Friday, December 27, 2019

Ambient Air Pollution Is Bad For The Planet - 977 Words

Respiratory Conditions Linked to Exposure of Ambient Air Pollution Most people have heard that air pollution is bad for the planet. That pollutants we put in the air are causing this thing called â€Å"Global Warming.† The information that sometimes gets left out is the impact of ambient air pollution to the health of humans. Ambient air pollution is outdoor pollution originating from industries, cars, and trucks. These pollutants can wreak havoc on the human respiratory system (Ambient air pollution). Respiratory conditions such as asthma, acute bronchitis, COPD, and pneumonia have been on the rise as ambient air pollutions have climbed. Laws have been introduced to help regulate the amount of pollutants produced, but they still are produced. The levels of these dangerous compounds even though regulated are still too high. Main Point #1 (General info air pollution and policy) †¢ Provide an understanding of what is in ambient air pollution. o Is a chemical, biological, or physical agent released into the air that alters the atmospheres natural structure. o These agents are released by motor vehicles, industrial facilities, and by natural events such as wild fires and dust storms. o Major particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. ï‚ § Source: (Air pollution) o An estimated 11% COPD deaths and 16% of lung cancer can be traced back to ambient air pollution. ï‚ § Source: (Ambient air pollution). †¢ Explain the Clean Air Act. o The Clean Air Act wasShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Pros and Cons of Ozone1695 Words   |  7 PagesHere is an environmental question worth asking, Is ozone good or bad? Need more context? Okay. Has ozone been beneficial or detrimental to humans over the course of the past century? Unsure? Well read the following and decide. If youre not motivated to do so, consider that if ozone werent part of the Earth, neither would we be, and, more immediately, if ozone levels arent kept within certain narrow ranges in the future, the biosphere will suffer greatly. What is ozone? Ozone is the gas inRead MoreDefinition of Air Pollution7529 Words   |  31 Pages1. Definition of air pollution Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere. The atmosphere is a complex dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to human health as well asRead MoreClean Air Act12612 Words   |  51 PagesClean Air Act Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.  § 7401 et seq.  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   -- Enforced by US EPA -- By the end of this lecture you should be able to describe: * The race to laxity * What NAAQS means. * The federal government’s role in cooperative federalism * 7 criteria pollutants * A hazardous pollutant under the CAA * Non-attainment area * Emissions trading programs * Noise pollution under the CAA * The four Class I areas designated by the State of Florida Read MoreEstablishment Of The Environmental Protection Agency2358 Words   |  10 Pagesthe 1970s that protected natural resources, restored degraded areas, and protected the population of the US from poor water quality and bad ambient air conditions. The acts passed in the 1970s had an immediate impact on American society, and their reach continues through this day. On April 22nd, 1970, the American public gathered in the streets to celebrate clean air, water, and land. Congressmen in Washington D.C. halted their activities to be their constituents; however, the Nixon administrationRead MoreThe Effects Of Ocean Pollution On The Ocean1986 Words   |  8 Pagesare vital to this planet and the people who inhabit it. Oceans provide food, natural resources, and recreation for nearly everyone in this world. Unfortunately Oceans have been receiving mass amount of pollutants including oil spills, toxic waste dumping, and industrial dumping. These pollutants will have negative impacts on the wildlife in the ocean, as we are seeing already with the Coral Reefs, and soon enough it will begin to affect our lives as well. Causes of Ocean Pollution: According to NationalRead MoreEco Friendly Products Essay2341 Words   |  10 Pagesproducts that do not affect or cause any harm to the environment. Some of these going green products when in use, help conserve energy, minimize carbon footprint or the emission of greenhouse gases, and does not lead to substantial toxicity or pollution to the environment. Other green products are biodegradable, recyclable or compostable. Hence, they do not harm the environment or upset the ecological balance when they are disposed of. There are also eco friendly products that are made out ofRead MoreThe Construction Sector and Pollution2894 Words   |  12 Pagesdirectly and indirectly. In order to achieve a better standard for the living quality without causing further burdens and negative impacts to the planet earth, the ways to manage these major environmental impacts from the construction need to be strongly enforced. Existing researches have suggested that construction sector is one of the