shorten it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shorten it" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to make a text or statement more concise or brief. Example: "The report is too long; can you please shorten it to just a few key points?"

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Whenever you see a sentence that goes on longer than needed to get its point across, shorten it.

WikiHow

No we can't shorten it!

The Guardian - Music

"You should shorten it," Adolfo said.

The New York Times

He hit upon the idea of endnotes to shorten it.

The New Yorker

The others take this up and shorten it to Nosy.

The New Yorker

We can shorten it as much as we need.

The New York Times - Sports

But tests show that, far from prolonging life, they may actually shorten it.

Independent

Taking away minutes from the game isn't going to shorten it at all.

The Guardian - Sport

I shorten it to four feet with a yearly spring trimming.

The New York Times - Style

Parole and good behaviour may shorten it, but there usually is a known end date.

The Guardian - Opinion

"My body would love it, too, if I could shorten it," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When revising your writing, actively seek out lengthy sentences or paragraphs and consider how you can "shorten it" for clarity and impact.

Common error

While it's important to "shorten it", avoid removing essential information or sacrificing nuance for the sake of brevity. Ensure the core message remains intact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shorten it" functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to reduce the length of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, this is a common and acceptable usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

31%

News & Media

40%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shorten it" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase for requesting conciseness. Ludwig confirms its acceptability and common usage across diverse contexts. When using this phrase, consider the context and ensure that the essential information is not sacrificed for brevity. Alternatives such as "condense it" or "make it brief" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. Remember to balance brevity with clarity to maintain the integrity of the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make it shorter

Directly expresses the idea of reducing length, offering a straightforward alternative.

make it more concise

Emphasizes clarity and brevity, aiming to eliminate unnecessary words or details.

make it brief

Focuses on conciseness and brevity, implying a reduction in unnecessary details.

condense it

Suggests compressing information into a smaller form, maintaining essential elements.

abridge it

Implies creating a shorter version of a text or document, often used in formal contexts.

streamline it

Suggests simplifying a process or text to make it more efficient and direct.

cut it down

Informal expression meaning to reduce the length or size of something.

trim it

Suggests removing unnecessary parts to make something neater and more concise.

reduce it

General term for making something smaller in size or amount.

summarize it

Focuses on providing a brief overview, capturing the main points in a reduced form.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "shorten it" in a sentence?

Use "shorten it" when you want someone to make something more concise. For instance, "The essay is too long; please "shorten it" to meet the word limit".

What are some alternatives to using "shorten it" in writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "condense it", "make it brief", or "reduce it" to convey the same meaning.

Is there a difference between "shorten it" and "abridge it"?

"Abridge it" implies creating a condensed version of a text, often a formal document, while "shorten it" is a more general term for making something shorter in length or duration. The best choice depends on the desired level of formality.

When is it appropriate to ask someone to "shorten it"?

It's appropriate to ask someone to "shorten it" when a piece of writing, a speech, or any other form of communication is excessively long or contains unnecessary details. The goal is to improve clarity and impact.