| Journalism: Tips and Tools |
Exercises for Compressing Statements and
Editing Unnecessary Words
COMPRESS THE STATEMENTS BELOW INTO ONE WORD:
| at that time |
______________ |
taken to the jail and locked up |
______________ |
on one occasion |
______________ |
ended his talk to the assembled audience with the following statement |
______________ |
a small number of |
______________ |
as long as (time, not space) |
______________ |
in addition to |
______________ |
not any one of the two |
______________ |
went on to say |
______________ |
was able to make his escape |
______________ |
in the near future |
______________ |
students who are regularly enrolled |
______________ |
any one of the two |
______________ |
brought to a sudden halt |
______________ |
at the present time |
______________ |
completely destroyed by fire |
______________ |
told his listeners that |
______________ |
uniform in both size and shape |
______________ |
gives strength to |
______________ |
united in holy matrimony |
______________ |
once in a great while |
______________ |
in the same manner as |
______________ |
a large number of |
______________ |
the time at which |
______________ |
during the time that |
______________ |
made an investigation of |
______________ |
at regular intervals of time |
______________ |
is of the opinion that |
______________ |
tendered his resignation |
______________ |
a great number of times |
______________ |
EDIT ALL UNNECESSARY WORDS FROM THE EXPRESSIONS BELOW:
| lift it up |
zoom up fast |
in a dying condition |
held a temporary recess |
ways and means |
null and void |
first of all |
drop down abruptly |
a free gift |
a rich widow woman |
he continued on |
in the meantime |
a near facsimile |
it first began |
his final conclusion |
an old hound dog |
on Easter Sunday |
a noon luncheon |
had two twins |
in court litigation |
a complete monopoly |
in close proximity |
the actual truth |
finishing up soon |
raise up the aerial |
its final completion |
he personally believes |
a well-known old adage |
she definitely decided |
made of cement |
caught a tuna fish |
a personal friend |
sent none at all |
the proved facts |
it seemed to be |
consensus of opinion |
was finally settled |
will start off soon |
June sales to level off |
her past experiences |
a pretty young debutant |
a clever new innovation |
a true fact |
its future prospects |
two complimentary passes |
a canary bird |
25 invited guests |
will repeat again |
was short in length |
whether or not |
foundered and sank |
our hopeful optimism |
if and when |
came on Christmas day |
decided last of all |
found strangled to death |
BY BOBBY HAWTHORNE
Former Director, Interscholastic League Press Conference
Please see that Bobby Hawthorne and the ILPC are appropriately credited.
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