Page 101 - English for Writing Research Papers

83

5.4 Consider cutting abstract words

Words such as activity and task (see 5.1) add no value to what you are saying. They

are very abstract and not memorable words for the reader. If you find that your paper
is full of the words listed below, first decide if you could cut them, if not try to fi nd

a more concise and concrete alternative.
activity, case, character, characteristics, choice, circumstances, condition, consideration,
criteria, eventuality, facilities, factor, instance, intervention, nature, observation, operation,
phase, phenomenon, problem, procedure, process, purpose, realization, remark, situation,
step, task, tendency, undertaking

For example what value does the process of add in the follow sentence?
The process of registration can take up to ten minutes.

Ask yourself: What is important about my work? What is new about it? What real
contribution am I making?

You can only write in a concrete way if you know the answers to those questions.
And then you can use specific examples to explain the importance.

Not all abstract nouns should be cut. Abstract words that express a clear concept
should be retained, e.g. freedom , love , fear .

5.5 Avoid generic + specifi c constructions

What could you cut in the sentences below?

Meetings will be held twice a year in June and December .
We investigated two countries ( i.e. Italy and France ), both of which …

If you can, immediately give your readers specific information without preceding
such information with a generic statement. In the sentences above, twice a year and
two countries add no value for the reader.