largest pollution contributors in our current society due to poor design strategies and usage of wrong materials and technologies. These impacts are typically classifiedRead MoreEssay on Global Warming3370 Words   |  14 Pagesatmosphere. It’s powerful heat-trapping capabilities are essential for life and in processes such as respiration and photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide levels are kept in balance due to those natural systems. As long as the amount of CO2 that is added to the air is the same that is being taken out than the natural system will continue to function in a way that won’t disrupt Earth’s environment and the life that inhabits it. However, over the past 100 years, CO2 concentrations have increased by one-third andRead MoreAir Conditioning Experiment Essay6021 Words   |  25 Pagesand Sustainability: An Investigation into the characteristic of an Air-Conditioning Plant For the Attention of Dr. H. Rajakaruna   Ã‚   Table of Contents Objectives of the experiment 2 Experiment Apparatus 2 2 Data/Results 2 First Data Sheet 2 Second Data Sheet 2 Part-1 2 Part-2 2 Part-3 2 Part-4 2 Part 5 2 2 Discussion 2 Part One 2 Part Two [Research and Review] 2 Research and Review into Air-Conditioning Plants 2 Energy Issues 2 Health Issues 2 PoliciesRead MoreStreet Light16880 Words   |  68 Pagestime, the internal rechargeable battery receives charging current from the connected solar panel. Here IC 555 is wired as a medium current inverting line driver, switched by an encapsulated light detector (LDR). When ambient light dims, the circuits drive the white LEDs. When the ambient light level restores, circuit returns to its idle state and light(s) switched off by the circuit. Block Diagram: SOLAR ENERGY SOLAR ENERGY Solar energy, radiant light and heat

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Minister s Black Veil - 1958 Words

The Minister s Black Veil Every individual commits sin but only the ones who are truly God-fearing and brave accept and pay the consequences of his or her actions. In some situations, when a person does own up to his or her sin and suffers the punishment for it, instead of being forgiven, the surrounding society will loathe him or her. In the years back, Puritans expected their ministers to be of the holiest human beings. A minister was envisioned to be someone who does not commit sin as often as ordinary people do and is an individual who is supposed to be everyone’s guide in becoming closer to God.If a minister acts peculiar and is therefore suspected of doing something disgraceful or unholy, the society may then resent him. In the Minister’s Black Veil, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reverend Hooper’s alienation represented through the black veil, illustrates how the society surrounding him was judgemental, insensitive, and hypocritical. Nathaniel Hawthorne has encountered many challenges throughout his lifetime. He was born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts. When he was only at the age of 4, he lost his father and â€Å"A leg injury at an early age left Nathaniel immobile for several months† (Biography.com).With the aid of his wealthy relatives, he was given the opportunity to attend Bowdoin College. After some time in college, he greatly missed his mother and sisters and so he returned home and started to write. He then married Sophia Peabody and had three children.Show MoreRelatedThe Minister s Black Veil1211 Words   |  5 PagesThe Story The Minister’s Black Veil is very interesting in many different ways, it catches the reader s attention. It uses American Romanticism, that is an interesting thing to use in a story to catch the reader s attention. What that is, is to elevate the imagination over reason. today Edgar Allen Poe remains popular for his hunting poems and suspenseful stories. Am erican Romantic writers differ than the European romanticism writers. Declaration of Independence used a lot of American romanticismRead MoreThe Minister s Black Veil1212 Words   |  5 PagesThe Story The Minister s Black Veil is very interesting in many different ways, it catches the reader s attention. It uses American Romanticism, that is an interesting thing to use in a story to catch the reader s attention. What that is, is to elevate the imagination over reason. today Edgar Allen Poe remains popular for his hunting poems and suspenseful stories. American Romantic writers differ than the European romanticism writers. Declaration of Independence used a lot of American romanticismRead MoreThe Minister s Black Veil1194 Words   |  5 PagesThe captivating short story The Minister’s Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne focuses on the idea of Secret Sin with the use of the analogy within Parson Hooper’s Black veil. This short story began with Mr.Hooper walking into his puritan church, known as Milford, having a black veil over his eyes. With a perplexed audience, Mr. Hooper gives a powerful sermon about the idea of secret sin. Mr. Hooper states how everyone has a secret sin that people aren’t aware of but this secret sin is only visibleRead MoreThe