Do not overclarify

Do not overclarify

Writing Hub for Innopolis University

PROBLEM

You clarify the obvious information, which overcomplicates your sentence making it difficult for your reader to grasp the overall meaning.

Take a look at the first example. If you mention 85% of the vineyards, you have already shown that 85% is the majority of the vineyards. Therefore, you do not need "the most part". To crown it all, "the most part" in this context is just wrong.

 Let us examine the second example. If your readers take a look at the numbers, they will be able to see that 24.67 is obviously almost similar to 25.23 without you telling them so. Therefore, you do not need the phrase "almost similar" in the sentence. As to "equal to", this phrase is also redundant since it conveys the same meaning as "was" in the sentence.

SOLUTION

 Remove the obviously repeated information.

IMPACT

 If you remove obvious and redundant clarifications around the core information, your readers will focus on the key points. As a result, more people will read and understand your text.

Adapted from "101 Tips to Avoid Mistakes in Academic Writing and Presenting" by Wallwork and Southern.

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