12 Tips for Clipping Unnecessary Words

12 Tips for Clipping Unnecessary Words 12 Tips for Clipping Unnecessary Words 12 Tips for Clipping Unnecessary Words By Mark Nichol In workshops and in writing guides, the admonition â€Å"Use fewer words† is one of the cardinal rules. Although I resist the excision of allegedly superfluous adverbs and adjectives, I heartily acknowledge that many other parts of speech are often unnecessary. Here are other ways to reduce word count: 1. â€Å"The standards define the process to the mobile phone using two different methods for invocation.† Whenever you see the word different, consider whether it’s necessary. By default, it’s almost always not: For example, if two methods are described, they’re almost certainly by definition different: â€Å"The standards define the process to the mobile phone using two methods for invocation.† 2. â€Å"Currently, many of the digitized publications have not been properly paginated.† By the same token, currently is almost always superfluous; the context generally makes clear that the statement refers to the present. Again, when the default setting is obviously relevant, omit the word: â€Å"Many of the digitized publications have not been properly paginated.† 3. â€Å"Ethics, on the other hand, is future oriented, that is to say a present choice is based on a future desire, intent, or consequence.† For one thing, the phrase beginning â€Å"that is to say† is an independent clause; it should be separated from the preceding phrase by a semicolon: Furthermore, that four-word phrase is extraneous: â€Å"Ethics, on the other hand, is future oriented; a present choice is based on a future desire, intent, or consequence.† (Alternatively, a colon is usually correct.) 4. â€Å"That’s how the newspaper described a new credit card two entrepreneurs, Jon Doe and Jane Roe, will soon make available.† It’s obvious, not to mention trivial, how many entrepreneurs are involved. After the number is deleted, the appositive consists solely of the word entrepreneurs, so no punctuation preceding or following the names is required: â€Å"That’s how the newspaper described a new credit card entrepreneurs John Doe and Jane Roe will soon make available.† 5. â€Å"Low-income residents with leaking pipes can call out a plumber to fix leaks for free.† You are free to employ the idiomatic phrase â€Å"for free† in conversation and informal writing, but in your professional prose, omit the unnecessary for: â€Å"Low-income residents with leaking pipes can call out a plumber to fix leaks free.† 6. â€Å"This is the reason why the imposition of restrictions on fertility treatments requires extra caution.† â€Å"The reason† and why are interchangeable terms, so they are redundant to each other: â€Å"This is why the imposition of restrictions on fertility treatments requires extra caution.† 7. â€Å"Even if the state has the power to narrow down the population that is entitled to such treatment, it must exercise restraint.† The phrase â€Å"that is†- and its variant â€Å"that are† as well as â€Å"who is† and â€Å"who are†- is often superfluous: â€Å"Even if the state has the power to narrow down the population entitled to such treatment, it must exercise restraint.† 8. â€Å"This step gives both the patient and the physician the freedom to decide whether or not to enter into an agreement for medical treatment.† Whether implies a choice, so â€Å"or not† is extraneous: â€Å"This step gives both the patient and the physician the freedom to decide whether to enter into an agreement for medical treatment.† 9. â€Å"By signing the consent form, they manifested their intention to have a child and agreed to each and every stage of the treatment.† â€Å"Each and every,† and pals like â€Å"first and foremost,† are infections of bloviation from speechifying and have no place in written discourse (and won’t be missed if omitted from oration): â€Å"By signing the consent form, they manifested their intention to have a child and agreed to each stage of the treatment.† 10. â€Å"It is for this reason that medical treatment should not be administered to a patient without consent.† It is a weak way to start a sentence, and often a sign that the sentence can be tightened up somewhat: â€Å"For this reason, medical treatment should not be administered to a patient without consent.† 11. â€Å"The reason is that in some countries, genetic parenthood is the fundamental prerequisite for the application of family law.† The words that follow â€Å"The reason is that† comprise the explanation, so the phrase superfluous: â€Å"In some countries, genetic parenthood is the fundamental prerequisite for the application of family law.† 12. â€Å"His past history indicates that you should not count on him to adhere to his future plans.† This sentence opens and closes with redundant phrases; history is always in the past, and plans are always in the future: â€Å"His history indicates that you should not count on him to adhere to his plans.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? 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Sytems and operations management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sytems and operations management - Case Study Example Some of the business models applied in operation management include the input-process-output and value chain models. Information systems refer to a group of interrelated parts, which collect, process and distribute information in order to enhance control and decision making in an organization (Lee, Shiba and Wood 1999, p. 145). In a case study of Blackberry Hill Farm in South England, various business models can be used to analyze the problems faced in their day-to-day activities. These models include the input-process-output model (IPO), value chain model and consumer direct models. The challenges to be analyzed involve balancing the performance of activities, reducing complexity of some operations, as well as, staff management. Operational management involves transforming resources to products and services (McKeown and Leitch 2003, p. 67). The operations in the Blackberry Hill Farm involve agriculture and tourism. The input resources include cattle, crops, mixed woodland, poultry and farm heritage exhibits. The transforming input resources include the facilities such as a farm and the work force (employees). The transformational processes include cultivation, bee keeping and tractor riding. Others processes include selling at farm shops and cafà ©, bakery, preserving kitchen, pick-your own operations, a nd securing the farms and the car parks, as well. The output products include the fruits, vegetables, dough nuts, satisfaction of visitors and more (Kachiru 2007, p. 231). Using the IPO model, one can analyze the challenges by classifying the operations in the farm. It is necessary to arrange and sort out the major and minor activities. Jim and Mandy, the core managers at Blackberry Farm Hill have focused much on agritourism. This may be because of the increased number of visitors reporting to the farm in the previous seasons. Also, due to the adoption of many operations aimed at attracting more visitors would have contributed to low performance in farming.

