Concise Sentences
Paramedic Method: A Lesson in Writing Concisely
Summary:
This handout provides steps and exercises to eliminate wordiness at the sentence level.
Contributors:Allen Brizee
Last Edited: 2010-04-17 05:35:15
Last Edited: 2010-04-17 05:35:15
Use the Paramedic Method (originally developed by Richard Lanham in Revising Prose) to edit any kind of professional writing. Editing your professional writing using the Paramedic Method will make your prose easier to read. Sentences that are easy to read are more persuasive and more user-centered.
Professional writers understand the need for clear, concise prose. An industry standard for helping workplace writers achieve user-centered, persuasive, and clear prose is the Paramedic Method. When you use the Paramedic Method, you will reduce your word count by eliminating unnecessary words. The Paramedic Method also helps you activate your sentences by eliminating passive voice and redundancies. The Paramedic Method is an easy to learn, systematic way to make your sentences more persuasive and more user-centered.
Follow the seven steps below to improve the readability of your sentences.
The Paramedic Method
- Circle the prepositions (of, in, about, for, onto, into)
- Draw a box around the "is" verb forms
- Ask, "Where's the action?"
- Change the "action" into a simple verb
- Move the doer into the subject (Who's kicking whom)
- Eliminate any unnecessary slow wind-ups
- Eliminate any redundancies.
Paramedic Method Example
Now You Try
Use the Paramedic Method in the sentences below to practice.
Use the Paramedic Method in the sentences below to practice making your sentences more concise. After you use the Paramedic Method on these sentences, check your results against the sentences at the bottom of this handout.
- The point I wish to make is that the employees working at this company are in need of a much better manager of their money.
- It is widely known that the engineers at Sandia Labs have become active participants in the Search and Rescue operations in most years.
- After reviewing the results of your previous research, and in light of the relevant information found within the context of the study, there is ample evidence for making important, significant changes to our operating procedures.
1) The employees working at this company need a better manager fir their money.
ReplyDelete2) In most years, engineers at Sandia Labs have been active participants in the Search and Rescue operations.
3) After reviewing the results of your previous research, I have found ample evidence and changes to our operating procedures.
1. Employees need better money management in this company.
ReplyDelete2. Engineers at Sandia Labs have become widely known participants in Sear and Rescue operations.
3. Your previous research shows there is evidence for making significant changes to our operating procedures.
1)The employees working at this company need a much better management of their money.
ReplyDelete2)It is widely known that the engineers at Sandia Labs have become active participants in the search and rescue operations.
3)After reviewing the results of your previous research, there is sample evidence for making significant changes to our operating procedures.
Employees at this company need better money management
ReplyDeleteIn most years, engineers at Sandia Labs have become active participants in the Search and Rescue operations.
In your previous research there is ample evidence for making significant changes to our operating procedures.
1. Employees working in this company needs a better manager for their money.
ReplyDelete2. It is known that engineers at Sandia Labs have become active participants in the Search and Rescue operations for many years.
3. After reviewing your previous research, there is evidence for making important changes to our operating procedures.
-The employees at this company need better money management.
ReplyDelete-Engineers at Sandia Labs are becoming more active participants in the Search and Rescue operations.
-The results of your previous research shows that there is ample evidence for making significant changes to our operating procedures.
1) Employees at this company need better management of their money.
ReplyDelete2)It is know that that engineers at Sandia Labs are active participants in the Search and Rescue Operations.
3) After the results of the previous research there is evidence for making significant changes to our procedures.
1) The employees at this company need better money management.
ReplyDelete2) It is common that Sandia Lab engineers are participants in the Search and Rescue operations.
3) After reviewing the information in your research, there is evidence to make important changes to our procedures.
The employees at this company need a better management for their money.
ReplyDeleteIn most years, it is widely known that the engineers at Sandia Labs have become active participants in the Search and Rescue Operations.
After reviewing the results of previous research, there is sample evidence found that will make important, significant changes to our operation procedures.
1. Employees who work at this company need better money management.
ReplyDelete2. In Sandia Labs engineers have become active participants in Sear and Rescue operations.
3. The results of your previous research demonstrate that there is evidence for making significant changes to our operating procedures.