Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Revising
Proofreading
Improving
Improvingcontent
contentand
and
sentence
sentence
structure
structure -may
-mayinvolve
involveadding,
adding,
cutting,
cutting,recasting
recasting
Correcting
Correctinggrammar,
grammar,spelling,
spelling,
Punctuation,
Punctuation,format
formatand
and
Mechanics.
Mechanics.
Concise Wording
Revise your messages to eliminate wordiness.
Instead of this
Try this
We think
Please
Also
Now
Although
Slang
Try this
We dont as a general
Long Lead-Ins
Instead of this
Try this
Thanks to everyone
who voted.
Outdated Expressions
Outdated
Modern
At your request
At your request
attached hereunto
Attached
Separately
Needless Adverbs
To sound more credible and to streamline
your writing, avoid excessive use of adverbs
such as definitely, quite, really, and actually.
Instead of this
Try this
The manager is
actually quite pleased
with your proposal
because the plan is
definitely workable.
The manager is
pleased with your
proposal because the
plan is workable.
.
Fillers
Revise sentences to avoid fillers such as there
and it when used merely to take up space.
Instead of this
Try this
Two employees
should be
promoted.
We will probably
finish in two weeks.
As you requested,
two contracts are
attached.
Generally,
employees may not
use computers for
personal activities.
Redundant Words
Avoid unnecessarily repetitious words. What
words could be omitted in these expressions?
advance warning
close proximity
exactly identical
filled to capacity
final outcome
necessary requisite
new beginning
past history
refer back
serious danger
Jargon
Avoid technical terms and special terminology
that readers would not recognize.
Computer jargon
Queue
Alternative language
Export
bandwidth
list of documents
waiting to be printed
Internet capacity
Slang
Avoid slang (informal expressions with
arbitrary or extravagantly changed meanings).
to bag on
clueless
turkey
chill/chill out
To tease, to nag,
or to complain
Unaware, naiive
Someone stupid
or silly
relax
Slang
An example from the world of Dilbert:
Clichs
Avoid clichs (overused expressions).
Substitute more precise words.
Instead of this
Try this
We could go no
further.
Precise Verbs
Revise your writing to include precise verbs
instead of general, lackluster, all-purpose ones.
Market researchers said that
sales would improve.
What more precise verbs could replace said?
Market researchers predicted improved sales.
Buried Verbs
Revise verbs that have been converted to nouns.
Tip
Look
Lookfor
forwords
wordsending
endinginin
tion
tionor
orment.
ment.Could
Couldthey
they
be
bemore
moreefficiently
efficientlyand
and
forcefully
forcefullyconverted
convertedtotoverbs?
verbs?
Instead of this
Try this
The manager
realized that the
telecommuting
made sense.
make application
before May 1.
Instead of this
Once we have the
establishment of a
Web site, our
business will grow.
Please give serious
consideration to a
company intranet.
Try this
Once we establish
a website, our
business will grow.
Please seriously
consider a company
intranet.
Consumers prefer
buttered popcorn.
Concrete Nouns
Revise your writing to include specific, concrete
nouns instead of general, abstract ones.
Instead of this
Try this
An employee
presented a
proposal.
Vivid Adjectives
Revise your writing to include descriptive,
dynamic adjectives instead of overworked,
all-purpose ones.
Instead of this
Try this
Possible revisions?
Proofreading Marks
How to Proofread
Complex Documents