Shorten phrases

1 As a consequence of the prevalence of obesity, there is an urgent need for policymakers to develop appropriate guidelines.

2 ………. the prevalence of obesity, there is an urgent need for policymakers to develop appropriate guidelines.

3 This seems sensible in light of the fact that the images are composed of objects at all distances; no particular angular scale should stand out.

4 This seems sensible ………. the images are composed of objects at all distances; no particular angular scale should stand out.

5 An example of this is the fact that the two longest terminal branches are clustered together in the phylogenetic tree.

6 ………., the two longest terminal branches are clustered together in the phylogenetic tree.

7 The discrepancy in our results can be accounted for by the fact that different protocols were used.

8 The discrepancy in our results ………. the use of different protocols.

Exercises — Removing words & Shortening Phrases

Improve each of the following sentences by striking out unnecessary words and phrases.

  • Research is currently underway to completely catalog the chromatin modifications of the entire human epigenome.
  • The cost of the HapMap project has been estimated roughly at $130 million.
  • When the clone is transcribed from DNA to RNA and translated from RNA to protein in vitro, both polypeptides can be detected.
  • All participants in the pilot project experienced a range of positive benefits and pledged to continue collaborating together.
  • It is worth pointing out that the most strongly binding aptamer was already detectable after the first round of SELEX.
  • It is known that free radicals have carcinogenic and mutagenic effects.
  • In this paper we give an overview of the most relevant existing work in this area of research.
  • It is in fact known that glucose is one of the products of photosysthesis in plants (Yang, 2014).
  • Experience teaches us that this is generally the best approach (see our previous papers: 12, 22 and 34).
  • Several authors in the past and also more recently have shown that substantial improvements in performance can …
  • It should be borne in mind that there may be a high environmental contamination level (Smrkolj, 2005).
  • Finally, it is well known that in archaeological waves, hydrocarbons sublimate over time and it cannot be excluded that a similar phenomenon may occur in a thin film of oil (Bakali, 2014).
  • Another proposal is presented in (12), where the authors use a time-series analysis with travel speed simulation to predict future trajectories. In particular they use a process based on range querying with spatial-temporal constraints on a moving object database.

Simplify the following sentences by editing the phrases in italics:

  • This study represents an increase in the number of characterised human microRNAs by an order of magnitude.
  • The sample size was not quite sufficiently large enough.
  • This can be achieved in a satisfactory way.
  • From a conceptual point of view, the task is quite difficult to visualise.
  • In the normal course of events, such occurrences are rare.
  • As a consequence of this, we were unable to …
  • Our algorithm can search for solutions in an incremental way.
  • Since these calculations are in general redundant, we decided to …
  • It is interesting to note that, x is the same as y.
  • It is probably the case that, x is higher than y.
  • It is immediate to see that this is a much simpler solution.
  • Installation is carried out in an automatic fashion.

Edit the phrases below using only words that are absolutely essential:

  • When managing water resources it is absolutely essential to consider natural ecosystems.
  • Extracting DNA from a large number of samples simultaneously is often tedious and inefficient.
  • Multipotent precursors can give rise to all major cell types of the frog retina.
  • In the event that data was not collected during an exam, measurements from the most recent previous exam were used. - A proportion of patients with lymphoma may harbor mutations of the perforin gene.
  • Symptoms along the lines of those associated with human hepatitis B were found in woodchucks.
  • It was shown that a UPFC has the capability of simultaneously regulating power flow and minimising the power loss.
  • The second law of thermodynamics is almost unique in nineteenth century physics in that it survived the revolutions of relativity and quantum mechanics unscathed.
  • These new polymers possess quite unique qualities, allowing them to function as either drug-carrier molecules or as reconstructive plastics.
  • A detailed review of the literature reveals that previous studies are few in number and limited in clinical relevance.
  • Two variables can be related to each other without either variable directly affecting the values of the other.