words!
So helpful. Again. Thank you.
Appreciate it, J-Ryze!
Great examples!!
Thanks, Emma; glad you found them helpful!
It was helpful! Your videos are helpful. Happy to subscribe ❤
Hi Astria, thanks so much! Welcome and happy to meet you. Glad you're finding the videos helpful.🌸
These are high value lessons & thank you so much ❤.
I realised the drawbacks of my writing & it improved dramatically. Thanks again!
No doubt, I will. Thank you!
Excellent, thank you so much for sharing useful ideas.
You are so welcome!
_”To exist, or not to exist. That establishes the question.”_
🤪 Lol, thanks for your comment!
Thanks a lot for useful content. Just one question: What if the first sentence has no person, it is about abstract idea. Should such sentences still be in active voice?
Hi Zafar, thanks for your excellent question! You are so right that many sentences include abstract subjects, and that this can make using active voice a bit different. I have a few ideas to share:
- In some cases, it could be best to transform a sentence with an abstract subject into one with a concrete subject. For example, instead of "It was shared that we have a new schedule" can become "Management shared our new schedule." Or "There were many ways the decision impacted the community" can become "The decision impacted the community in many ways" or "The community benefited (if they did) from the decision."
- In other cases, an abstract concept can stand in for a subject and can still be active. For example, "Education helps provide people with more choices" or "Equity is the goal."
- It's also ok to use passive in cases where that would help you convey the meaning you want to. For example, even though "Erin ate all the cookies" is clear and active, it could be more polite to say "The cookies were finished," which also keeps your focus on the cookies, which might be the most important thing in that reader's mind.
LMK what you think! :)
Cheers,
Erin
@@HighValueWriting Hi Erin, thanks a lot for your reply. I fully agree. Bringing abstract noun as subject and explaining how it benefits people is useful. You explained us how to achieve flow within a paragraph and across several paragraphs. Do you have some tips on how to start introductions in academic writing (scholarly articles)? In the field of academic writing the first opening paragraph is often considered the hardest to write. On the one hand if you write detailed opening, it feels like you are starting from the middle, on the other hand if you open with too broad par, it also feels reader unable to expect what the author could say next. I hope i could explain this struggle of mine. Hope to hear some tips from you. Thanks a lot.
Hi Zafar, thanks for your reply! :) You are so right about the academic essay introduction. We have a lot to balance! Trying to be specific, yet applied, etc. We do have this video actually! See what you think and LMK if you have questions! th-cam.com/video/vxVyoYAPyOc/w-d-xo.html
Hi friends-A few of you have asked for a version of this video without music. This other High-Value Writing video covers some similar content to this one, but without music. th-cam.com/video/B6GMZ7-t7tI/w-d-xo.html
Focus on those visual verbs!
Surprisingly, AI Gemini recommended me your video.
Wow! Thanks for sharing that. I would not have expected it! Interesting and good to know.😄
Subscribed!! :)
Welcome! 🎉
Thanks for being here at the HVW channel!
That's great, thank you!
🎉
Thanks Liliana! :)
So Hamlet says to himself, “To Be or... ugh, I have to get rid of that 'To Be' expression or whatever it is... a VERB? Is 'To Be' a verb in this case? It's all words, words, words to me. Bah, where is me bodkin!”
😜 Exactly! lol. Thanks for your comment, Count Vlad!
writing=כתיבה
Thank you Joenette for the translation info! :)
I misheard "To be verbs" as "Two beavers".
Lol! "As long as you don't have two beavers, your sentence will be concise." Heehee!
🤣
😂
Hi friends! You can enter to win a FREE High-Value Writing WORKBOOK by commenting on our giveaway video by May 31, 2024: th-cam.com/video/KcbkH3pFXJI/w-d-xo.html
I love your videos, Erin. But PLEASE lose the music. (Or lower it) It distracts.
Thanks for your comment, Robert, and we agreed: You'll find the later videos lose the music. Cheers!
great video but the background music is a bit to loud I missed out on a bit of information
Hi @PlankyplaysYT, thanks for checking out our video! I agree, and we've moved away from the music since. You might enjoy this updated video that covers similar strategies but with no music: th-cam.com/video/B6GMZ7-t7tI/w-d-xo.html. Cheers!
Could to please make videos , with no music when you speak.
Hi Ishak, thank you for your comment, and we agree with you: We have stopped using music in the videos while Erin's talking. :) This video covers some similar topics, but is more recent and doesn't have the music: th-cam.com/video/B6GMZ7-t7tI/w-d-xo.html
The hacks you describe are good - BUT- the music in the background ---I give you an overall F for the video.
Why would want distraction --with that music in the background.
Have you been to the library (lol)---total silence !!!!!!
Hi Alex, this video covers much of the same content with no music: th-cam.com/video/B6GMZ7-t7tI/w-d-xo.html. You'll find the music is gone from our videos after the first three or so.
I'd suggest that you always wear earphones when watching TH-cam videos in a library. Even without the music, you would still hear her speaking (lol)!!!!! So, I give your comment an overall F for speaking before thinking, and being unnecessarily rude.
@@Librarian_Dude Great point Arnold, thanks. I enjoy the music.
Great idea to use headphones; thanks, Librarian Dude.
Very helpful tips!
Agreed, leading with who and what has helped me be less wordy.
Glad you are finding these helpful! 🌼
Glad to hear it, thanks!
That's great; leading with that info helps reduce fluff for sure.
🤩