Minister s Black Veil1004 Words   |  5 PagesThe Minister s Black veil is a Romanticism. A romanticism is a movement in the art which sprung during the eighteenth and nineteenth century.Romantic is used to describe literature. It is defined as a depicting emotional matter in an imaginative form. As well as the imagination and emotion and the freedom embraced are all focus points of romanticism. Characteristics Of this literature piece would include subjectivity and an emphasis on individualism. Solitary life rather than life in society. TheRead MoreThe Minister s Black Veil1775 Words   |  8 PagesThe Minister s Black Veil No one is perfect because everyone commits sin. However, there are people in the world who develop hatred towards others for committing mistakes when they themselves have done wrong. In the Puritan society many years ago, Puritans expected their minister to be a very holy human being. A minister was envisioned to be someone who will be a guiding hand for people who have lost their way and who will stand as a role model for others to look up to. If a minister was suspectedRead MoreThe Minister s Black Veil1771 Words   |  8 Pages 1. Intro/Thesis statement: Mr. Hawthorne’s works of fiction â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† and THE SCARLET LETTER contributed discussion amongst people. It planted questions in our heads about what humanities’ sinful nature means and how it is perceived. These literature pieces are all connected because of their theme being about secret sin. This is because we all yearn for things that are wrong, that could even be considered immoral. People don’t read these literature piecesRead MoreThe Minister s Black Veil1391 Words   |  6 Pageswell as awe. In, â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the emotions of horror, terror, and awe are drawn upon throughout the story, which follows the events and reactions of the citizens of a village after their resident minister suddenly starts to wear a black veil, which invokes discomfort and fear into the people. As with many of his stories, Ha wthorne developed â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil† around a symbol, which in this case is the veil. The veil represents that even the people thatRead MoreThe Minister s Black Veil1654 Words   |  7 Pagesstory titled â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil.† This story takes place in the town of Milford, just southwest of Boston, at a church on the Sabbath day. The parson of the church, Reverend Hooper, leaves his house and walks toward the porch of the meeting house wearing a black veil that conceals his entire face except for his mouth and chin. The entire congregation is immediately in a stir, astonished and appalled by this mysterious veil. Nobody knows why Hooper has this veil on his face or what it meansRead MoreThe Minister s Black Veil1128 Words   |  5 PagesIn the story â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† American Romanticism characteristics are very typical in this story in many different ways. What is American Romanticism you make ask? Well, American Romanticism is â€Å"a movement of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that marked the reaction in literature, philosophy, art, religion, and politics from the neoclassicism and formal orthodoxy of the preceding period.† An example from the story of American Romanticism is, â€Å"And when she suggests that membersRead MoreThe Minister s Black Veil949 Words   |  4 PagesThe Minister’s Black Veil The Minister’s Black Veil is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1836. In this short story, Minister Mr. Hooper shows up one day at church wearing a black veil on his face. This black veil covers his face except his mouth and chin. The people of the town Milford begin to speculate on why Mr. Hooper wears this veil, whether he has been inflicted by an illness or if he is hiding a secret. When he refuses to remove the veil or tell the townspeople why he wears

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Reform of International Corporate Taxation †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Reform of International Corporate Taxation. Answer: Introduction: In this letter, an advice is being provided in response to your query relating to Diverted Profit Tax. The letters cover the impetus for the introduction of Diverted Profits Tax in Australia, will evaluate with the traditional canons of taxation and observe the DPTs necessity for the problem of Diverted Tax by the big multinational organisations with a contrived arrangements made by them for reduction of tax liabilities for the company in Australia. Lastly, it can be observed the efficiency of measure of DPT in other countries who have implemented the same for solving the problem in their own countries[1]. It is important to understand the DPTs (Diverted Profits Tax) context for which this tax and laws were enacted. In the process of solving this serious problem of diversion of profits from Australian soil to other countries who have low tax rates through contrived arrangements made by the