English Tutoring Lab Handouts

Improve Your Writing

Writing>How to improve your writing>Correcting Wordiness

Correcting Wordiness

Good writing is concise writing.  Don't say something in ten words if you can say it as well, or better, in five.  "In this day and age" is not as effective as simply "today."  "At the present time" should be "at present" or "now."

Another kind of wordiness comes from saying something twice.  There is no need to say "in the month of July" or "7 a.m in the morning" or "my personal opinion."  July is a month, 7 a.m. is the morning, and my opinion obviously is personal.  All you need to say is "in July," "7 a.m.," and "my opinion."

Still another kind of wordiness comes from using expressions that add nothing to the meaning of the sentence.  "The fact of the matter is that I'm tired" says no more than "I'm tired"

Here are more examples of wordiness

Wordy Writing                 Concise Writing

at that point in time         then

there is no doubt but that    no doubt

he is a person who            he

a person who is honest        an honest person

there are many boys who       many boys

he was there in person        he was there

personally I think            I think

surrounded on all sides       surrounded

ten pounds in weight          ten pounds

brown in color                brown

refer back                    refer

repeat again                  repeat

two different kinds           two kinds

free complimentary copy       complimentary copy

free gift                     gift

very unique                   unique

past history                  history

end result                    result

and etc.                      etc.

usual custom                  custom

new innovation                innovation

the field of electronics      electronics

an unexpected surprise        a surprise

each and every                each

due to the fact that          because

updated 5/9/02