Be concise
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Write concise error messages. Emphasize what's important. Cut unnecessary text.
See the
Short sentences unit
of Tech Writing One
for tips on reducing sentence length.
Not recommended
Unable to establish connection to the SQL database. [Explanation of how to
fix the issue.]
Recommended
Can't connect to the SQL database. [Explanation of how to fix the issue.]
Not recommended
The resource was not found and cannot be differentiated. What you selected
doesn't exist in the cluster.
[Explanation of how to find valid resources in the cluster.]
Recommended
Resource <name> isn't in cluster <name>.
[Explanation of how to find valid resources in the cluster.]
Converting from passive voice to active voice
often makes sentences conciser and easier to understand:
Not recommended
The Froobus operation is no longer supported by the Frambus app.
Recommended
The Frambus app no longer supports the Froobus operation.
In your enthusiasm to be concise, don't remove so many words that the
resulting error message becomes cryptic. For example, don't reduce the
preceding error message down to the following:
Not recommended
Unsupported.
Multiple choice exercise
Reorder and shorten the following start of an error message.
How many words can you remove?
- The SiteID <SiteID> you have entered is
invalid.
5
Yes. The error should read: Invalid SiteID <SiteID>.
4
That's a concise error message, but you can shorten the
error message even more.
3
You can remove more words.
None.
This message is not concise. You can definitely remove some words.
Next unit: Avoid double negatives
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Last updated 2025-03-31 UTC.
[null,null,["Last updated 2025-03-31 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003ePrioritize conciseness in error messages by eliminating unnecessary text and focusing on the core issue.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUse active voice instead of passive voice to make sentences shorter and clearer, as it improves readability.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eBe concise without sacrificing clarity; avoid making error messages so brief that they become ambiguous or cryptic.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eError message example: "The SiteID \u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe document refers to another unit with regards to tips for reducing sentence lengths.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["The core content focuses on writing effective error messages. Key actions include: shortening sentences, using active voice instead of passive voice, and cutting unnecessary text while still maintaining clarity. Examples demonstrate transforming verbose messages into concise ones, such as \"Can't connect to the SQL database\" instead of \"Unable to establish connection.\" Another example provides that \"Resource \u003cname\u003e isn't in cluster \u003cname\u003e\" is more concise than \"The resource was not found and cannot be differentiated.\" Finally an example shows that \"Invalid SiteID \u003cSiteID\u003e\" is better than \"The SiteID \u003cSiteID\u003e you have entered is invalid.\"\n"],null,["# Be concise\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nWrite concise error messages. Emphasize what's important. Cut unnecessary text.\nSee the\n[Short sentences unit\nof Tech Writing One](/tech-writing/one/short-sentences)\nfor tips on reducing sentence length.\n\nNot recommended\n\u003e Unable to establish connection to the SQL database. *\\[Explanation of how to\n\u003e fix the issue.\\]*\n\nRecommended\n\u003e Can't connect to the SQL database. *\\[Explanation of how to fix the issue.\\]*\n\n*** ** * ** ***\n\nNot recommended\n\u003e The resource was not found and cannot be differentiated. What you selected doesn't exist in the cluster. *\\[Explanation of how to find valid resources in the cluster.\\]*\n\nRecommended\n\u003e Resource \\\u003cname\\\u003e isn't in cluster \\\u003cname\\\u003e. *\\[Explanation of how to find valid resources in the cluster.\\]*\n\n*** ** * ** ***\n\nConverting from [passive voice to active voice](/tech-writing/one/active-voice)\noften makes sentences conciser and easier to understand:\n\nNot recommended\n\u003e The Froobus operation is no longer supported by the Frambus app.\n\nRecommended\n\u003e The Frambus app no longer supports the Froobus operation.\n\nIn your enthusiasm to be concise, don't remove so many words that the\nresulting error message becomes cryptic. For example, don't reduce the\npreceding error message down to the following:\n\nNot recommended\n\u003e Unsupported.\n\n### Multiple choice exercise\n\nReorder and shorten the following start of an error message.\nHow many words can you remove?\n\n- The SiteID \\\u003cSiteID\\\u003e you have entered is invalid. \n5 \nYes. The error should read: Invalid SiteID \\\u003cSiteID\\\u003e. \n4 \nThat's a concise error message, but you can shorten the error message even more. \n3 \nYou can remove more words. \nNone. \nThis message is not concise. You can definitely remove some words.\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\n**Next unit:** [Avoid double negatives](/tech-writing/error-messages/avoid-double-negatives)"]]