multi-national organisation with other corporation or its unit in that country[2]. Base Erosion and Profit Shifting means a process of planning of tax arrangements that utilizes the loopholes in tax rules of the country to make the profits earned by the company to disappear for tax purpose. This might be done through shifting of profits to another location where the operations of the company has no activity or very low activity but tax rates are very low. This has resulted in the company is paying little corporate taxes. Big multi-national corporations do this generally in diverting profits from Australia[3]. This is being observed in current years big corporate like Apple, Google, Starbucks, etc. Al l are structuring their financials and arranging for diverting profits to pay lower tax to the Australian Government. In United Kingdom, they have introduced the Diverted Profits Tax to tackle the arrangements that are made in the profit shifting at the international level. The Australian DPT has aimed in broad variety of structured arrangements involving royalty arrangement, offshore service, a few leasing arrangement, etc. The impetus of bringing the new DPT (Diverted Profits Tax) in Australia that charges a tax of 40% on profits that is a fine on the diverted profits that are artificially done by the multinational corporate entities in Australia. The Australian Government is firmly dedicated for ensuring that multi-nationals compensate its reasonable share of tax in Australia[4]. The Australian government is working in direction of ensuring that multi-nationals are giving appropriate amount of tax by collaborating with the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). The Government has taken firm steps for combating the problem of diversion of profits by introducing the Diverting Profits Tax and before this tax; Australia has previously implemented the MAAL (Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law). The objective of the DPT is to enhance the competitiveness of the taxation system of Australia to maintain growth and investments in Australia. This has an another objective of preventing the avoidance of corporate tax and make certain that the fairness is in place and level playing fields are provided to all the organisation. This has another objective to guide the transformation of the international framework for tax together with the agreed items in OECD BEPS action plan. This tax will make sure that the multinationals are giving the proper sum of tax for the profits earned to the Australian Government[5]. The Diverted Profits Tax is charged only if the multinational organisation has a $ 1 Billion Turnover at global level and has more than $ 25 Million Turnover in Australia. Subsequently, this multinational will have to pay DPT when that multinational organisation has arranged with related party outside of Australia for lowering the tax payable amount that to be paid to the govern ment as tax. Proposed operation of Diverted Profit tax The operations that are proposed in Diverted Profits Tax are as this is applicable to those multinationals who have a turnover of $ 1 Billion in global level and in the Australian level if more $ 25 Million of Turnover then this DPT will be applicable this is given under Section 177H of ITAA, 1936. The DPT is not done by self-assessment like income tax but the liability for DPT will arise when the ATO (Australian Taxation Office) provides the assessment for DPT[6]. The Australian Taxation Office will inform the taxpayers that whether they are subject to the DPT. After the assessment for DPT, the taxpayer is needed 60 days to build representation to rectify the factual issues that is given in the interim assessment of DPT. After 30 days, ATO will provide the final assessment of DPT at the completion of representation phase. The payer of tax is required to pay the sum of the DPT assessment within 21 days. All through the period of review, if the Australian Taxation Office regard as the sum for DPT charged is inadequate. Then ATO might give a supplementary assessment of DPT for up to 30 days proceeding to completion period to enforce a supplementary charge of DPT. Completion of the phase of review, the payers of tax has a period of 30 days for lodging an appeal by the process of court[7]. The evaluating the Diverted Profits Tax with the help of traditional canons of taxation that is given by Adam Smith in 1776. This is evaluating system that checks the essential qualities or characteristics that a proper tax system must possess. There are four canons of tax that the taxation system is evaluated on are following: This point provides that the taxation burden is properly spread equitably among all the taxpayers. This states that a good tax system must give a chance to everyone to pay the taxes as per the capability of the individual as a result sacrifices of the all payers of tax will be equal. The DPT has provided that this will be applicable on SGE (Significant Global Entities) that the multinational establishment has a $ 1 Billion Turnover at global level and has more than $ 25 Million