ENGL 1301 WORDINESS/ CLUTTER NOTES AND QUIZ

QUIZ: Whether you like its brand of comedy or not, IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT THE DAILY SHOW WILL DISAPPEAR from our TV screens anytime soon

Answer: THE DAILY SHOW PROBABLY WILL NOT DISAPPEAR

NOTES:

Other examples of clutter: 1. He had a smile on his face. Instead write: He smiled. (It's understood were the smile is) 2. I ended up driving to Houston. Instead write, I drove to Houston. 3. I screamed my lungs out. Instead write, I screamed.

NOTES:

• Notice the wordy and short forms below: Wordy Form: - at the present time - in the event of - in the near future - due to the fact that - in this day and age - during the time that - a large number of - big in size - red in color ——————————- Short Form: - now - if - soon - because - now - while - many - big - red

NOTES:

• Use concise words: wordiness or overloaded sentences means using more words than necessary to express an idea. Reducing wordiness or cutting clutter means to get rid of words that only take space and add no meaning.

QUIZ: In the following sentence, the underlined phrase or clause may contain empty words or an unnecessary expletive. Select the answer option that is the best replacement; or, if the underlined text is the best choice, select No change. Jon Stewart has made AN EXTREMELY UNIQUE contribution to television news commentary.

Answer: A UNIQUE

QUIZ: In the following sentence, the underlined phrase or clause may contain emptv words or an unnecessary expletive. Select the answer option that is the best replacement: or. if the underlined text is the best choice, select No change. Some comedy show guests APPARENTLY BECOME embarrassed because they can't keep up with the host's humorous patter

Answer: BECOME

QUIZ: In the following sentence, the underlined phrase or clause may contain empty words or an unnecessary expletive. Select the answer option that is the best replacement; or, if the underlined text is the best choice, select No change. Stewart is REALLY SMART and has a quick wit.

Answer: BRILLIANT

QUIZ: In the following sentence, the underlined phrase or clause may contain empty words or an unnecessary expletive. Select the answer option that is the best replacement; or, if the underlined text is the best choice. select No change. During the guest portion of a comedy show, the host sometimes TENDS TO CHALLENGE his or her guests by asking them pointed questions

Answer: CHALLENGES

QUIZ: In the following sentence, the underlined phrase or clause may contain empty words or an unnecessary expletive. Select the answer option that is the best replacement: or, if the underlined text is the best choice. select No change DURING THE NEWS SUMMARY , the host might lampoon the president, lawmakers, and other government officials.

Answer: NO CHANGE

QUIZ: In the following sentence, the underlined phrase or clause may contain empty words or an unnecessary expletive. Select the answer option that is the best replacement; or, if the underlined text is the best choice, select No change. MANY TALENTED COMEDIANS are on The Daily Show.

Answer: NO CHANGE

QUIZ: In the following sentence. the underlined phrase or clause may contain empty words or an unnecessary expletive. Select the answer option that is the best replacement; or, if the underlined text is the best choice, select No change. THE DAILY SHOWS MIGHT POSSIBLY become known as one of the greatest comedy shows of all time.

Answer: THE DAILY SHOW MIGHT

QUIZ: In the following sentence. the underlined phrase or clause may contain empty words or an unnecessary expletive. Select the answer option that is the best replacement: or. if the underlined text is the best choice. select No change Other comedy show guests have good one-liners prepared ahead of time, so IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE FOR THEM to make fun of the host

Answer: THEY ARE ABLE

NOTES:

Revise the following sentences, omitting needless words: 1. The bird was purple, red, orange and yellow in color and its body was extremely large. ANSWER: The bird was purple, red, orange, and yellow. (The sentence is clearer and easier to read) 2 A large number of people are now seeking out various electronic devices as presents to give to others on their birthdays. ANSWER: Many people now buy devices to give as gifts. 3. Because of the bad weather, the school district felt it would be safer to cancel classes and let everyone stay home than to risk people having accidents on the way to school. ANSWER : The school district cancelled classes due to bad weather.

NOTES:

Read the cluttered sentences. Then, read the corrections. Cut clutter with brackets [ ]. 1. [All in all] high school is a place to meet [all kinds of] people. Correction: High school is a place to meet people. 2. The noise got louder [and louder.] Correction: The noise got louder. 3. The baby cried [and cried.] Correction: The baby cried. 4. [Well] this bell was not here [back then.] Correction: This bell was not here. 5. I remember the incident [as if it were yesterday.] Correction: I remember the incident 6. [Anyway, as I was saying,] he set [us up] with the instructor. Correction: He set an appointment with the instructor. 7. [Finally, last but not least] the customers returned the merchandise. Correction: The customers returned the merchandise.

NOTES:

The following phrases are clutter too: as I was saying, I remember as it were yesterday, In this world we live in, now a days

NOTES:

The following words are clutter: Cut words such as: well, literally, of course, like, super, due to the fact that, in my opinion, I think, I believe. Cut qualifiers such as: very, really, quite, extremely, especially, pretty, exceptionally, rather or kind of, somewhat

QUIZ: In the following sentence. the underlined phrase or clause may contain empty words or an unnecessary expletive. Select the answer option that is the best replacement; or, if the underlined text is the best choice. select No change. The Daily Show WAS HOSTED by Craig Kilborn for two years before Jon Stewart took over.

answer: NO CHANGE