3 ms·

This sentence is shorter, but it also contains less information. I would say the 75% reduction in sentence length comes with a 66% reduction in contained inform

• hcrisp 11y ago
  Ha, spoken like a true engineer. However, if the point of writing the sentence is not data storage but communication, then a long, convoluted sentence can be less successful than a shorter, more readable one. Maybe I picked a bad example. Here is another one: Before: Perception is the process of extracting information from stimulation emanating from objects, places, and events in the world around us. After: Perception extracts information from the outside world. Yes, the first is more specific and more detailed, but the "outside world" includes things like objects and places and doesn't add much to the gist. The second one is certainly more readable.
• nommm-nommm 11y ago
  "Just the facts, ma'am." I often see writing (especally from engineers) that is meant to be informative that is overwhelmed with irrelevant information. That is difficult to parse. Sometimes you want to pick out just a few relevant facts and leave out anything that isn't strictly needed so your audience understands the point. It depends on your audience and you reason for writing what sort of information is needed and what is not needed. Its not an easy skill.