Writing tip: Concise language

You are "paying" for each word, and if your idea is too expensive to communicate, it will never be heard - let alone implemented. Therefore it's imperative that developers have good writing skills if they want to become influential. One metric of good writing is that it is concise. Here is a brainstorm of tips.

Tip: Remove un-needed words and phrases

If the word adds zero value, then remove it.

//Remove "Anything about"

Anything about schemas will drive architecture.
Schema will drive architecture.

//Remove phrase "my approach"
I’ll need to confirm my approach with Bob
I’ll need to confirm with Bob

//Restructure sentence to remove the word "it"

It takes effort to ask for something.
Asking for something takes effort.

Tip: The word is implied, so you don't need it.

//Implied that you're concerned, which is why you're talking about it

My concern is that X is bad.
X is bad

//The word "something" is implied

If there’s something more to it.
If there's more to it.

//The word "about" is implied by estimate, and the number being rounded
We estimate the list to have about 10,000 rows.
We estimate the list to have 10,000 rows.

//The phrase "Ed mentioned" implies "Discussing with Ed"

Discussing with Ed yesterday, he mentioned that...
Ed mentioned yesterday that...

Tip: remove duplicate words

Sometimes people use duplicate words. Maybe because (1) they think it drives the point home, (2)
they feel like it has to be long (schools trained them to write "at least 500 words"), (3) they
can't think of a single word to describe both sub-words.

//Just pick one - either "harsh" or "ruthless"

The production environment is harsh and ruthless
The production environment is ruthless

Tip: Replace a phase with a single word

Sometimes a big phrase can be replaced with a single word because that single word is the definition of the big phrase.

//Replace the entire phrase with one word that means the same thing

The application must be able to handle an increasing amount of demand.
The application  must be scalable.

Tip: Condense two sentences into one

//Remove a descriptive sentence by applying it to the noun directly.
I'd like to set up a call. An hour should be enough time.
I'd like to set up a one-hour call.

Tip: Avoid un-needed commas

If you have a bunch of small phrases joined by multiple commas, consider restructuring it into a single sentence. Even if it doesn't make it more concise, it will probably make it easier to read.

//Remove comma
and for each line, trims it.
and trims each line.

//Merge two short sentences into 1:
We are creating a custom list. It will have 1000 rows.
We are creating a custom list containing 1000 rows.
 

//Restructure sentence

Yesterday, Ed mentioned that...
Ed mentioned yesterday that...
 

//Restructure sentence

If you approve of this design, please let me know.
Please let me know if you approve of this design.

Writing tip: Avoid abstract words

We all know that influential developers need good communication skills. I love technology, but if you can't communicate your technical ideas to your coworkers, then they won't be adopted.

You need to be concise, else people will just tune you out. One way to do that is to choose a more descriptive work that packs more meaning.  Your word count remains about the same - it's absolutely not just rambling on - but the sentence caries more meaning.

Of course sometimes you deliberately want the more abstract word, but it's good to be aware of the more-descriptive alternatives so that you can make a conscious choice of what's best for the situation.

Weak word	Comment	Consider Instead	Example
Do, Does	Does what?	create, build, make, install	Bob does builds Bob installs builds
Run	What does the "running" do?	scrubs, cleans, updates, processes, installs, configures	The service runs on the directory The service cleans the directory
Change	How does it change?	insert, update, delete, improves	The tool changes the file The tool updates the file
Processor	What does the process do?	copier, uploader	FileProcessor tool FileUploader tool
It, Object, Thing	What kind of thing?	C# class, SQL script, COM+ object	It runs fast. The C# class runs fast
Talk	What kind of talking?	discussed, reasoned, concluded, negotiated, argued, explained	Bob talked about structs Bob explained structs
Issue	What kind of issue?	bug, feature request, task, problem	This is an issue This is an error
Other	In what way?	previous, next, remaining, bigger, smaller	I need the other node I need the previous node
Good	In what sense?	faster, more reliable, higher revenue	This feature is good This feature is faster
People	What kind of person?	manager, employee, developer, analyst, users	People will like this feature Managers will like this feature
Sent	How?	FTPd, emailed, faxed	I sent the files I emailed the files