OPERATIONAL PROSE ABSENT THE VERB TO-BE (repost) Operational prose that avoids t

OPERATIONAL PROSE ABSENT THE VERB TO-BE
(repost)
Operational prose that avoids the verb “to be” in its various forms (is, are, was, were, etc.) and constructs complete sentences can significantly reduce the occurrence of vague, ambiguous, and evasive language. This style of writing emphasizes action, clarity, and directness, impacting the use of weasel words, passive voice, and other evasive strategies in several ways:

Reduces Weasel Words and Vagueness: By focusing on concrete actions rather than abstract states of being, operational prose makes it harder to use weasel words that lack specificity. Statements must be tied to specific actions, actors, and outcomes, which naturally demands more precision and clarity.

Eliminates Passive Voice: Without the verb “to be,” the passive construction becomes nearly impossible to use. This forces the writer to specify the subject performing an action, thereby increasing accountability and transparency in the prose.

Limits Hedging and Ambiguity: Operational prose, by its nature, requires that statements be tied to clear and verifiable actions or outcomes. This makes it more difficult to hedge or be ambiguous, as each sentence must convey a specific action or result that can be measured or observed.

Discourages Nominalizations: Operational prose encourages the use of active verbs, reducing the tendency to turn verbs into nouns (nominalizations), which often make sentences more abstract and less clear.

Focuses on Specific Actions Over Generalizations: By emphasizing actions over states, operational prose avoids broad, untestable claims, focusing instead on specific, demonstrable activities or achievements.

Minimizes Jargon and Bureaucratese: While not directly tied to the exclusion of the verb “to be,” operational prose’s emphasis on clarity and action can also help minimize the use of unnecessary jargon and bureaucratese, which often obscure meaning.

Operational prose encourages a more direct, action-oriented style of writing that is inherently clearer and more specific. This style naturally mitigates the use of linguistic strategies designed to obscure, evade, or inflate, promoting instead a form of communication that is more straightforward and easier to verify or challenge.