The building blocks of sentences pave the way Good writing is the cumulative effect of well-chosen words, but we sometimes don't pay proper attention to those smallest and most basic units of communication. Finding the right words often makes the difference between mediocre and distinguished work. The right words are also critical in writing interesting stories rather than boring reports. Concrete expression is one of the most important considerations in word choice.
Concrete terms are solid and specific, while abstractions blur meaning.
Unfortunately, abstraction is often a given in media writing. We can do little, for example, about the long, pretentious and often meaningless proper nouns that title bureaucracies, departments, documents, positions, events, and so forth. If the necessary abstraction is unfortunate, the unnecessary abstraction is abominable. Short and familiar words also promote concrete expression. Long words are bulky, weak and suited to reports.