Sentence correction concision
49 flashcards covering Sentence correction concision for the GMAT Verbal section.
Sentence correction concision is about making sentences clear and efficient by removing unnecessary words, redundancy, or awkward phrasing. It focuses on expressing ideas directly without losing the original meaning, which helps in crafting more professional and impactful writing. In essence, it's a skill for streamlining language while preserving accuracy, making your communication more effective in both everyday use and formal contexts.
On the GMAT Verbal section, concision appears in sentence correction questions, where you're given a sentence and several options to choose the best version. Common traps include selecting overly wordy answers that add extraneous details or repeat ideas, which can make the sentence less precise. Focus on identifying redundancies, such as phrases that say the same thing twice, and prioritize options that convey the same meaning more succinctly, as the test emphasizes clarity and brevity in business communication.
Aim for the most direct wording without altering the intent.
Terms (49)
- 01
Concision
Concision is the quality of being expressed in few words while retaining full meaning, a key element in GMAT sentence correction to ensure clarity and efficiency.
- 02
Redundancy
Redundancy in sentences involves repeating ideas unnecessarily, such as saying 'advance planning' instead of 'planning', which wastes words and should be avoided on the GMAT.
- 03
Wordiness
Wordiness occurs when a sentence uses more words than necessary, often by including extra phrases that do not add value, making it harder to identify the core message in GMAT questions.
- 04
Unnecessary repetition
Unnecessary repetition means stating the same idea multiple times in different ways within a sentence, which can be eliminated to achieve concision in GMAT sentence correction.
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Passive voice overuse
Passive voice overuse happens when active voice would be more direct and concise, such as changing 'The ball was thrown by John' to 'John threw the ball' for GMAT efficiency.
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Eliminating filler words
Eliminating filler words involves removing words like 'very' or 'really' that do not enhance meaning, helping to streamline sentences in GMAT verbal sections.
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Redundant phrases
Redundant phrases are expressions like 'past history' where 'history' implies the past, so they should be shortened to avoid wordiness on the GMAT.
- 08
Concise modifiers
Concise modifiers are adjectives or adverbs used sparingly to avoid excess, ensuring that only essential descriptions remain in GMAT sentence correction.
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Nominalizations
Nominalizations turn verbs into nouns unnecessarily, like 'perform an analysis' instead of 'analyze', which adds wordiness and should be avoided on the GMAT.
- 10
Prepositional phrase excess
Prepositional phrase excess involves using too many phrases like 'in the area of' when 'in' suffices, bloating sentences that need concision for the GMAT.
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Avoiding double negatives
Avoiding double negatives means not using constructions like 'not uncommon' when 'common' works, as it simplifies and shortens sentences for GMAT clarity.
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Shorter synonyms
Shorter synonyms are words that replace longer ones without changing meaning, such as using 'use' instead of 'make use of' to promote concision in GMAT sentences.
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Parallel structure for brevity
Parallel structure for brevity ensures that items in a list or series are phrased similarly and concisely, avoiding uneven lengths in GMAT sentence correction.
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Relative clauses simplification
Relative clauses simplification involves rephrasing complex clauses like 'who is' to integrate them directly, reducing word count in GMAT questions.
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Appositives for concision
Appositives for concision use phrases that rename nouns without extra words, such as 'the city, Paris' instead of 'the city which is Paris', in GMAT contexts.
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Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions help combine ideas efficiently, like using 'because' to link clauses rather than separate sentences, aiding GMAT concision.
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Avoiding expletives
Avoiding expletives means not starting sentences with 'It is' or 'There are' when unnecessary, as it directly states the subject for GMAT brevity.
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Redundant adjectives
Redundant adjectives are descriptors that repeat what the noun already implies, like 'future plans' instead of 'plans', and should be omitted in GMAT sentences.
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Concise lists
Concise lists present items without unnecessary connectors or words, ensuring the structure is tight and clear for GMAT sentence correction.
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Idiomatic expressions
Idiomatic expressions are standard phrases that are inherently concise, such as 'take into account' versus wordier alternatives, favored in GMAT writing.
