Strategy #4: Turn Long Passages with Bare, Repetitive Structure into Clear, Concise Tables
Because one of the pitfalls of using a Large Language Model is repetition of structure, as well as wording, ideas inspired by its output may be oversimplified and repetitive.
To eliminate the oversimplification and repetition, revise in table format.
When this happens, and you notice clear parallelism (What it Is, Why it Matters to You), consider this guidance from the Chicago Manual of Style (2021):
“A table offers an excellent means of presenting a large number of individual similar facts so that they are easy to scan and compare. … A simple table can give information that would require several paragraphs to present textually, and it can do so more clearly” (148).
- Review the content and identify the parallel components.
- Use the “insert” option in the ribbon at the top of the page (for MS Word files).
- Insert a table and create a column for each point of comparison.
- Rewrite content for each component in the table to ensure it reflects your original voice.
- Write a brief description of the table and its contents, highlighting what it compares and why that is helpful or significant.
Creating a table and prefacing it with a brief description of what is included will shift the balance in favor of your own original commentary and insights. A table takes up less page space, is very reader-friendly, and allows for far more effective comparison.
Select Strategy #4 Example to explore this strategy in action.
Additional Strategies
Select one of the hyperlinks below to jump to a different strategy, or select the “next” button to continue.
Strategy #1: Revising to Avoid Repetition of Vocabulary and Transition Wording
Strategy #2: Combine Repeated Content Fragments to Create Robust, Intentional Content Features
Strategy #3: Write the Main Body in Paragraphs Rather than Numbered or Bullet Point Lists