Concise writing means removing what the reader does not need. It does not mean deleting every small word or qualification.
The clarity guidance in OET Writing 2.0 for Dietitians recommends focused language and logical organisation. This guide offers a sentence-level editing exercise.
Remove repeated ideas first
Look for phrases that say the same thing twice. Replace long introductory wording with a direct statement when the meaning remains unchanged.
Original editing example
Draft: “At the review that took place on Monday, the learner reported that she had completed the exercise on two occasions.”
Revision: “At Monday's review, the learner reported completing the exercise twice.”
Protect attribution and timing
The word “reported” matters because it identifies the source of the information. Monday identifies the review date. Cutting those details may alter what the reader understands.
Spot the excessive cut
“The learner completed everything” is shorter but changes both the source and the scope. The notes concern a reported exercise, not every task.
Read the revision against the notes
Ask whether the same person, action, time and degree of certainty remain. A shorter sentence is not an improvement if it becomes less accurate.
Try reducing one paragraph by removing repetition, then restore any qualification that was lost. This gives you a practical way to review conciseness without treating word count as the only goal.
Explore OET Writing for Dietitians — Course 2 to see the course outline, current availability and enrolment options. Use the worked exercise above to identify a skill you would like to practise next.
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OET Writing for Dietitians — Course 2
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Source: OET DIE WR 2.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.