The next stage in revising your proposal breaks your writing down into three parts: paragraphs, sentences, and words, shown in figure 19. The goal is to make the text as short as possible while conveying the desired messages. Double-check any paragraphs that are longer than 6–8 lines to see if they can be shortened or broken up to improve readability. Look carefully at sentences over 20 words to see if they are understandable. Identify run-on sentences that lose the evaluator. Keep words simple and uncomplicated—when possible, mirror customer language.
Revise Sentences
Revise Paragraphs
Revise Words
Figure 19. Make Proposal Text Concise to Increase Readability. Begin with paragraphs so they say what is necessary and nothing else. Continue by revising sentences to eliminate unnecessary phrases. Finish by substituting the shortest, easiest to understand words that do not alter your meaning.
See Proofreading, Editing, and Revising in the Shipley Proposal Guide .
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