Comments on: The art of being concise, or not http://www.designingthenews.com/2008/04/18/the-art-of-being-concise-or-not/ Visual editing of headlines, stories, and newspapers Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:15:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Harry Roberts http://www.designingthenews.com/2008/04/18/the-art-of-being-concise-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Harry Roberts Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:23:26 +0000 http://www.designingthenews.com/?p=262#comment-146 I'm the other way really. I tend to pad out what I'm saying way too much. I'll usually reach my word limit 50% of my way through a project, which is a real pain. I think my biggest problem is that I can't *see* something working the same with less words, whereas other people can strip out a fifth of the words and it will still make sense - if you get what I mean... I don't think this makes sense... I’m the other way really. I tend to pad out what I’m saying way too much. I’ll usually reach my word limit 50% of my way through a project, which is a real pain.

I think my biggest problem is that I can’t *see* something working the same with less words, whereas other people can strip out a fifth of the words and it will still make sense - if you get what I mean… I don’t think this makes sense…

]]> By: Dave http://www.designingthenews.com/2008/04/18/the-art-of-being-concise-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Dave Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:23:10 +0000 http://www.designingthenews.com/?p=262#comment-143 Point well made Jeff. I'm just not used to being overly descriptive. I rather like to tell someone what something is doing, but let them make their own mind up as to why it's doing it. Meaning is different for everyone, and I usually let people make their own mind up first, before possibly influencing someone with mine. Point well made Jeff.

I’m just not used to being overly descriptive. I rather like to tell someone what something is doing, but let them make their own mind up as to why it’s doing it. Meaning is different for everyone, and I usually let people make their own mind up first, before possibly influencing someone with mine.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.designingthenews.com/2008/04/18/the-art-of-being-concise-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Jeff Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:30:34 +0000 http://www.designingthenews.com/?p=262#comment-142 I look at it this way: When I'm told to write 6,000 words (I've been a writer for more than 30 years), I'm expected to do a <strong>lot</strong> of research! The end product will be a very condensed distillation of all that research into a combination of facts, assertions and conclusions. No padding at all. The number of words is irrelevant, really, except it gives you some indication whether the writer is willing to take the subject seriously or simply wants to show he/she can write. From <em>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</em> by Lewis Carroll: "Begin at the beginning," the king said gravely, "and go on 'til you come to the end. Then stop." I look at it this way: When I’m told to write 6,000 words (I’ve been a writer for more than 30 years), I’m expected to do a lot of research! The end product will be a very condensed distillation of all that research into a combination of facts, assertions and conclusions. No padding at all.
The number of words is irrelevant, really, except it gives you some indication whether the writer is willing to take the subject seriously or simply wants to show he/she can write.
From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll:
“Begin at the beginning,” the king said gravely, “and go on ‘til you come to the end. Then stop.”

]]> By: Dave http://www.designingthenews.com/2008/04/18/the-art-of-being-concise-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Dave Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:10:13 +0000 http://www.designingthenews.com/?p=262#comment-141 Well said. One thing that's sticking in the back of my mind though is that I've already written a dissertation. Only one report is counted towards the final degree, so one of them is redundant. ;/ Well said.

One thing that’s sticking in the back of my mind though is that I’ve already written a dissertation. Only one report is counted towards the final degree, so one of them is redundant. ;/

]]> By: Jasper http://www.designingthenews.com/2008/04/18/the-art-of-being-concise-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Jasper Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:51:08 +0000 http://www.designingthenews.com/?p=262#comment-138 I've always looked at word minimums as a guide line. I always give myself a margin of, say, 10 percent. A minimum number of words says something about the amount of detail wanted in the report. And than its just a case of how compact a writer you are. Some people can give you all the details of a topic in just 300 words, while it might take another person 500 to do the same. I don't think one of these is better, just because of their length, therefor a "minimum" number of words is always a tricky method to measure a texts quality. Obviously I'm in the group that always needs a lot more than the minimum amount of words;) I’ve always looked at word minimums as a guide line. I always give myself a margin of, say, 10 percent. A minimum number of words says something about the amount of detail wanted in the report. And than its just a case of how compact a writer you are.

Some people can give you all the details of a topic in just 300 words, while it might take another person 500 to do the same. I don’t think one of these is better, just because of their length, therefor a “minimum” number of words is always a tricky method to measure a texts quality.

Obviously I’m in the group that always needs a lot more than the minimum amount of words;)

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