Occasionally texts or paragraphs are just too dense or too complex to be understood as written, and then we need to analyse them for our convenience. This is an example of metrics for text complexity.
Rewording
Some texts contain long and complex words, including words we do not fully understand. In this scenario, we can use online services like
rewordify tool to simplify the content. This is especially useful for those of us for whom English is a second language.
I decided to test the tool on some obscure text:
Under circumstances of intense competition and the need for expediency, conflicting priorities arise and the entrepreneur may be faced with certain dilemmas. It may even be that entrepreneurial managers may sometimes inadvertently overlook the ethical elements of business decisions, or worse still, choose to ignore them. Recognizing a business ethical dilemma requires a certain basic awareness of ethics. Dealing confidently with a dilemma requires far more, namely the assurance that one is able to concisely define the dilemma and then resolve it appropriately and amicably. In seeking to do so, entrepreneurs must usually rely on their own judgment to determine an appropriate outcome for all concerned.
became something simpler:
Under facts or conditions that surround intense competition and the need for advantage, disagreeing (things that are the most important) arise and the small business starter may be faced with certain two-headed problems. It may even be that creative (with business) managers may sometimes accidentally and carelessly (ignore/not notice) the (honest and right) elements of business decisions, or worse still, choose to ignore them. Recognizing a business (honest and right) two-headed problem needs/demands a certain basic knowledge of (related to the rules and beliefs of doing the right thing). Dealing (in a way where you’re sure you’re right) with a two-headed problem needs/demands far more, namely the promise that one can (well-said in a short way) define the two-headed problem and then resolve it appropriately and in a friendly way. In trying to do so, small business starters must usually depend on their own judgment to decide/figure out the right/the proper result for all concerned.
Now I confess that I prefer the original text, but I understand why the second text is significantly simpler. It is like using a dictionary for every complex word in the text.
Generating shorter sentences
Long sentences are a sign of poor writing, yet many authors use very long sentences. We need to break them down. How? We use text compaction or TLDR Chrome plugin. Alternatively, try to put stops for the author and reread shorter sentences.
In code or in math a similar result is achieved by adding parentheses or giving a special symbol for repeating formula.
Analysis of text structure
I ask myself: what I would write here if I was the author? Then I compare the result with the text on the page, try to find differences and repeat until I am happy with the results. In some Universities there are courses on expository text structure. The text can be broken into smaller parts by reviewing the role that the author intended for the text.
Skipping and rereading
Occasionally it is best just to skip the text, and read the following text, the graphs or the tables within the document. These may provide enough information to understand the text when rereading.
In rare cases, the explanatory data is within the references of te original article, which may result in chain reaction until we get to the fundamental articles. The fundamental articles are usually
very well written, and can be understood as-is.
