The document discusses writing concisely. It defines concise writing as using minimal words that accomplish the purpose and meet audience needs, no more and no less. It recommends stripping unnecessary words like weak verbs, adverbs, intensifiers, negatives, and phrases to write more concisely and save time and money on translations.

1. Teach Your Text to Strip:
Take It Off—Take It (Almost) All Off
Marcia Riefer Johnston
@MarciaRJohnston
#InfoDevWorld

2. A few things
about conciseness
your English teacher
never taught you.

3. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

4. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

5. What does concise mean (and not mean)?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

6. What does concise mean (and not mean)?
Why do I care?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

7. What does concise mean (and not mean)?
Why do I care?
How can I write more concisely?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

8. What does concise mean (and not mean)?
Why do I care?
How can I write more concisely?
Strip
lessons
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

9. What does concise mean (and not mean)?
Why do I care?
How can I write more concisely?
Strip
lessons
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

10. #InfoDevWorld
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

11. No
headline?
#InfoDevWorld
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

12. No
headline?
No
bullets?
#InfoDevWorld
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

13. No
headline?
No
bullets? No
verbiage?
#InfoDevWorld
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

14. No
headline?
No
bullets? No
verbiage?
#InfoDevWorld
How
concise!
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

15. What does concise not mean?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

16. What does concise not mean?
Short
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

17. What does concise not mean?
Short
Why?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

18. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

19. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

20. Make text, like a skirt,
as long as needed.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

21. What does concise mean?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

22. What does concise mean?
Minimal
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

23. Minimal
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

24. Enough to meet your
audiences’ needs
Minimal
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

25. Enough to meet your
audiences’ needs
Enough to accomplish
your purpose
Minimal
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

26. Enough to meet your
audiences’ needs
Enough to accomplish
your purpose
No more
Minimal
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

27. Enough to meet your
audiences’ needs
Enough to accomplish
your purpose
Minimal
No more No less
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

28. Enough to meet your
audiences’ needs
Enough to accomplish
your purpose
Minimal
No more No less
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

29. Write Tight(er):
A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself,
Your Company, or
Your Products through
Your Words
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

30. Audience needs:
“What’s in it for me?”
Write Tight(er):
A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself,
Your Company, or
Your Products through
Your Words
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

31. Audience needs:
“What’s in it for me?”
My purpose:
Lure people
Write Tight(er):
A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself,
Your Company, or
Your Products through
Your Words
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

32. Audience needs:
“What’s in it for me?”
Write Tight(er):
A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself,
No more
My purpose:
Lure people
Your Company, or
Your Products through
Your Words
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

33. Audience needs:
“What’s in it for me?”
My purpose:
Lure people
Write Tight(er):
A Time-Saving, Pain-Free
Technique for Selling Yourself,
Your Company, or
Your Products through
Your Words
No more No less
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

34. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

35. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

36. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

37. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

38. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

39. Why do I care?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

40. Why do I care?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

41. Why do I care?
“Usability was dramatically
higher for the concise
version [of the website]—
58% better.”
Nielsen Norman Group
www.nngroup.com/articles/how-users-read-on-the-web
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

42. Why do I care?
“Usability was dramatically
higher for the concise
version [of the website]—
58% better.”
Nielsen Norman Group
www.nngroup.com/articles/how-users-read-on-the-web
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

43. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

44. Write
Tight
(er)
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

45. This is your
toothbrush
when it’s
new. The
blue bristles
are blue all
the way to
their tips.
This is your
toothbrush
when it’s
ready to
replace. The
blue bristles
have turned
half white.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

46. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

47. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

48. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

49. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

50. How much $ can you save?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

51. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

52. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
6 words
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

53. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
6 words
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

54. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

55. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

56. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

57. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

58. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

59. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
Translation savings:
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

60. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
Translation savings:
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

61. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
Translation savings:
1 sentence, 1 language
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

62. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
Translation savings:
$ 0.25
1 sentence, 1 language
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

63. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
Translation savings:
$ 0.25
1 sentence, 1 language
10,000 sentences, 1 language
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

64. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
Translation savings:
$ 0.25
$ 2,500.00
1 sentence, 1 language
10,000 sentences, 1 language
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

65. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
Translation savings:
$ 0.25
$ 2,500.00
1 sentence, 1 language
10,000 sentences, 1 language
10,000 sentences, 25 languages
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

66. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
Translation savings:
$ 0.25
$ 2,500.00
$ 62,500.00
1 sentence, 1 language
10,000 sentences, 1 language
10,000 sentences, 25 languages
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

67. How much $ can you save?
You may be needing a loan.
You may need a loan.
6 words
5 words
1 word
Translation savings:
$ 0.25
$ 2,500.00
$ 62,500.00
1 sentence, 1 language
10,000 sentences, 1 language
10,000 sentences, 25 languages
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

68. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

69. What concise means
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

70. What concise means
Why I care
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

71. How can I write
more concisely?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

72. How can I write
more concisely?
How can I teach my text to strip?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

73. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

74. Take it
(almost) all off,
dahling.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

75. Strip off these words!*
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

76. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

77. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

78. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

79. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

80. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

81. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

82. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

83. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

84. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

85. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

86. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

87. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
different (as in many different, 36 different)
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

88. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
different (as in many different, 36 different)
particular
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

89. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
different (as in many different, 36 different)
particular
verbiage
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

90. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
different (as in many different, 36 different)
particular
verbiage
any other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

91. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
different (as in many different, 36 different)
particular
verbiage
any other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

92. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
different (as in many different, 36 different)
particular
verbiage
any other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

93. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
different (as in many different, 36 different)
particular
verbiage
any other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

94. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
different (as in many different, 36 different)
particular
verbiage
any other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
We take
the rest
off in my
workshop.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

95. be-verbs
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

96. be
be-verbs
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

97. is
be
be-verbs
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

98. is
be
are be-verbs
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

99. is
be
are be-verbs
am
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

100. is
be
are be-verbs
was
am
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

101. is
be
are be-verbs
was has been
am
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

102. is
be
will
be
are be-verbs
was has been
am
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

103. is
be will have
been being
will
be
are be-verbs
was has been
am
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

104. be-verb. Any form of the verb to be—
namely, am, are, be, been, being, is, was,
and were—whether used as an auxiliary
verb or as a main verb.
—Bryan Garner
Garner’s Modern American Usage
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

105. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

106. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

107. See be-verbs.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

108. See be-verbs.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

109. See be-verbs.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

110. See be-verbs.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

111. Start seeing be-verbs!
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

112. Examples
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

113. Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

114. Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

115. Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

116. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

117. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

118. The fix might not
be self-evident.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

119. The fix might not
be self-evident.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

120. The fix might not
be self-evident.
You have to think.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

121. The fix might not
be self-evident.
You have to think.
(Not too painful.)
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

122. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

123. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

124. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

125. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

126. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

127. “A scheme of which every part promises
delight can never be successful.”
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

128. “A scheme of which every part promises
delight can never be successful.”
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

129. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

130. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

131. Audit logs are proof
that no data breach
has occurred.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

132. Audit logs are proof
that no data breach
has occurred.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

133. Our team wants
to be predictive.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

134. Our team wants
to be predictive.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

135. Our team wants
to be predictive.
What does
the team
want to do?
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136. Skydiving was fun.
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137. Skydiving was fun.
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138. Skydiving was fun.
What
happened?
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139. “Write when there is
something that you know;
and not before; and not
too damned much after.”
—Ernest Hemingway,
Death in the Afternoon
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140. “Write when there is
something that you know;
and not before; and not
too damned much after.”
—Ernest Hemingway,
Death in the Afternoon
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141. www.hemingwayapp.com
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142. www.hemingwayapp.com
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143. www.hemingwayapp.com
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144. www.hemingwayapp.com
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145. What it is is…
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146. “What was found was that access
points on maps were not reflective
or accurate for where they are.”
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147. “What was found was that access
points on maps were not reflective
or accurate for where they are.”
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148. “ There are known knowns. These are things
we know that we know. There are known
unknowns. That is to say, there are things
that we know we don’t know. But there are
also unknown unknowns. There are things
we don’t know we don’t know.”
(attributed to a one-time US secretary of defense)
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149. “ There are known knowns. These are things
we know that we know. There are known
unknowns. That is to say, there are things
that we know we don’t know. But there are
also unknown unknowns. There are things
we don’t know we don’t know.”
(attributed to a one-time US secretary of defense)
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150. “ There are known knowns. These are things
we know that we know. There are known
unknowns. That is to say, there are things
that we know we don’t know. But there are
also unknown unknowns. There are things
we don’t know we don’t know.”
(attributed to a one-time US secretary of defense)
We don’t know diddly—
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151. “ There are known knowns. These are things
we know that we know. There are known
unknowns. That is to say, there are things
that we know we don’t know. But there are
also unknown unknowns. There are things
we don’t know we don’t know.”
(attributed to a one-time US secretary of defense)
We don’t know diddly—
except to avoid (most) be-verbs.
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152. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

153. Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright.
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154. Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright.
Gypsy Rose Lee, a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act, also
wrote plays.
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155. Words
Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright. 19
Gypsy Rose Lee, a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act, also
wrote plays. 16
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156. Words
Cost to
translate into
1 language
Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright. 19 $4.75
Gypsy Rose Lee, a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act, also
wrote plays. 16 $4.00
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157. Words
Cost to
translate into
1 language 25 lang.
Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright. 19 $4.75 $118.75
Gypsy Rose Lee, a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act, also
wrote plays. 16 $4.00 $100.00
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158. Words
Cost to
translate into
1 language 25 lang.
10,000
sentences
Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright. 19 $4.75 $118.75 $1,187,500.00
Gypsy Rose Lee, a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act, also
wrote plays. 16 $4.00 $100.00 $1,000,000.00
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

159. Words
Cost to
translate into
1 language 25 lang.
10,000
sentences
Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright. 19 $4.75 $118.75 $1,187,500.00
Gypsy Rose Lee, a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act, also
wrote plays. 16 $4.00 $100.00 $1,000,000.00
Savings 16% $0.75 $18.75 $187,500.00
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

160. Words
Cost to
translate into
1 language 25 lang.
10,000
sentences
Gypsy Rose Lee was a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act. She
was also a playwright. 19 $4.75 $118.75 $1,187,500.00
Gypsy Rose Lee, a
burlesque entertainer
famous for her classy,
witty striptease act, also
wrote plays. 16 $4.00 $100.00 $1,000,000.00
Savings 16% $0.75 $18.75 $187,500.00
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

161. Use be-verbs when
they serve a purpose.
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162. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

163. what?
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164. is
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165. “Content is something you
can run an ad alongside of.”
—Nora Ephron, I Remember Nothing
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166. “Content is something you
can run an ad alongside of.”
—Nora Ephron, I Remember Nothing
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167. “Content is something you
can run an ad alongside of.”
—Nora Ephron, I Remember Nothing
content
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168. “Content is something you
can run an ad alongside of.”
—Nora Ephron, I Remember Nothing
content ads
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169. “Content is something you
can run an ad alongside of.”
—Nora Ephron, I Remember Nothing
content ads
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170. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

171. See be-verbs.
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172. Now available
Start seeing be-verbs.
HowToWriteEverything.com
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173. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

174. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

175. Be-verbs are everywhere. See?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

176. Be-verbs are everywhere. See?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

177. Is that a be-verb
in your pocket?
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178. Strip off these words!*
*unless you need them
weak be-verbs (is, was, were, will be, have been, am, are)
-ly words (& other vapid adverbs)
very, such, so (& other empty intensifiers)
not, no (& other negative words)
the fact that
just
begin to, try to, tend to, in order to
period of time
in light of, in spite of, in terms of (& of in general)
proverbial
different (as in many different, 36 different)
particular
verbiage
any other verbiage or unneeded words that you can pitch
We take
the rest
off in my
workshop.
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179. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

