Concise Medical Writing: Eliminate Redundancy

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association – 7th Edition – 9781433832178

Page 274 Review

Concise Writing: Eliminating Wordiness and Redundancy in Medical Texts

In medical writing, clarity and conciseness are paramount. Readers, often busy healthcare professionals, need information presented efficiently. Wordiness and redundancy obscure meaning and waste valuable time. This commentary examines the importance of eliminating these issues, drawing upon specific examples.

Understanding Wordiness vs. Redundancy

The ebook excerpt clearly distinguishes between wordiness and redundancy:

“Whereas wordiness refers to using more words than are necessary, redundancy means using multiple words with the same meaning.”

Wordiness is simply using more words than required to convey an idea. Redundancy, on the other hand, involves using words or phrases that repeat the same meaning, often unnecessarily.

The Pitfalls of Redundancy

The excerpt astutely points out the potential misuse of redundancy:

“Writers often use redundant language to be emphatic. Instead, use sentence structure to convey emphasis, for example, by placing the words to be emphasized at the beginning or end of a sentence.”

While emphasis is important, redundancy is rarely the best approach. Strategic sentence construction, varying sentence length, and strong verb choices are more effective techniques.

Active Voice for Clarity

The passage highlights the benefits of active voice:

“When possible and appropriate for the context, use the active voice (see Section 4.13) to reduce wordiness and redundancy.”

Active voice makes writing more direct and concise. It clearly identifies the subject performing the action, eliminating unnecessary prepositions and auxiliary verbs often found in passive constructions.

Examples of Redundant Phrases

The ebook provides several concrete examples of common redundancies, which are crucial for writers to identify and eliminate. Let’s analyze them further:

• “at the present time” should be “now”: This emphasizes the importance of using simpler, more direct alternatives. “Now” is concise and equally effective.
• “for the purpose of” should be “for, to”: This illustrates how prepositional phrases can often be shortened or replaced with single words. “For” or “to” often suffices, depending on the context.
• “there were several students who completed” should be “several students completed”: This shows how to eliminate unnecessary introductory phrases. The core meaning remains unchanged with the shortened version.
• “they were both alike”: “They were alike” is sufficient. “Both” is implied when using “alike” in this context.
• “one and the same”: Simply use “the same.” The addition of “one and” is redundant.
• “a sum total”: “Total” adequately conveys the meaning. “Sum” is implied.
• “in close proximity to”: “Near” or “close to” are much more succinct.
• “four different groups saw”: “Four groups saw” is clearer. The act of differentiating groups is inherent in stating there are four.
• “completely unanimous”: “Unanimous” already implies completeness.

Practical Application

Identifying and eliminating these redundancies requires careful editing and attention to detail. Writers should actively seek out these patterns in their own work and challenge themselves to express ideas more efficiently. Tools like grammar checkers and style guides can be helpful, but ultimately, a critical eye is the most valuable asset.

Conclusion

By understanding the principles of concise writing and diligently eliminating wordiness and redundancy, medical writers can significantly improve the clarity and impact of their work. This leads to better communication, more effective information dissemination, and ultimately, improved patient care. As the excerpt emphasizes, focusing on sentence structure and utilizing the active voice are essential strategies in achieving this goal. Prioritizing clarity ensures that crucial medical information is easily understood and readily applied in practice.

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