--- title: "Precision and Economy" description: "Say more in fewer words: choose the exact verb and noun, drop intensifiers doing no work, and cut any phrase whose removal costs nothing." canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/precision-and-economy-mt_6IiH44N01F source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/precision-and-economy-mt_6IiH44N01F.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Precision and Economy Say more in fewer words: choose the exact verb and noun, drop intensifiers doing no work, and cut any phrase whose removal costs nothing. Subject: English · Area: Writing Composition · Ages 14 to 16 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/precision-and-economy-mt_6IiH44N01F ## Ready when they can - Replace a weak verb plus adverb with one exact verb when the replacement preserves the intended meaning - Try cutting about a tenth of a draft's words, restoring any wording needed to preserve meaning - Catch vague nouns (thing, aspect, situation) and name what is actually meant ## Lesson: Shorter, sharper, exact You have practised choosing sentences for an effect. Precision now means choosing words that match your intended meaning. Economy means removing unnecessary wording. A specific word helps only when its details are supported. Calling an unnamed container a glass jar adds information about its shape and material. Use those details only if you know or intend them. **Example.** Consider 'The sealed envelope lay on the desk.' The word 'sealed' tells readers about the envelope's condition. Removing it leaves the envelope and desk but loses that condition. Keep a modifier when its information matters. A longer sentence can be the better choice when the shorter version leaves out something needed. Try an exact verb in place of a verb and adverb, then compare meanings. 'Whispered' names speaking in a whisper. But 'trudged' can add effort to 'walked slowly'. Use it only if that effort is intended. Adverbs can carry needed information too: 'smiled sadly' says more than 'smiled'. There is no rule that every verb-adverb pair must become one word. *(drawing: A shorter version needs a meaning check before you accept it.)* If a noun's reference is unclear, identify what it means before replacing it. Use your notes to name the object or problem. Do not invent a specific name when the information is missing. 'Thing' and 'situation' can work when readers already know their reference. Adding 'very' to 'the situation was bad' still does not name the problem. Try a rough ten-percent cut as an exercise, not a quota. Remove repeated meaning, then compare drafts. Keep needed actions, details, timing, degree, uncertainty, source credits and tone. Restore any that disappear. 'May finish today' must not become 'will finish today' without support. Check action order too: doing one action before another differs from doing both at once. **Recap.** Choose words that fit the intended meaning. Cut needless repetition, clarify references using known information, and compare drafts before accepting changes. *Original lesson, practice questions and flashcards about precise, meaning-preserving revision, written for this dataset.* ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Sentence Craft for Rhythm and Emphasis](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/sentence-craft-for-rhythm-and-emphasis-mt_4opgg-pdsr) ## Optional connections - [Academic Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/academic-vocabulary-mt_OLwNsTI6C7) ## Opens up - [Paragraph Shape and Deliberate Breaks](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/paragraph-shape-and-deliberate-breaks-mt_3C7NH2XOkg)