180. Adjectives
• absolutely certain, absolutely essential, absolutely
guaranteed, completely necessary, totally sure
• bald-headed
• best ever, first ever
• blue in color, few in number, long in duration, nubbly in
texture, round in shape, slovenly in appearance, short in
height, slow in speed, small in size, tall in stature
• booked solid
• exact same, same exact, same identical
• filled to capacity
• incredible to believe, visible to the eye, warm to the touch
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181. Nouns
• actual experience, actual fact
• added bonus
• advance notice, advance planning, advance preview,
advance reservations, advance warning
• all-time favorite, all-time record
• alternative choice
• anonymous stranger
• annual anniversary
• armed gunman
• artificial prosthesis
• autobiography of her own life, biography of his life
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182. Nouns
• actual experience, actual fact
• added bonus
• advance notice, advance planning, advance preview,
advance reservations, advance warning
• all-time favorite, all-time record
• alternative choice
• anonymous stranger
• annual anniversary
• armed gunman
• artificial prosthesis
• autobiography of her own life, biography of his life
And that’s just
the a’s.
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183. Verbs
• add an additional
• aid and abet, cease and desist, pick and choose
• allow you to be able to
• always include
• ask the question
• assemble together, attach together, blend together,
collaborate together, combine together, confer together,
connect together, cooperate together, fuse together, gather
together, join together, integrate together, meet together,
merge together, mingle together, mix together, pool
together, share together, splice together
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184. Odds and Ends
• 6 a.m. in the morning, 10 p.m. in the evening,
twelve noon, twelve midnight
• and etc.
• ATM machine, GOP party, GRE exam, HIV virus,
ISBN number, LCD display, PIN number, RAM memory,
UPC code—and my favorite: Please RSVP
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185. More on redundancy …
www.HowToWriteEverything.com/
Annals-of-Redundancy-Annals/
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186. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

187. Oo-la-la!
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188. Story time

189. Story time
Water dispenser

190. Story time
Buttons
Water dispenser

191. Story time
Quick reference
Buttons
Water dispenser

192. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

193. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

194. Ready for a video?
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

195. Ready for a video?
(You’ll have to pretend.)
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

196. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

197. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick
(Smart guy!)
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

198. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass
(Smart guy!)
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

199. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass
(Smart guy!)
Instructions
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

200. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass
(Smart guy!)
Instructions Button
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

201. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass
(Smart guy!)
Instructions Button Water
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

202. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass Dump
(Smart guy!)
Instructions Button Water
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

203. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass Dump
(Smart guy!)
Instructions Button Water
Read again
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

204. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass Dump
(Smart guy!)
Instructions Button Water
Read again Exasperation
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

205. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass Dump
(Smart guy!)
Instructions Button Water
Read again Exasperation Try again
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206. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass Dump
(Smart guy!)
Instructions Button Water
Read again Exasperation Try again Try again
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

207. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass Instructions Button Water
Dump
Dump again
(Smart guy!)
Read again Exasperation Try again Try again
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

208. Hey, Rick, would you bring me a glass of room-temperature water?
Rick Glass Instructions Button Water
Dump
Read again Exasperation Try again Try again Dump again
Try again
(Smart guy!)
#LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

209. #LavaCon @MarciaRJohnston Write Tight(er) HowToWriteEverything.com

210. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

211. If conciseness doesn’t fix it,
change what you’re saying.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

212. Stripping your text
doesn’t solve every
problem.
If conciseness doesn’t fix it,
change what you’re saying.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

213. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

214. Now that’s sexy.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

215. For more on concise writing
and much, much more
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

216. For more on concise writing
and much, much more
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

217. For more on concise writing
and much, much more
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

218. powerful
For more on concise writing
and much, much more
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

219. powerful
For more on concise writing
and much, much more
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

220. powerful
For more on concise writing
and much, much more
“I’ve longed for a book on writing
to recommend to clients and
colleagues … and this is it!”
—Kristina Halvorson
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221. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

222. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

223. #InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

224. I will haunt you.
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

225. Think
this is
small?
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226. Think
this is
small?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

227. Think
this is
small?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

228. Think
this is
small?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com

229. Think
this is
small?
#InfoDevWorld @MarciaRJohnston Teach Your Text to Strip HowToWriteEverything.com