Turnover in Australia. This penalty tax of 40% on profits the sum transferred to related party transactions without backing of proper or substance that the lowering of tax payment on the profits produced in Australia. The DPT has given many powers to ATO (Australian Taxation Office) who ensure that equity is maintained in collection of the tax and no biasness are not in process. This is equity is properly maintained with the backing of proper rules in the DPT system that ensures equity[8]. This point states about the rules and regulations must be certain of a tax law that an individual have to pay by following a perfect process with following the rules and not arbitrary. The criteria of applicability of the DPT are also properly mentioned. The payment time, manner and procedure must be plain and clear to the taxpayers. The Diverted Profits Tax has a clear system that states clearly about the rate of tax that is 40% on profits and this applicable to SGE (Significant Global Entities) only. The period of review, assessment, and payment, all procedures are clearly mentioned that brings certainty in the tax system of DPT. As in this DPT has proper system of notification, representation, final issue of the assessment of DPT, a period for review and an appeal process[9]. All this has summed up in improving the certainty in the procedure. The efforts of the government have given the DPT system to have a proper certainty provisions in the bill. This point provides that implications that the collecting cost of the tax must be minimum as possible. The tax system that has a huge cost of administration and abnormal delay in assessment for tax must be avoided in all cost. The Diverted Profits Tax has a complicated procedure and rules that makes the compliance for the taxpayers inconvenient to follow. The difficulty in the part of the officials of the government might delay the assessment of the tax, this increases the cost of administration, and efficiency is reduced. The complicated procedures have adverse effect on the efficiency of the whole process of the tax compliance of the Diverted Profits Tax. This increase in the cost of compliance is due to delays and complications in the procedure of paying of the assessment sum of the Diverted Profits Tax[10]. In context to procedural perspective of United Kingdom has a duty of notifying the taxpayers that they are subject to potential application of the Diverted Profits Tax but in Australian DPT do not have this provision. The process of DPT of United Kingdom has efficient procedure than the DPT of Australia. This point clearly states about the tax system must be collected in a way that it gives the maximum convenience not only for taxpayers but also for the officials of the government. In other words, this can stated as the process and system must be simple and painless. The Diverted Profits Tax has complicated procedure that makes the life of taxpayers difficult and makes the process complicated. The compliance procedures are not easily understandable by the taxpayer that results into non-compliance of the few rules of the DPT. Simplicity helps in following the rules properly. United Kingdoms Diverted Profits Tax is simpler than Diverted Profits Tax of Australia. This problem is well addressed by Australian government by providing a PCG (Practical Compliance Guideline) that is issued in the month of February 2018. This is good attempt from the government end for simplifying of the rules that can be understood by every taxpayer[11]. Diverted Profits Tax as a reasonable and necessary response The Diverted Profits Tax is justified in few aspects as this has helped Australia to tackle the problem of base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). The measures have put Australia in forefront in dealing with the avoidance of corporate tax. The Australian DPT has aimed in broad variety of structured arrangements involving royalty arrangement, offshore service, hybrid/financing instruments, a few leasing arrangement and intellectual property transfer arrangements. As Australia has taken firm steps like MAAL and DPT for the preventing the diversion of profit from the Australian soil. This is properly backed by procedures that are firm and dedicated in solving this issue. However, in few aspects, the DPT bill of Australia is truly more difficult on the payers of tax in various important sectors than the DPT bill of UK. The United Kingdoms Diverted Profits Tax was enacted in 2015 as this one of the stimulation for both DPT and MAAL (Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law). The comparing the DPT of Australia and DPT of UK, we can observe that the most of the areas the version of Australia are more complicated than the United Kingdoms version for the taxpayers. As by comparing, we can observe that there total 26 common matters within that, there are 19 that are substantive in nature and there are 7 that deals concerning the matters of procedure. Among the 26 subjects detected, 14 are more complicated in DPT of Australia than UKs DPT. However, there are also 3 more difficult issues of