Posted: January 2, 2009
Updates On Old Ideas
Back in 1984, I gave a presentation to the Agricultural Communications Section of the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists in New Orleans. The title was "Some Things Don't Change -- The Case For Good Copy." Here's an excerpt from the printed proceedings:
"We continue to degrade our language in many ways. Despite the need for brevity, we insist on using longer words when short ones would be much more effective. Redundancy is everywhere. We use catch phrases and buzz words without hesitation. Too often we place a higher value on exaggeration, short cuts, hype and glitz than we do on the pursuit of accuracy."
I sincerely wish I could say that now, 25 years later, the situation has improved. It hasn't. Instead, it has become significantly worse. As we become covered with increasing layers of communication, we should be even more conscious of the need for clear and concise language. Even more strange is the even greater disconnect between what we write and what we speak
Consider this. The word "common" is rapidly becoming extinct. Replacing it is "ubiquitous" which means something that is "present everywhere." But you will see that word only in print. You won't hear ubiquitous being used in casual conversation. Not only that, few people even know what the word means.
Also becoming extinct are the words "more" and "also." Replacing them are "additional" and "additionally," respectively. Again, although you see those new words in print, you rarely hear anyone speak them. When, for example, is the last time you heard anyone at the breakfast table say, "I would like some additional milk, please." Also, I pose this question: If we write "additional" which means more, why aren't we writing "subtractional" which means less?
The word "years" is being run off the highway of clear writing in favor of "decades." Beyond me is why any writer would purposely and unnecessarily complicate writing and force readers to do the math. A recent news story revealed it had been "nearly three decades" since the crime, "two decades" since the murderer had been convicted and "more than a decade" since the murderer had first become eligible for parole. Yet, no actual dates were given for any of the three events. Not only does that word lead to the distorting of facts, it also is responsible for such redundancies as "the decade of the 1980s."
Then there are old and disgusting holdovers such as the use of "currently" which means the present. Since currently must be used with another present tense verb "is" or "are" to make sense, the result is an unneeded and unwanted redundancy.
Put together just these three examples and you could write this sentence: Additionally, after a decade and a half, the new model is currently becoming ubiquitous. Ignore them and the same sentence would read: Also, after 15 years, the new model is becoming more common.
I could go on to complete an extensive list of glaring example. But you get the idea.
A common but limp and irresponsible argument others use in waving away such concerns is that our language is constantly changing. That's true but only in the sense of new words that need to be added, words such as "internet" and "website." The argument fails when applied to the logic and principles of clear and concise writing.
I realize you might not be taking any of this seriously and even if you are, you may not be willing to fully explore all the opportunities you have for cleaning up your writing.
So I will make it easy for you. Beginning now, stop using these words: ubiquitous, additional, additionally, currently and decades.
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