Make sure that each word and phrase in your sentences contributes to meaning and clarity. Try to avoid the two commonly used constructions There is/are . . . and It is . . . . Delete superfluous material when you revise your first draft.
It is expected that by the year 2000, the Library of
Congress will have digitized 5 million books and images.
By the year 2000, the Library of Congress expects to
have digitized 5 million books and images.
There is an electronic Beowulf project at the
British Library that is preserving the original manuscript of
the 11th century Anglo-Saxon epic.
An electronic Beowulf project at the British Library is
preserving the original manuscript of the 11th century Anglo-Saxon
epic.
--Richard Lipkin, "The Library That Isn't There," Science News
Are the detection systems and secondary containments periodically
performance testable to verify operability in the event that they are called upon
to function?
[A very long-winded way to ask a simple question.]
Can the detection systems and secondary containments be performance tested
periodically?