THINGS TO AVOID
If you can remove words from a sentence and retain its meaning, that word is probably unnecessary. You don’t have to take it out, and sometimes a wordy phrase is necessary for a sentence's meaning, but carefully consider its value. Many of us learned to add bulky or wordy phrases in our writing because they are prevalent in business language, but they often aren’t necessary. (I struggle with many of these, so I understand that it’s hard to avoid them!)
:: Redundant phrases :: These phrases contain words that are repetitive, and can usually be condensed with no harm to the sentence’s meaning (for example, “adequate enough” becomes “adequate”).
Adequate enough
Advance notice
Appears to be
Completely finished
Continue on
End result
Eliminate altogether
Extremely essential
First and foremost
Free gift
Immediate vicinity
Many different ways
Major breakthrough
Past memories
Personal opinion
Physically ill
Purple in color
Referring back
Small in size
Trained professional
True fact
Warn in advance
:: Empty phrases :: These phrases usually don’t change the meaning of a sentence when removed (for example, “Basically, she wants some pie” becomes “She wants some pie.”).
Apparently
Basically
Essentially
For all intents and purposes
Generally
I think that
In my opinion
In some ways
Really
Tend to
Very
:: Circumlocutions :: These phrases contain many words when less would do, and can often be reduced to a simpler expression without changing the meaning of a sentence (for example, “in spite of the fact that” becomes “although”).
At the same time as
At this point in time
During the course of
In the event that
In the not too distant future
In order to
In spite of the fact that
Owing to the fact that
Take into consideration
Until such time
With the possible exception of
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