Wordiness - more or less?

They have been at a great feast of languages and stolen the scraps."



—Shakespeare (Love’s Labour’s Lost, act 5, sc. 1, ll. 36-7)



go well

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Wordiness, Wordiness, Wordiness List

They have been at a great feast of languages and stolen the scraps." —Shakespeare (Love’s Labour’s Lost, act 5, sc. 1, ll. 36-7) The world has only so much space. When you write, your job is to use that space carefully. I can offer some quick tips: find the right word and use it; when in doubt, cut it out; edit your work like it was written by someone you don’t like. But in the end, the general principle is simple: if you’ve heard a phrase more than a couple of times, and it isn’t key wording, essential in carrying meaning, or a definitive phrase, try to get rid of it. While you work on that one, you can get a good start by avoiding "there is/are/was/were," “it is/was," “that is/are/were," and “which is/are." You can also try to dump what I call “wazzle" (waffling and fuzzy) words, like “actually," “aspects," “basically," "definitely," “quite," “really," “situation," “truly," "ultimately," and “very. " Actually, these are basically fruity habits, and they can truly go in most situations. "Could," "should," and "would" are also famous wazzlers (in case you missed it, these strike-outs illustrate words that can be deleted from the sentence without reducing the meaning: “these fruity habits can go”). Let me try an analogy. Think of your writing in the same way you think about all the stuff you own. Now think of having a yard sale. What you put into your yard sale is the useless junk that has been hanging around for a long time. At first you feel a little remorse in seeing it all go, but then, with your new, uncluttered world, you feel light, clean, and fresh, just like they say in the soap commercials. Apply this to your writing. Keep the good stuff, and get rid of the useless clutter that’s been cluttering your writing.

