The Dictionary of Concise Writing: 10,000 Alternatives to Wordy Phrases

by Robert Hartwell Fiske, Richard Lederer (Foreword)

A guide to clean, strong prose that lists thousands of common, wordy phrases and offers concise alternatives.

Genres: Writing, Reference, Nonfiction, Language

412 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[Jus · Rating 4 out of 5]

“To The Point - A dictionary of concise writing” by Robert Hartwell Fiske. A good reference book, how to reduce the number of words in a phrase. Ideal for writers who “want to build a more pithy vocabulary.”

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

An effective reference for countering wordy writing. Pleasant reading as well.

Notes:
Polonius: What do you read, my lord?
Hamlet: Words, words, words.

The Perfectibility of Words
--Of Polish and Panache
reducing # of words in a phrase
substituting a single word for a phrase
--Euphemisms ... Instead Of ... Use

The Imperfectibility of People
---business jargon
---political cant
---academic speak

Dictionary of Concise Writing

Guide to obfuscation: a reverse dictionary