becomes

"The suspects left the building unseen by the police."

So does radio:

"Soon to be presented in the noon-time hour..."

"Coming up between 12 and 1."

The Web is not immune:

"Decision making is fundamentally linked to diverse heterogeneous information."

becomes

"We use different types of information to make decisions."

We've been fighting a losing battle against this kind of thing for years.

Until now.

After years of research, our team of highly-qualified and experienced linguists, lexicographers, thesauristas and analog programmers has developed two tools to cut down on excessive word and syllable usage - the LQI (TM) and the SQI (TM).

Here's how they work.

A block of text is reduced to its minimal meaning. The original is then assigned two numbers, a "Logorrhea Quotient Index" and a "Syllabrrhea Quotient Index". These are ratios of the number of words and syllables compared to the irreducible minimum of words consistent with meaning.

Adjustments are then made to the minimum consistent with style and "voice". The objective is that revised copy is expressed as a number as close to 1 as possible.

Here's an example:

Sample Text:

"We are unable to provide you with the information you have requested, as the provision of client identities to non-company personnel is in direct contravention of stated company policy."

Irreducible Minimum (consistent with meaning):

"No"

LQI1 = 30

SQI1 = 57

Now "No" is a bit bald. So we soften the blow like this:

"We can't give you our client list as you don't work for us."

LQI2 = 13

SQI2= 14

This new service is invaluable for anyone who needs to produce tight, understandable copy for print or the web.

Here's our offer:

Send us 200 words of text in need of distillation, either as a URL or in the body of an eMail, and we'll turn it around for you within 24 hours.

Free.

More details? eMail us!

John Blower

Articles || Web Columns || Clients
Resume || Mail

London, UK
07986 401490
Derry, New Hampshire, USA
603 421 0776