Elements of Academic English: Precisioin and Conciseness

Question 1

What is precise language?

Answer 1

Precise language reduces ambiguity and confusion. It also communicates the intended meaning of the message.
For example:
Imprecise
Search terms were used to find
materials. (vague)

Precise
Three terms (“ASMR”, “gentle
whispering,” and “tapping sounds”)
were selected as search terms for
identifying potential videos.

Question 2

What is concise language?

Answer 2

Concise language is not redundant (overtollig), not unnecessary, not verbose (meer woorden gebruiken dan nodig is) and you use an active voice.
For example:
Not concise
1. Also, an additional benefit is…
(redundant)
2. Forty online reviews were collected
for this study. (unnecessary)
3. Due to the fact that… (verbose)

Concise
1. An additional benefit is…
2. Forty online reviews were
collected.
3. Because…

Question 3

What are strategies to check your text?

Answer 3

Focus on your audience. What do they know? What do they need to know? What do they want to know?
Read your text out loud. When you do this, you might find errors you did not see while reading in your head.
You can also ask for peerfeedback. Other people sometimes see things that you did not see.