I recently facilitated a workshop on clear writing and provided tips to strengthen the clarity of prose. Most know that concise writing is harder to accomplish but more effective communication. Oftentimes, people attempt to tighten writing by cutting out excess adjectives and adverbs, or by eliminating “filler” words such as “just” or “that.” Both are excellent suggestions.
A technique that is often overlooked is to simply stop writing once you have made your point. Many excess words fall at the end of sentences as the writer rambles on.
Examples:
— Many excess words fall at the end of sentences [insert period here] as the writer rambles on.
— Please find my revised proposal and an attachment that provides additional detail [insert period here] and descriptions about the programs we discussed.
— I hope this proposal meets your needs and we are able to work together [insert period here] in this way.
— As always, if you have any comments or concerns, please feel free to reach out [insert period here] at any time to discuss.
If you delete the words after the [insert period here], you’ll be left with a shorter sentence and no lost meaning.
The next time you’re writing an email, blog post, or other correspondence, take a moment to consider where you end. The early period is your friend.
