make it more practical. With the details filled in, we now know where we are, what Delia’s car looks like, and approximately how fast she’s going. If they’re able to make their writing more concrete (or more specific), then their content becomes more engaging as readers can visualize their words. making it more concrete. In this article, we’re going to explore specificity in writing. How to use concrete in a sentence. We could use a specific example to illustrate the idea. Original: The vista in the distance was beautiful enough, but she couldn't admire it for long. Show More Sentences If the surface of the concrete pour is insulated from the outside temperatures, the heat of hydration will prevent freezing. 20 examples: The concrete suggestion of the participants for school education may be… Subscribers get access to our archives with 800+ interactive exercises! It’s just like Uncle Ben said: “With great power comes great responsibility.” There are certainly some situations where you should be vague. I know it’s not particularly useful advice to say that you can hone your instincts through time and practice—but it’s true! The terminal was constructed of reinforced concrete. The statements at the top, which are more abstract, can be interpreted in many possible ways, and leave many questions answered. Example sentences with the word concrete. concrete in a sentence - Use "concrete" in a sentence 1. A "concrete plan" is realistic and detailed. He ate his breakfast. How about this? How can we make this idea more concrete? A concrete thinking adolescent can recognize that a good strategy in football is to make maximal use of the team’s most talented players. make it more realistic. Be alert for opportunities to condense sentences consisting of two independent clauses into a simple statement. It also runs the risk of telling, rather than showing. You can buy all-purpose sand online or at a hardware store. Another word for more concrete. Relaxed: The expectations of executive management and the board of directors about scalability can be unrealistic. “The vista in the distance” is far too vague. Learn everything you need to know about grammar. That statement is certainly lacking detail. How about the second sentence in the passage? Rewrite: Delia raced down the two-lane Colorado highway in her red '68 Corvette, her speedometer climbing near triple digits. Don’t just write that a character is intimidating; describe his many scars, his unblinking stare, and his humorless tone. The second sentence is shorter and simpler, and as a piece of writing, it is also more concrete. Starting with the action can be exciting and invigorating to audiences, and keep them paying attention. Don’t just write that a room is vast; describe the vaulted ceiling, the echo of characters’ voices within the space, and the sight of distant columns as they vanish from sight. When offering recommendations, avoid overly polite entreaties, and simply state the advice as an imperative: “As you establish your policies, develop a comprehensive list of business activities.” (Other words that signal an expendable phrase are advised, suggested, necessary, and imperative.). But is that actually acceptable, or even correct? Like any writing advice, correct application is key. The more abstract or general your language is, the more unclear and boring it will be. According to San Francisco State University, commentary or discussion about concrete details can make connections between details more obvious. Instead, ease the reader in. The more concrete and specific your language is, the more clear and vivid it will be. The law was passed to ensure patient safety. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Is there another term that I can use instead or is it fine to use it? Always read over what you have written (whether it’s a tweet or a book manuscript) before you distribute or publish it—not only to adhere to the mechanical basics of grammar, syntax, usage, and style but also to check for narrative flow and conciseness. The natural way to make a point is "A affects B". Simply dismantle the phrase that ends with the noun and convert the adjectives that precede the noun into adverbs: “Organizations can cost-effectively and efficiently realize tremendous value from risk management.”. I was wondering if I can use "More concrete,..." at the beginning of a sentence in order to specify a general statement. 10 examples: These building techniques were not isolated to pouring concrete, but were and… To avoid expletives, lead with the subject or even choose a different subject and, if possible, substitute a vivid verb to make the sentence more straightforward and easier to understand: There are problems with the lease. Simply dismantle the phrase that ends with the noun and convert the adjectives that precede the noun into adverbs: “Organizations can cost-effectively and efficiently realize tremendous value from risk management.” Explanation of the English phrase "a concrete plan": "Concrete" things are solid. Namely, the chance to be specific! Bestselling Author Joanna Penn Compares, A Complete Guide to Crafting Unique Fantasy and Sci-Fi Cultures, How to Immerse Your Readers With a Rich Fantasy Setting, Everything You Need to Know About World-Building. Sentence examples for make it more concrete from inspiring English sources. So don’t worry if your first draft is light on detail. Abstract terms refer to … Rewritten with concrete details, it can become the following: The tree had gnarled branches and deep black holes in its trunk. What's for breakfast? Let’s start with She had places to be. Instead of chattering about vague policies and activities, give specific examples of each. In “all of the” phrases, of is almost always optional, and the can often be safely omitted as well: “Nearly all processes and steps conducted during this phase were planned in the early stages.”. The hydration rate of wet concrete, which is the rate at which the concrete sets, depends upon many factors. When a sentence or clause begins with an expletive (“There is/are” or “It is/They are”), consider omitting the phrase and beginning the sentence with the noun or noun phrase that follows (and delete the now-extraneous that that follows the subject): “Core sets of critical activities and critical communications must be performed at this stage.”. Effective writers use a combination of abstract and concrete language, but if your paper is too vague, general, or lacks specifics, here’s how you can add more concrete language into your next essay. My go-to activity is one my husband, Steve Peha, developed for pre-K and kindergarten students to help them get more from the drawings they were doing. But as you write and revise, try to take your general statements and make them as specific as possible. The subject follows the verb, resulting in an indirect, roundabout expression (also see TIP Sheet "Active and Passive Voice"). The presence of way (or manner, or basis, or any similar vague noun) at the end of a sentence signals a sentence in need of abbreviation. Now we know exactly what she’s seeing, rather than needing to guess. Notice how much more effective the statements become as the language becomes more specific and concrete. But as you write and revise, try to take your general statements and make them as specific as possible. 5. make it more solid. The posts have to be set in concrete. In particular, though, I recommend being specific with characterization and visual description. Scientists tell us that the human thighbone is as strong as concrete. But I think giving away such a key detail so early on in the book might make it less compelling. Let’s find out. You might not know your main character quite yet, or your setting, or your plot. Be cautious, however, about overzealous conciseness, as in the case of multiple nouns and noun phrases stacked in a dense swarm of words. Let’s replace it with a distinct visual. The following sentences, and the discussions and revisions that follow each one, include advice for paring unnecessary words and phrases. Draw first, then write. By starting with your subject, it infuses your sentences with action, creating activity and interest in your key message. To write effective sentences use concrete words that we know through our senses, like pen, loud, sitting. Likewise, writers begin with generalities, then shape them into concrete, specific prose. Here, what was an introduced observation is recast as an acknowledged phenomenon, changing the subject from “IPO activity” to “the increase in IPO activity”: “The increase in IPO activity over the past few years presents a great advantage for the company.”. At this stage, we’re trying to get our readers engrossed in our story. 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