Re: Convincing ...

[David Neeley <dbneeley -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Jack,

Thanks for the link! 

I do take issue with the first two concepts as they define them:

"Clarity in writing means good grammar and usage.

Conciseness means saying what you have to say in as few words as possible."

First, "good grammar and usage" often are hallmarks of clear writing,
but there are times when "ungrammatical" constructions may be very
clear as well--even superior to a strictly grammatical construction.
For any who doubt this, there is the classic story of Churchill who,
upon being admonished about ending a sentence with a preposition, is
said to have retorted "Madam, there are some things up with which I
will not put!"

Next, their definition of "conciseness" does not seem appropriate somehow.

Perhaps something like this would be better:

"Conciseness means writing without surplus words."

Cordially,

David

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