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Overuse of adverbs
Overuse of adverbs involves adding words like 'quickly' when the verb already conveys the action, which can be cut for concision in GMAT questions.
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Strategy for spotting wordiness
The strategy for spotting wordiness is to read sentences aloud and question if every word is essential, a technique useful for GMAT preparation.
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Replacing phrases with words
Replacing phrases with words means using a single word like 'cease' instead of 'bring to an end', enhancing concision in GMAT sentence correction.
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Common traps in concision
Common traps in concision include adding details that seem helpful but are irrelevant, leading to errors that test-takers must identify on the GMAT.
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Concise transitions
Concise transitions use brief words like 'however' instead of 'on the other hand' to connect ideas smoothly without excess in GMAT sentences.
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Avoiding tautologies
Avoiding tautologies means not using statements that repeat themselves, like 'free of charge' when 'free' is enough, for GMAT efficiency.
- 27
Essential vs. nonessential clauses
Essential vs. nonessential clauses distinguish information that must be kept from what can be removed, aiding in trimming GMAT sentences.
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Paraphrasing for brevity
Paraphrasing for brevity involves rewording sentences to use fewer words while preserving meaning, a skill tested in GMAT verbal sections.
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Redundant pairs
Redundant pairs are phrases like 'first and foremost' where 'first' implies primacy, so they should be simplified for GMAT concision.
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Using active verbs
Using active verbs directly conveys action without passive constructions, making sentences shorter and more impactful on the GMAT.
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Concise comparisons
Concise comparisons avoid unnecessary words in structures like 'better than' instead of 'superior to in comparison', for GMAT clarity.
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Eliminating hedge words
Eliminating hedge words means removing qualifiers like 'somewhat' that weaken or add unnecessary nuance, streamlining GMAT sentences.
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Strategy for revising sentences
The strategy for revising sentences is to cross out nonessential words first, then check for redundancy, a method for GMAT success.
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Avoiding parenthetical phrases
Avoiding parenthetical phrases involves integrating extra information directly if possible, rather than using commas, for GMAT concision.
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Concise definitions
Concise definitions use the shortest accurate wording, such as defining a term without superfluous examples in GMAT contexts.
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Redundant modifiers
Redundant modifiers are words that restate the obvious, like 'visible to the eye', and should be removed for GMAT sentence efficiency.
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Using gerunds for concision
Using gerunds for concision turns phrases into single words, like 'swimming' instead of 'the act of swimming', in GMAT questions.
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Trap of false precision
The trap of false precision involves adding exact numbers or details that aren't needed, leading to wordiness that GMAT tests identify.
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Concise conditionals
Concise conditionals use structures like 'if' without extra words, such as 'if true' instead of 'in the event that it is true', for GMAT brevity.
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Avoiding circumlocution
Avoiding circumlocution means not using indirect language when direct words suffice, keeping GMAT sentences straightforward.
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Parallelism in series
Parallelism in series ensures that elements are matched concisely, avoiding mismatches that add words in GMAT sentence correction.
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Shorter prepositions
Shorter prepositions replace longer ones, like 'on' for 'upon', to reduce word count without altering meaning in GMAT contexts.
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Concise appositive phrases
Concise appositive phrases provide additional information briefly, such as 'my brother, a doctor' instead of a full clause, for GMAT use.
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Eliminating intensifiers
Eliminating intensifiers means removing words like 'absolutely' when the adjective is strong enough, aiding GMAT concision.
- 45
Strategy for multiple clauses
The strategy for multiple clauses is to combine them when possible, reducing the overall length of sentences in GMAT verbal tasks.
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Redundant adverbs
Redundant adverbs repeat what the verb implies, like 'whisper quietly', and should be omitted for GMAT efficiency.
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Using participles
Using participles allows for concise description, such as 'Running quickly' instead of 'He ran quickly', in GMAT sentences.
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Common concision pitfalls
Common concision pitfalls include over-explaining simple ideas, which GMAT questions often use to test critical reading skills.
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Concise quantifiers
Concise quantifiers use words like 'some' instead of 'a certain number of', simplifying expressions for GMAT purposes.