UKs DPT than the Australias. There are also various other countries that has implemented the Diverted Profits Tax other than Australia are UK in 2015, France who is in process of passing the DPT bill and New Zealand who has a few uncertainty on this DPT bill[12]. It can be observed from above that, this has solved the problem of diversion of profits but this is complicated for the taxpayers to comply the rules of the DPT in Australia. Australia have taken appropriate steps but the rules are difficult to follow for the taxpayer that need to be solved. This has increased the compliance cost of the tax. This has made the government to issue a guide named as Practical Compliance Guide on the month of February 2018. This shows that Australia is dedicated in solving the issue that is labelled as BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Sharing). The effectiveness of Diverted Profits Tax is good but this has better chance to improve more by educating the taxpayers with the help of PCG (Practical Compliance Guide). Reference Avi-Yonah, Reuven S. "Three steps forward, one step back? Reflections on google taxes and the destination-based corporate tax." (2016): 69-76. Barnes, Peter, Linda Galler, and Paul Oosterhuis. "TEI Roundtable No. 13: Ethics and Tax Planning."Tax Executive69 (2017): 41. Cooper, Graeme S. "Implementing BEPS, or Maybe Notthe Australian Experience One Year On."New Zealand Law Review2017, no. 2 (2017): 145-174. Dudley, Ryan. "BEPS Implementation in the US-Now Comes the Hard Part."Int'l Tax Rev.26 (2015): 30. Dunne, Joanne. "The MAAL and the diverted profits tax-a comparative."Taxation in Australia51, no. 1 (2016): 21. Graetz, Michael J. "Bringing International Tax Policy into the 21st Century." (2016). Lanis, Roman, Ross McClure, and Mark Zirnsak. "Tax aggressiveness of alcohol and bottling companies in Australia."Canberra: Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education(2017). McClure, Ross, Roman Lanis, and Brett Govendir. "Analysis of Tax Avoidance Strategies of Top Foreign Multinationals Operating in Australia: An Expose." (2017). Picciotto, Sol. "Indeterminacy, complexity, technocracy and the reform of international corporate taxation."Social Legal Studies24, no. 2 (2015): 165-184. Picciotto, Sol. "The UK's diverted profits tax: an admission of defeat or a pre-emptive strike?."Tax Notes International77, no. 3 (2015): 239-242. Self, Heather. "The UKs New Diverted Profits Tax: Compliance with EU Law."Intertax43, no. 4 (2015): 333-336. Yang, Harry Hanqing, Dermot Cahill, and Edwin T. Hood. "Corporate Profits Tax Avoidance: How the Double Irish Impedes Global Social Progress and Removes the Prosperity Base Needed for Future Generations." InTaxation in Crisis, pp. 103-118. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2017.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Lost in a thicket How to avoid overwriting - The Writers For Hire

LOST IN A THICKET: HOW TO AVOID OVERWRITING In 1964, Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart acknowledged that certain words and concepts – in this case, pornography – were difficult to define in a precise manner. He hastened to add, though, that he could rely on his gut feeling, declaring: â€Å"I know it when I see it.† Likewise, defining overwriting is not simple. It’s a phenomenon that readers encounter often enough that they know it when they see it, but they may not be able to identify the exact points at which the writer has gone off the rails. As a result, they may not always be able to help authors figure out how to avoid overwriting. A good editor, on the other hand, can help freelance writers escape this trap and do a better job of keeping clients happy. At the very least, an editor should be able to tell them when they’ve spent too much time at the keyboard, and give them an idea of how to check themselves as they work. And if you don’t have a good editor yet, you’re in luck. We’re here to offer some advice, starting with a few different tips on how to identify overwriting. (Don’t) take it to the limit: word counts and deadlines When freelance authors receive assignments, they typically receive a set of instructions defining the parameters of the job. These instructions cover basic points such as length, deadlines, style, and target audiences. With respect to length, clients usually come to the table with an idea of how much they want. Most will give writers limits, in the form of word counts or page counts. These limits are often formulated in a way that offers some wiggle room. For example, you might be asked to write a blog post that’s 750-950 words long. Even if you have some leeway, though, you should respect those limits. If you find yourself in (or above) the upper reaches of the desired word count or page count and you’re only halfway through the task, you’re probably overwriting. If so, it’s time to start thinking about where you can trim. As for deadlines, clients typically have an idea of when they want certain milestones met such as seeing the first draft or receiving the finished product. You should take those deadlines