Chapter 02

Adaptationandthe
Adaptation
and the
SelectionofWords
chaptertwo
Overview
Roleofadaptationinselectingwords
Role
of adaptation in selecting words
Simplifyingwithshortandfamiliarwords
Appropriate use of technical words and acronyms
Appropriateuseoftechnicalwordsandacronyms
Selectionofwordswithappropriatestrength
Use of concrete words and active voice
Useofconcretewordsandactivevoice
Achieveclarityandprecisionbyavoiding
camouflaged verbs selecting the right words and
camouflagedverbs,selectingtherightwords,and
usingidiomscorrectly.
Useofwordsthatdonotdiscriminate
Use of words that do not discriminate
NeedforAdaptation
(fitting
(fittingthemessagetoyourreaders)
the message to your readers)
Howtodoit:
How
to do it:
Visualizeyourreaders
howtheythink
h
th thi k
whattheyknow
theireducationlevel
etc.
Thenwriteforthem
HowtoAdapttoMultipleReaders
Writeforthebottomlevel.
Write
for the bottom level
Usuallythismeanssimplifyingthemessage
Thus,thefollowingsuggestionsstress
h
h f ll i
i
simplification
Useshort,familiarwords.
DONT
DON
T
In effect, it was hypothesized that certain physical data
categories including housing types and densities, land use
characteristics, and ecological location constitute a scaleable
content area. This could be called a continuum of residential
desirability.
y Likewise,, it was hypothesized
yp
that several social
data categories, describing the same census tracts and
referring generally to to the social stratification system of the
city would also be scaleable
city,
scaleable. This scale could be called a
continuum of socioeconomic status. Thirdly, it was
hypothesized that there would be a high positive correlation
between the scale types on each continuum.
Useshort,familiarwords.
DO
One can tell from an aerial photograph where

rich and poor people live
live. The rich live in big
houses set far apart. The poor live in small
houses set close together.
Prefertheshort,familiarword
to the long unfamiliar word
tothelong,unfamiliarword.
Long, Unfamiliar Words Short, Familiar Words
Abbreviate
Accomplish
Approximately
Ascertain
Commence
C
Considerable
id bl
Determine
Detrimental
Shorten
Do
About
Find out
Begin
M h
Much
Decide
H
Harmful
f l
Long, Unfamiliar Words Short, Familiar Words
Duplicate
Elevation
Equivalent
Fabricate
Furnish
Indeterminate
Indicate
Ineffectual
Copy
Height
Equal
Build
Give
g
Vague
Show
Useless
Long Unfamiliar Words Short, Familiar Words
Long,
Interrupt
Minimal
Modification
Proceed
Supersede
Ultimate
Visualize
Verification
Hinder
Smallest
Change
Go
Replace
Last
Picture
Proof
Use Technical Language with Caution.

Social Security
Securityys technical language
g g found
to be misunderstood by outsiders:
outsiders:
Technical Language
Improved Version
Has sufficient quarters of

coverage to acquire an
insured status.
Survivors benefits
Covered employment
Deceased wage earner
To file a claim
Aged workers
Has worked long enough (under

Social Security) to become
insured.
Family insurance payments
A job covered by Social Security
Worker who has died
To apply for insurance payments
Workers past 65
Useinitialsandacronyms
with caution
withcaution.
What do these letters mean?
RFID
FTC
CD
IPO
RV
NATO
IRS
Radio Frequency Identification

Federal Trade Commission
Certificate of Deposit/Compact Disc
Initial Public Offering
Recreational Vehicle
N th Atl
North
Atlantic
ti T
Treaty
t Organization
O
i ti
Internal Revenue Service
Prefertheconcreteto
the abstract
theabstract.
Abstract
Concrete
We have found that this technique Our research shows that 87 percent of
is successful.
those using this technique are
successful
successful.
Your department may hire some
Your department may hire three new
new employees.
stock clerks.
We will ship your order soon
soon.
We will ship the Moss No
No. 41 desk sets
you ordered October 12 by Arrow
Freight on October 15.
Each of the branch managers will Each of the branch managers will
receive a substantial pay raise.
received a 15 percent pay raise.
This procedure requires a constant This process requires a constant
low temperature
temperature.
temperature of 10 degrees centigrade
centigrade.
Prefertheactivetothepassive.
Passive
It is believed that the bill was
padded.
Your report
p was read by
y the
president.
The profit and loss statement is
prepared
p
p
by
y the treasurer each
month.
It is suggested that you clean the
element in warm, soapy water.
It is desired that every effort be
made to have this matter brought
to the attention of the manager.
Active
I believe they padded the bill.
The p
president read yyour report.
p
The treasurer prepares the profit
and loss statement each month.
We suggest that you clean the
element in warm, soapy water.
Mr. Wong wants you to bring this
matter to the attention of the
manager.
Preferstrongverbstoverbs
camouflaged as nouns
camouflagedasnouns.
Camouflaged Verb
. . . make a classification . . .
. . . make a computation . . .
. . . conduct an exploration . . .
. . . provide information . . .
. . . engage in negotiation . . .
. . . make an observation . . .
. . . provide representation . . .
Strong Verb
. . . classify . . .
. . . compute . . .
. . . explore . . .
. . . inform . . .
. . . negotiate . . .
. . . observe . . .
. . . represent . . .
Preferstrongverbstoverbs
camouflaged as nouns
camouflagedasnouns.
Camouflaged
g Verb
g Verb
Strong
Cancellation of the order was

