uw-madison writing center writer's handbook

Follow the principles below to write sentences that are clear, to the point, and easier to read.

Avoid using vague nouns

Try to avoid using the following vague, all-purpose nouns, which sometimes lead to wordiness, especially when used in prepositional phrases.

Examples

Vague nouns	How to fix them
Consumer demand is rising in the area of services.	Consumers are demanding more services.
Strong reading skills are an important factor in students' success in college.	Students' success in college depends on their reading skills.
Photography took on new aspects during the Civil War.	The Civil War saw the advent of graphic battlefield photography.