The extent to which the understanding of the history and development Essay

The extent to which the understanding of the history and development of business help in the understanding of business today - Essay Example The extent to which the understanding of the history and development of business helps in the understanding of business today depends on the effectiveness of economic policies instilled in the past. An examination of the history of some of the successful corporations reveals that most big companies were based on diversified groups. This is because they could take advantage of the economic scales easily because of the characteristics of the internal markets. It is also evident that authoritarian regimes helped in the development of businesses. This can help in the development of business today because it enables individuals make wise choices regarding the development of the economy (Trompenaar, and Wooliams, 2003). An understanding of the history behind the development of business helps in understanding of business today because the economic policies that were used in the past. This is because they ensured the restriction of imports and the growth of exports, which enhances the develo pment of businesses in terms of investments. It is evident that, in the past, companies did not pay attention on light labour intensive sectors. This is likely to help in the development of business today because the cost of labor will be low, causing the company to gain extra profits. History also depicts that there are governments that intervened by supporting private companies, therefore, enhancing the development of businesses. ... The development of business models has enhanced the establishment of businesses by enhancing businesses with architecture of value creation. An examination of the history of development of business reveals that the development of business ethics has also helped in enabling businesses adhere to their daily dealings. Business ethics help in the development of business by enhancing the interaction of businesses all over the world (Trompenaar, and Wooliams, 2003). How does the nature of globalization help in the understanding of business today? Globalization refers to the expansion of investments, trade and business interactions worldwide. The nature of globalization has helped in understanding business today in that it has enhanced prosperity for most businesses. Most people who support free trade claim that globalization enhances the creation of opportunities for businesses. It is thought that when a business is allowed to offer its resources to the global market place, then the busine ss is likely to improve. Globalization tends to increase competition resulting to the growth of businesses because of the development of new products (Hopkins, 2004).   Globalization has enhanced the development of business today because it not only increases the need for the acquisition of knowledge concerning cultural differences, but it helps in the establishment of cooperate cultures. History depicts that globalization has caused businesses to transfer experts from one country to another in an attempt to enhance the development of the business. Globalization helps in the development of the business because it enhances an understanding of the communication styles, cultural influences and the social behaviors of different societies. It has enhanced an