seriously. Remember them. Put them in your calendar – both electronically and in paper form, if necessary. Abide by them. But what if you’ve been managing your time well, doing a piece of the job each day and meeting your own expectations with respect to word count, and you still find yourself needing to ask for an extension of the deadline because you haven’t finished making all of your points? Once again, you’re probably overwriting – and that means it’s time to think about how you can separate the wheat from the chaff. Know your audience Style is also a point to consider. Most clients will be able to tell you what kind of audience they’re hoping to reach, whether it’s university professors, company shareholders, industry experts, or general readers. In turn, their expectations ought to drive the work you produce. If you’re writing for an academic audience, maybe you don’t need to worry about complex sentences and obscure references. If it’s for shareholders, focus on explaining the numbers. If you’re targeting industry experts, don’t be afraid to use jargon. If you’re writing for general readers, find a balance between describing the basic facts and offering deep background. This is important because if you don’t match the style to the audience, you may slip up. For example, if you’re asked to write a social media post for general readers and you churn out a 2,500-word treatise with an exhaustive set of footnotes and sentences that average 75 words apiece, it’s safe to say that you’re overwriting. Meanwhile, there’s another reason to know your audience: You will need to have an idea of whether your readers will be familiar with the topic you’re covering. If they are – as in a highly technical piece that will be read by industry experts – you can jump right into your topic and use jargon freely. But if they’re not, you may run into trouble. What kind of trouble? Over-explaining. If you’re writing for a general audience that may not know much about your topic, you’ll need to devote some time to setting the stage – that is, to introducing the subject and giving enough background to help readers understand what your client wants to say. It can be tempting to go into intricate detail at this point, especially if you’re writing about a subject that is interesting or complex. Nevertheless, you should fight the temptation to tell the entire story. You do need to set the stage, but you don’t need to include the entire script of the play, plus a list of links to every published review of the show. Nor do you have to offer a comprehensive discussion of the history of theatrical performance, an explanation of the techniques used to varnish the wooden floors of the auditorium, a review of the weaving techniques used by the costumers’ fabric suppliers, and an exhaustive biography of the actors. If you do, you’ll be saddling readers with more information than they want or need. (So if you’re ever in doubt about whether you’ve crossed that line, remember comedian Dennis Miller’s line from an HBO special that aired in 1990: â€Å"Stop me before I sub-reference again!†) One is the loneliest number We’d like to think that all the advice we’ve just given you will be easy to follow. After all, it sounds straightforward, right? If you want to avoid overwriting, follow instructions about length and time requirements, know your audience, and resist the urge to explain the entire story from top to bottom and then delve into tangential topics. But frankly, it may not be simple to remember all these points – especially when you’re immersed in the job. At that point, you may have achieved a state of flow that allows you to crank out one gorgeous sentence after another at top speed. Perhaps you’re preoccupied by more mundane concerns, such as the ticking of the clock that shows just how little time is left until your deadline hits. Or maybe you’ve just been working on the same assignment for so long that you can hardly see the words on your screen anymore. Under such conditions, your response to basic advice about how to avoid overwriting is likely to be just about as positive as the attitude of a toddler who’s been told to eat his or her vegetables. The best remedy is to get help. Don’t try to finish your assignment alone; find at least one more pair of eyes to look at what you’ve written. If you are working with an editor, let that person see your work before you turn it in. If relevant, show your material to your supervisor, project manager, or another colleague who may have a different perspective on what the client wants. You could also enlist the help of a third party or a beta reader, if you need an objective response that’s not influenced by the concerns of either the writer or the client. Once you’ve taken this step, you’ll need to prepare yourself to receive constructive criticism – and to take heed of the suggestions you receive. If you don’t, your chances of falling prey to overwriting will increase. Now we’ll turn the floor over to you. Where have you found overwriting, and how did you recognize it? If it’s happened to you, what have you done to overcome it?