made on the 12th.
Elimination of the deficit was
brought about by the change.
The management of this office
is conducted by Ms. Brown.
Distribution of the special
equipment was accomplished
by the safety officer.
We canceled the order on

the 12th.
The change eliminated the
deficit.
Ms Brown manages this
Ms.
office.
The safety officer distributed
the special equipment.
Choosethepreciseword.
The committee (comprises) (constitutes)
representatives from all four sales districts.
This building
g site cost a large
g ((sum)) ((amount)) of
money.
(
) for her concern for
She was ((notorious)) (noted)
the poor.
We found no evidence that would (cause)
(enable) us to support him.
The management of this store is independent
(of) (from) the main office.
Choosethepreciseword.
She(claimed)(maintained)(said)thatshewasill.
She
(claimed) (maintained) (said) that she was ill.
Heisangry(about)(with)theloss.
I will try (to) (and) correct the error
Iwilltry(to)(and)correcttheerror.
Idiffer(with)(from)youonthisconclusion.
If he is late I will not wait (for) (on) him longer than
Ifheislate,Iwillnotwait(for)(on)himlongerthan
tenminutes.
Shehasaninterest(in)(for)technicalwriting.
She has an interest (in) (for) technical writing
Suggestionsfor
Nondiscriminatory Writing
NondiscriminatoryWriting
Avoidsexistpronounsby
Avoid
sexist pronouns by
rewordingtoeliminatetheoffendingword,
makingthereferenceplural,and
ki
h
f
l l d
substitutinganeutralexpression(heorshe,
he/she,s/he,you,one,person).
Reword to eliminate the offendingg word.

Sexist
We will reimburse any
employee who paid his
travel expenses.
If a customer pays promptly,
he is placed on our preferred
list.
A physician should treat his
patients with respect.
Nonsexist
We will reimburse any
employee for travel expenses
paid.
A customer who pays promptly
is placed on our preferred list
list.
A physician should treat
patients with respect.
Makethereferenceplural.
Sexist
Nonsexist
Ifacustomerpayspromptly,heis Ifcustomerspaypromptly,they are

placedonourpreferredlist.
placedonourpreferredlist.
When an unauthorized employee
Whenanunauthorizedemployee
When unauthorized employees
Whenunauthorizedemployees
entersthesecurityarea,heis
enterthesecurityarea,they are
subjecttodismissal.
subjecttodismissal.
Asupervisorisnotresponsiblefor
bl f
Supervisorsarenotresponsiblefor
bl f
suchlossesifheisnotnegligent.
suchlossesifthey arenotnegligent.
Whenacustomerneedsservice,itis Whencustomersneedservice,they
herrighttoaskforit.
havetherighttoaskforit.
Substituteaneutralexpression.
Sexist
If a customer pays promptly, he
is placed on our preferred list.
Nonsexist
If a customer pays promptly, he

or she is placed on our preferred
list.
When an unauthorized employee When an unauthorized employee
enters the securityy area,, he is
enters the securityy area,, he/she
subject to dismissal.
is subject to dismissal.
A supervisor is not responsible
A supervisor is not responsible
for such losses if he is not
for such losses if s/he is not
negligent.
negligent.
When a customer needs service, When service is needed, one
it is her right to ask for it.
it
has the right to ask for it.
it
Avoidwordswitha
masculine origin
masculineorigin.
Sexist
man-made
manpower
congressman
businessman
mailman
policeman
fireman
cameraman
waiter/waitress
Nonsexist
manufactured, of human origin
personnel, workers
representative, member of Congress
business executive, businessperson
letter carrier
carrier, mail carrier
police officer
fire fighter
camera operator
server
MasculinesoundingWords
Masculine
soundingWords
No Masculine Origin
NoMasculineOrigin
manufacture
management
history
manipulate
mannequin
manicure
mandolin
histrionic
hi t i
histamine
Avoid words that lower one

ones status.
Instead of
my girl
lady doctor
authoress
actress
poetess
sculptress
male nurse
male secretary
Use
my secretary
doctor
author
actor
poet
sculptor
nurse
secretary
Generallyavoidwordsthatstereotype
by
Race
ahardworkingAfricanAmerican
anhonestSicilian
Age
goldenager
youngster
Disability
deafanddumb
deaf
and dumb
crippled
SexualOrientation
homosexual
gay
Why use two words when one will do.

--Thomas
Thomas Jefferson

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Chapter 02

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Adaptationandthe

One can tell from an aerial photograph where

Use Technical Language with Caution.

Has sufficient quarters of

Has worked long enough (under

Radio Frequency Identification

Cancellation of the order was

We canceled the order on

Reword to eliminate the offendingg word.

Ifacustomerpayspromptly,heis Ifcustomerspaypromptly,they are

If a customer pays promptly, he

Avoid words that lower one

Why use two words when one will do.

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