Being verbose (verboso) will annoy your listener or reader. You will also waste their time and yours.
Our focus here is on phrases that connect ideas or points, and to advise where you can avoid long phrases and achieve simplicity and clarity (la claridad). Examine these:
- “As a consequence of” (como una consecuencia de) is better reduced to “because of” (2 words instead of 4).
- “On the grounds that” (bajo el argumento de que) is better reduced to “because” (1 word is better than 4).
- “For the purpose of” (con el fin de) is better reduced to “to” (1 word).
- “For the reason that” (por la razón que) is better said “because”.
- “In the course of” (en el transcurso de) is better reduced to “during.”
- With a view to (con vistas a hacer) goes to “to”.
Now look at these sentences using the longer phases and then compare how much easier the shorter sentence is.
- In the course of the meeting (en el transcurso de la reunion), Mr. Morales sent a message to Mr. Rajoy. This is better: “During the meeting” Mr. Morales sent a message to Mr. Rajoy. This is shorter and easier for every man and his dog (un dicho = todo el mundo).
- Mr. Clavijo went to London with a view to invite Mrs. May to Tenerife. This is easier: Mr. Clavijo went to London to invite Mrs. May to Tenerife. 3 fewer words.
- Mr. Morales went to Brussels for the reason that he had a meeting with Mr. Barnier. This is better: Mr. Morales went to Brussels because he had a meeting with Mr. Barnier.
- Mr. Rajoy went to London for the purpose of supporting Mr. Davis in the Brexit negotiations. This is better: Mr. Rajoy went to London to support Mr. Davis in the Brexit negotiations.
The English are simple souls!