Literature Review of Reflexivity in Qualitative Studies

Literature Review of Reflexivity in Qualitative Studies Every research study needs to be contextualised, understood within the background and context of its place within the theoretical and practice spectrum (Fink, 2005). Nursing research, as with every other aspect of nursing practice, should be ethically sound (Carrick, 2000), and should also be founded within sound methodological principles and developed along the lines of evidence for practice. Within a primary research study such as this, the ability to understand the nature of the practice and evidence base of the study is very important, and there are two pre-existing spheres of theory which can support this. The first of these is the field of evidence-based practice, and the second is reflective practice, both of which contribute to the processes of critical thinking which are involved in research practice as much as they are in clinical practice. The combination of these two practices within this primary research study relates to the need to in-build a clear decision trail and map of the reflexivity involved in a qualitative approach to generating and analysing data. Reflection in nursing practice is an importnat component of ongoing professional development (Driscoll, 1994; Gustafson and Fagerberg, 2004), how it contribues to professional development is what concerns the author here. Processes of structured and purposive reflection on practice, and on learning and knowledge acquistion of development (Coutss-Jarman, 1993), contribute to the development of critical thinking skills which contribute to the processes of applying evidence to practice and assimilating knowledge into the wider schema which relate to nurses ways of knowing (Daly, 1998;Rolfe, 2005). Therefore, the author, being aware of the contribution of good reflection to a reflexive process of clinical learning and application of knowledge (Gibbs, 1988; Hargreaves , 2004), aimed to apply a similar critical and reflexive approach to the process of reviewing and critiquing the literature relevant to this research study. Although there are those who argue that reflection per se is a biased and often self-referential (Jones, 1995), this author would argue that reflexivity is a fundamental component of inductive processes of qualitative research practice, particularly in relation to the interpretation of data (Silverman, 2001). and therefore, set out to review the literature using a critical and reflexive approach, building in principles of reflection and critical thinking (Price, 2000), but applied to the relationship between the nurse as researcher and their burgeoning knowledge and understanding, as it feeds into their tacit and intellectual knowledge. Critical science within nursing is established as a means of developing critical thinking and analysis skills and incorporating multiple ways of knowing into the theory and practice domains (Fontana, 2004). Nursing research and the principles of theory generation intersect naturally with this kind of approach, because nursing research is, however abstract or applied, concerned with the improvement of nursing practice, one way or another (Freshwater and Bishop, 2003). It is also imperative that nurses who carry out research ensure that the research is of the highest possible methodological quality, so that it can be used as evidence for practice, or else it would not be ethical to carry it out, particularly if vulnerable people are being asked to participate (Hedgecoe, 2008; Carrick, 2000). Thus the author set out to ensure that the critical reflexive review of the literature was carried out to the highest possible quality, by combining the critical principles of research critique and evidence based practice with research searching skills. Therefore, the author structured the literature review as a means of both identifying relevant research and discussion or commentary on the research question, and critiquing the quality of that research as evidence for practice in its own right, as a means of taking a more rigorous and focused means of contextualising the research study and contributing to the ultimate process of theory generation. The focus of the literature review is literature available, and literature as evidence for practice, because this focus on evidence is part of the current trend towards quality of care (Elliot, 2000). All those involved in the provision of healthcare at a professional level are required to be able to identify and apply research for their sphere of practice (Rycroft-Malone et al, 2004), particularly if this evidence can improve practice. But for this, the nurse must be able to evalute the evidence in relation to methodological quality (Freshwater and Bishop, 2003; Hek, 2000; Elliott, 2001). Thus, to begin with, the author considered the kinds of research evidence available, fully aware that the scientific rationalist paradimg is considered to provide the highest quality of research for practice (Upshur, 2001; Sackett et al, 1996 ), but also fully espoused to the value of qualtative research in the evidence paradigm (Rycroft-Malone et al, 2004, Upshur, 2001; Stevens and Ledbetter 2000 ). A nurse evaluating research to feed into their own study needs to understand research methodology and practice, and to understand the principles of research critique and evaluation. A range of critiquing frameworks exist which provide useful insight into the quality and usefulness of research, as a foundation for developing the inteded reflexive critical review of the literature, such as the ones suggested by Cormack (2000), CASP (2004), Daggett et al (2005), Duffy (2005). These provide clear guidelines for the critiquing of both qualitative and quantitative research articles, as well as case studys and systematic reviews. The author proposes to develop a critiquing framework using a combination of these approaches, which feeds into the process of reflection so that the author will reflect on every step of the literature review whilst carrying it out, and modify their approach according to what that reflection brings to the surface. The aim, as stated earlier, is to use reflexivity to evaluate the evidence base for practice (Stevens and Ledbetter, 2000; Sackett et al, 1996). Evidence based practice is both a goal and a process, and therefore it could be argued that identifying the state of the evidence base is a fundamental starting point for the research project overall, not just an element of the required research process. This may be all the more important in this study because of the challenges of ensuring qualitative research is viewed as a valid contribution to theory and to practice (Cohen and Crabtree, 2008; Kearney, 2001). Thus the process of literature review is aimed at providing something which, on its own, will contribute to the evidence base for practice (Pepler et al, 2006), as well as providing the necessary critical, clinical and thoeretical context for the authors own study. Following on from the development of the critiquing model, with its in-built reflexivity, the author wil carry out an initial search of the literature using a set of key words and search terms that wil be developed using a brainstorming technique. Given the authors pre-existing knowledge of the topic, informed by the literature which was used to develop the research proposal, this brainstorming exercise is also an exercise in reflexivity. The author will then develop a short list of search terms to be used in isolation and in combination to search the available literature. The search will be carried out in all the relevant and available electronic gateways and search engines, including BNI; CINAHL; EMBASE; MEDLINE; Cochrane Collaboration; Science Direct; and Google Scholar. The author will also search online to look for guidelines and recommendations using the same search terms. As the search continues, the author will revise the search terms in response to the kinds of papers that are returned, keeping a record of these revisions, until they feel they have accessed all the relevant articles. Those deemed relevant to the study will be retrieved, and the most pertinent will be critiqued according to the model the author will have developed. The literature review will be presented in themes, but containing comparative analysis, and the author will ensure that, in order to fit in with the overall study, that there is a balance of qualitative and quantitative studies included.

