Read the copy from these six road signs I found on Google Images.
Speed Limit 50
Next 416 Miles
Do Not Enter
Road Work Ahead.
Prepare To Stop.
Caution.
Dangerous Corner.
Drive Slowly.
Right Lane Ends 1/4 Mile.
Sandy Creek 5
Watertown 29
Immediately, you know exactly what each sign's message is.
Do Not Enter: you're in for trouble if you try to come this way.
Road Work Ahead. Prepare To Stop: we're giving you a heads-up that your drive may take longer than you anticipated, so if you can take another route before you get to the road work traffic backup, here's your chance.
Sandy Creek 5. Watertown 29: from your current location, you're five miles from Sandy Creek and 29 miles from Watertown.
My point? People who write road signs have very little space within which to get their message across; they don't have the luxury (hindrance) to jazz up their writing with fancy prose or unnecessary words. They have a very short space to write on and the fewer and larger the words on a road sign, the more likely drivers are to see the words and process the message it's conveying. Only words which are absolutely necessary to get a message across are chosen--road sign authors must choose the few words they can put on a sign with extreme precision.
Do the same with your own writing, whether it's a magazine article, some marketing copy, or especially, a blog post or email. Presumably you have a purpose in writing, a point to make, a message to send--only use the words absolutely necessary for your readers to understand what you're saying. Choose the right words, the most exactly descriptive words, and keep your words to a minimum. Say exactly what you have to say and be done with it.
Remember the quote this blog is based on? Take heed.
"Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts."--William Strunk, Jr.
Related
The Best Writing Advice I Ever Received
1.23.2008
Want to Write Better? Read Some Road Signs
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4 comments:
Excellent advice! I think some writers (like me) try to say too much, when less is better.
Thanks for the comment, Michele. I've learned that too much writing, even if it's good writing, can distract from your main points. I really got the message from a prose writing course I took in college.
It really helped me remember what exactly my point is and to stick to that.
Good reminder to KISS (keep it simple, stupid!)
tip diva...KISS is a great approach to most anything in life.
Cool tips blog that you have going on as well.
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