Writing Concise Sentences Writing Concise Sentences Guide to Grammar and Writing Select from . . .
Vigorous writing is concise.
A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell. Here are some notes toward efficiency and conciseness in writing. Avoid saying the same thing twice. Many uneducated citizens who have never attended school continue to vote for better schools.