RULE NO.

7: USE SPECIFIC AND CONCRETE LANGUAGE

RULE NO. 7: USE SPECIFIC, CONCRETE LANGUAGE

The three rules for good writing are: (1) be concrete, (2) be concrete, and (3) be concrete. Shy away
from abstract words that soar into the blue and stand for things you can not pin down. It is hard to
say just what abstract words do mean. And they often mean different things to different people.
Take “democracy” and “indoctrination,” for example. You had probably had a hard time finding
three persons who agree on the exact meaning of these two common words.

Use lots of concrete and specific words that stand for things you and your reader can see, hear,
taste, touch, and smell. Concrete nouns help focus your reader’s attention. Always prefer the
specific to the general, the definite to the vague, and the concrete to the abstract. Furthermore, you
must watch out for “vague” or “imprecise” words. “Crime” for instance is vague. It may range all the
way from jaywalking to murder.

Here are sample of vague words culled from newspaper reports:

Tragedy (fire, explosion, drowning, cave-in?)

Accident (collision, a fall from a building, slip?)
Organization (Jaycees, Catholic Action, YMCA?)
Ceremony (wedding, mass, award?)
Legal action (suit for damages, criminal case?)
Document (deed of sale, record, certificate, treaty?)
Monetary Consideration (salary, bribe, reward?)
Community (town, barrio, city?)

Precision pays. The search for the precise should extend to sentences. Consider these examples:

Vague: His head was injured by a blunt instrument.

Precise: His skull was fractured with a hammer.

Vague: Officers removed a gun from his clothing.

Precise: Police took a .32 caliber automatic from his hip pocket.

Vague: A large number assembled for the meeting.

Precise: Five hundred attended the caucus.

Vague: He spoke in disparaging terms about the radical element.

Precise: He denounced the communists.
Abstract words make your writing dull and vague. If you want to keep your writing clear and crisp
and understandable, use concrete nouns and verbs. Be precise.

Source: http://highschooljournalism.blogspot.com/2009/10/rule-no-7-use-specific-concrete.html