Forgetting About Something Essay

Have you ever experienced forgetting about something? Like where did you put your pair of socks, where did you leave your car keys, or where did you put your pen? Did you ever wonder why or how this happens? For a period of three (3) days, I tried to observe myself. I used to forget where I put my door key. I realized that I have forgotten where my key in three different situations: – When I need to get out of the room – When something reminded me about keys like doors and door knobs, and – When I saw the usual spot for my room key and the key is not there. As I have researched, forgetting, also called as cue-dependent forgetting, is the failure to recall a memory due to missing stimuli or cues that were present at the time the memory is encoded. There are factors why retrieval of the memory fails. Usually, the information no longer exist in the mind that why a material cannot be found or cannot be recalled. Emotions also play a crucial role. The reason why I forget where I leave my key is that I am always in a hurry. And as I have observed, there are also reasons why I manage to remember where my key is. First, whenever I forgot where my key is, I am in a hurry to get out of the room and I cannot think properly where I last put my key. Then, I remember to recall where I put my key because I saw an object that reminds me of my key such as doors and knobs. Lastly, when I manage to relax for a while and see if I have got everything in order, I tend to look at the spot where I place my key. Being an important object or simply because it is a personal belonging, I have a list on my mind where my important things are. Concluding the activity, when someone is in hurry or feeling excited, the tendency to forget is very possible because there is so much going on with our minds. But once we take time to relax, recall, or back track our activities earlier, we can avoid retrieval failure on our memories. Reference Baddeley, A. D. (1997). Human Memory: Theory and Practice. Taylor and Francis Group.

Corruption Of The Law Enforcement - 2120 Words

Corruption in Law Enforcement Nicholas Colbert University of Texas at El Paso Corruption in Law Enforcement Corruption has always been a problem. From the beginning it was embedded into law enforcement. Corruption is not just a problem that affects a few people. In the long run many lives are affected and often ruined. There are many people in law enforcement that abuse their powers, but thanks to a few good people, everyone can enjoy having law enforcement agencies that really look after the people, execute their job functions, and try to better themselves as well as the agency they work for. Unfortunately, as technology changes, so will people. Corruption will never go away and when people in law enforcement are being corrupt,†¦show more content†¦Wardens served warrants and acted as detectives. They also recovered stolen property and did street patrol. Wardens typically were not liked by the people. It was quoted â€Å"Colonial law enforcement was inefficient, corrupt, and subject to political indifference.† (Walker, 1999) The cities quickly grew by the 1800s and had to find a better form of law enforcement. Sir Robert Peele then introduced municipal policing. He believed that the police should be organized and should be familiar with the neighborhoods they were to police. He felt that the officers should be humble and look presentable. Sir Robert Peele supported the territorial approach. By 1870, Peele’s strategy had spread to every major city in America. In the 1800s day watch systems were also established in some of these major cities. By the mid 1800’s both day and night systems were combined to provide protection all day. In the early 1900s there were many advancements to policing making it more professional. On July 26, 1908, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was formed and on March 16, 1909 they became official. During this time technology also had an impact on policing. Phone use, radios, and car patrol became common. The cities grew, policing have improved, but there was no centralized form of government. Small departments acted independently and the larger departments had smaller precincts that sometimes acted as small departments. The colonists did not want a centralized government because

Caudipteryx - Facts and Figures

Name: Caudipteryx (Greek for tail feather); pronounced cow-DIP-ter-ix Habitat: Lakesides and riverbeds of Asia Historical Period: Early Cretaceous (120-130 million years ago) Size and Weight: About three feet long and 20 pounds Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Primitive feathers; birdlike beak and feet About Caudipteryx If any single creature has conclusively settled the debate about the relationship between birds and dinosaurs, its Caudipteryx. The fossils of this turkey-sized dinosaur reveal startlingly birdlike characteristics, including feathers, a short, beaked head, and distinctly avian feet. For all its resemblance to birds, though, paleontologists agree that Caudipteryx was unable to fly--making it an intermediate species between land-bound dinosaurs and flying birds. However, not all scientists think that Caudipteryx proves that birds descended from dinosaurs. One school of thought maintains that this creature evolved from a species of bird that gradually lost the ability to fly (the same way penguins gradually evolved from flying ancestors). As with all dinosaurs reconstructed from fossils, its impossible to know (at least based on the evidence we now have) exactly where Caudipteryx stood on the dinosaur/bird spectrum.