The OERs: Transforming Education for Sustainable Future by Dr. Sarita Anand
On word slaying
1. Learn to omit unnecessary words: a word on word-slaying
If you can say it equally well in a page or in a few sentences… why waste time, space, and energy?
Original: 205 words
Stephen Horvath and Carolyn C. Morf (2010) conducted a study in which they attempted to examine the difference
between narcissists and high self-esteem individuals. They explain in the beginning of the article, that although narcissism
and high self-esteem are closely related, and that there is a high correlation between narcissists and people with high self-
esteem, there are actually distinct variations between the two. In their study, they seek sought to examine “differences in
the strategies narcissists and high self-esteem individuals use to preserve the positivity of their self-view” (Horvath & Morf
2010). the different ways that narcissists and those with high self-esteem maintained their positive self-images. In order to
conduct their study, Horvath and Morf, the researchers administered two personality tests (the Narcissistic Personality
Inventory and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) to fifty nine participants. Subsequently, the participants were instructed
complete a survey which would who were then assessed on the self-goal and their approaches to self-enhancement
between the two groups. They found that, for people high in narcissismts, the self-goal of maintaining and confirming a
grandiose self is in the foreground and of utmost importance, while those with high self-esteem is were characterized by
the self-goals of social inclusion and acceptance (Horvath & Morf, 2010).
2. Learn to omit unnecessary words: a word on word-slaying
If you can say it equally well in a page or in a few sentences… why waste time, space, and energy?
Original: 205 words
Stephen Horvath and Carolyn C. Morf (2010) conducted a study in which they attempted to examine the difference
between narcissists and high self-esteem individuals. They explain in the beginning of the article, that although narcissism
and high self-esteem are closely related, and that there is a high correlation between narcissists and people with high self-
esteem, there are actually distinct variations between the two. In their study, they seek sought to examine “differences in
the strategies narcissists and high self-esteem individuals use to preserve the positivity of their self-view” (Horvath & Morf
2010). the different ways that narcissists and those with high self-esteem maintained their positive self-images. In order to
conduct their study, Horvath and Morf, the researchers administered two personality tests (the Narcissistic Personality
Inventory and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) to fifty nine participants. Subsequently, the participants were instructed
complete a survey which would who were then assessed on the self-goal and their approaches to self-enhancement
between the two groups. They found that, for people high in narcissismts, the self-goal of maintaining and confirming a
grandiose self is in the foreground and of utmost importance, while those with high self-esteem is were characterized by
the self-goals of social inclusion and acceptance (Horvath & Morf, 2010).
Word-Slaying Version: 86 words (less than half)
Horvath and Morf (2010) sought to examine the different ways that narcissists and those with high self-esteem maintained
their positive self-images. The researchers administered the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and the Rosenberg Self-
Esteem scale to fifty-nine participants who were then assessed on their approaches to self-enhancement. It was found that
for people high in narcissism, the goal of maintaining and confirming a grandiose self is of utmost importance, while people
with high self-esteem were characterized by goals of social inclusion and acceptance.
QUESTION: is anything missing?
The shorter version says it all… without the extra junk. Learn to be a word-slayer! =)