forementioned = DELETE a considerable amount of = DELETE OR BE SPECIFIC a lot of = many, much a majority of = most, much of, many added bonus = bonus advance warning = warning advance planning = planning after all is said and done = DELETE all across = across all of a sudden = suddenly all of these = these almost never = seldom along the lines of = like are such that = DELETE are/was/were able to = can OR DELETE as a matter of fact = in fact OR DELETE as a means to = to as a whole = DELETE as a way to = to as being a = as OR DELETE as it truly is = DELETE as of the moment = DELETE as the case may be = DELETE at the conclusion of = after at all times = always OR DELETE at first glance = DELETE at the present time = currently, now at the same time that = while at this point in time = now OR DELETE based in large part on = based on basic necessity = necessity basic fundamentals = basics OR fundamentals because of the fact of = because of being = DELETE being that = because both of these/them/the = both brings to mind = recalls/suggests but yet = but OR yet by and large = DELETE by definition = DELETE by leaps and bounds = DELETE by means of = by by the use of = using by virtue of [the fact that] = by came to a realization = realized/recognized came to an abrupt end = end[ed] abruptly can be seen as = is OR DELETE clearly articulate = articulate close scrutiny = scrutiny common similarities = similarities compare and contrast = compare complete stranger = stranger completely eliminate = eliminate concerning the matter of = about/regarding connect[ed] together = connect[ed] continue into the future = continue core essence = DELETE correctional facility = jail despite the fact that = although did not succeed = failed due to the effects = because due to the fact that = because during the course of = during each and every one = each, every each individual = DELETE OR everyone each of = each early on in the = early in the economically deprived = poor enter into = enter OR DELETE erode away = erode every single one = each one, all, each fair amount = DELETE [or be specific] final demise/destination/outcome = DELETE  final first priority = priority first and foremost = first for all intents and purposes = DELETE for that which is = for the for the manner in which = the way for the purpose of = to, for foreseeable future = [when exactly?] free gift = gift future plans/prospects = plans OR prospects gain entry into = enter general consensus = consensus general public = public give an indication of = indicate grave crisis = crisis hand-in-hand = together has/had/have a tendency to = often OR DELETE has/had/have been found to be = is/was/are has/had/have the ability to/capacity for = can/could has/had/have the effect of = DELETE has/had/have the opportunity to = can/could hear the sound of  = hear the I myself = I [in a] clear and concise way = [concisely] concise in a situation in which = in in a very real sense = DELETE in actuality = DELETE in all likelihood/probability = likely/probably in close proximity = near in connection with = about in essence = DELETE in excess of = more than in light of the fact that = because in keeping with = AVOID in itself = DELETE in nature = DELETE in order to = to in reality = DELETE in reference to = about/regarding in the neighborhood of = about in the vicinity of = near in spite of = despite in spite of the fact that = although in such a way = in a way in terms of = DELETE in the area of = in in the course of = during, while in the event that = if in the final analysis = finally OR DELETE in the light of = considering OR DELETE in the majority of instances = usually in the midst of = during, amid in the nature of = DELETE in the near future = soon OR DELETE in the not too distant future = soon OR DELETE in their own right = DELETE in this day and age = currently, now, today in today's society = today in view of the fact that = because in which = DELETE inner feelings = feelings interestingly enough = DELETE intertwine[d] together = intertwine[d] irregardless = DELETE is able to = can OR DELETE is an important factor in = DELETE OR in is aware of the fact that = knows is described as being = is OR is described as is found to be = is is going to = will is helpful in understanding = clarifies is in conflict with = conflicts with/is against is in contrast to =  contrasts with is of significant importance = is significant OR is important is scared of = fears is seen as = is is something that is = is is well aware that = understands is when = is OR DELETE is where = DELETE is/was more or less = is/was it appears/seems as though = it appears OR DELETE it can be seen that = DELETE it could happen that = could/may/might it goes to show that = DELETE it is clear/evident/apparent that = DELETE it is crucial/important that = must/should OR DELETE it is interesting/important to note that = DELETE it is necessary that = must/should it is possible that = DELETE itself = DELETE join/gather together = join/gather kind of = DELETE last but not least = finally later on = later mainly focuses on = focuses on make a decision = decide make an assumption = assume make contact with = contact make reference to = refer to manner in which = way mental attitude = attitude mix together = mix more or less = DELETE [OR be specific] more preferable = preferable mutual agreement = agreement natural instinct = instinct necessary prerequisite = prerequisite new record = record [as in SET A NEW RECORD] not the least of them being = AVOID of great importance = DELETE OR is important off of = off OR from on a daily basis = daily on account of the fact that = because on the basis of = because, based on on the grounds that = because on the occasion of = on on the situation of = about on the subject of = about OR DELETE on the surface level = on the surface on the whole = DELETE on top of all this = moreover OR DELETE one of the more = DELETE one of the most interesting = DELETE only serves to = DELETE over and over again = repeatedly overall goal = goal overall structure = structure owing to the fact that = because particular type of = DELETE past experience = experience past history = history past memories = memories period of time = period, time plan ahead = plan play[s] an important role = DELETE [be specific] previous/prior to = before providing that = provided put to use = use quite clearly = DELETE readily apparent = apparent real truth/life = truth/life reconsider again = reconsider regardless of the fact that = although repeat[ed] over and over again = repeat[ed] respective/respectively = DELETE right up to the = up to the OR to the says exactly the same thing = repeats scrutinize carefully = scrutinize seems to infer = infers serve the purpose of = DELETE serves to explain/show = explain/show shout  loudly = shout some kind of = DELETE somewhere in the neighborhood of = about sort of = DELETE  state of affairs = DELETE [vague] still has yet = has yet study in depth = study subsequent to = after symbolically represents = represents OR symbolizes take action = act take into account = consider take the time = DELETE terrible/horrible tragedy = tragedy that/this being said = DELETE that exists = DELETE that exists between/with/among = between/with/among that is/are = DELETE when possible that is to say = DELETE the colour green = green the complete opposite of = the opposite of the end OR final result = the result the human race = humans OR humanity OR people the fact that = that OR DELETE the fact remains = DELETE the final conclusion = the conclusion the majority of = most/many the month of September = September The nature of the [NOUN] = The [NOUN] the overall plan = the plan the possibility exists for = may/might/could the reason is because = the reason/because the reason why = the reason, why, because the type OR use of = DELETE the way [manner] in which = the way OR DELETE the whole [any noun] = DELETE “whole” the world we live in = the world/life OR DELETE there is a chance that = may/might/could there is a need = DELETE This is a [NOUN] that would = This [NOUN] would time period = period to a further extent = further throughout the course of = throughout the through the use of = through total abstinence = abstinence total annihilation = annihilation totally obvious = obvious true facts = facts compare and contrast = compare complete stranger = stranger completely eliminate = eliminate concerning the matter of = about/regarding connect[ed] together = connect[ed] core essence = DELETE correctional facility = jail despite the fact that = although did not succeed = failed due to the effects = because due to the fact that = because during the course of = during each and every one = each, every each individual = DELETE OR everyone each of = each early on in the = early in the economically deprived = poor enter into = enter OR DELETE erode away = erode every single one = each one, all, each fair amount = DELETE [or be specific] final demise/destination/outcome = DELETE  final first priority = priority first and foremost = first focus specifically on = focus on for all intents and purposes = DELETE for that which is = for the for the manner in which = the way for the purpose of = to, for foreseeable future = [when exactly?] foreshadow things to come = forshadow free gift = gift future plans/prospects = plans OR prospects gain entry into = enter general consensus = consensus general public = public gentley caressed = caressed give an indication of = indicate grave crisis = crisis hand-in-hand = together has/had/have a tendency to = often OR DELETE has/had/have been found to be = is/was/are has/had/have the ability to/capacity for = can/could has/had/have the effect of = DELETE has/had/have the opportunity to = can/could hear the sound of  = hear the I myself = I [in a] clear and concise way = [concisely] concise in a situation in which = in in a very real sense = DELETE in actuality = DELETE in all likelihood/probability = likely/probably in close proximity = near in connection with = about in essence = DELETE in excess of = more than in light of the fact that = because in keeping with = AVOID in itself = DELETE in nature = DELETE in order to = to in reality = DELETE in reference to = about/regarding in the neighborhood of = about in the vicinity of = near in spite of = despite in spite of the fact that = although in such a way = in a way in terms of = DELETE in the area of = in in the course of = during, while in the event that = if in the final analysis = finally OR DELETE in the light of = considering OR DELETE in the majority of instances = usually in the midst of = during, amid in the nature of = DELETE in the near future = soon OR DELETE in the not too distant future = soon OR DELETE in their own right = DELETE in this day and age = currently, now, today in today's society = today in view of the fact that = because in which = DELETE inner feelings = feelings interestingly enough = DELETE intertwine[d] together = intertwine[d] irregardless = DELETE is able to = can OR DELETE is an important factor in = DELETE OR in is aware of the fact that = knows is described as being = is OR is described as is found to be = is is going to = will is helpful in understanding = clarifies is interesting to note = is interesting OR is noteworthy is in conflict with = conflicts with/is against is in contrast to =  contrasts with is of significant importance = is significant OR is important is scared of = fears is seen as = is is something much more = is more is something that is = is is well aware that = understands is when = is OR DELETE is where = DELETE is/was more or less = is/was it appears/seems as though = it appears OR DELETE it can be seen that = DELETE it could happen that = could/may/might it goes to show that = DELETE it is clear/evident/apparent that = DELETE it is crucial/important that = must/should OR DELETE it is interesting/important to note that = DELETE it is necessary that = must/should it is possible that = DELETE itself = DELETE join/gather together = join/gather kind of = DELETE last but not least = finally later on = later major breakthrough = breakthrough mainly focuses on = focuses on make a decision = decide make an assumption = assume make contact with = contact make reference to = refer to manner in which = way mental attitude = attitude mix together = mix more or less = DELETE [OR be specific] more preferable = preferable mutual agreement = agreement natural instinct = instinct necessary prerequisite = prerequisite new record = record [as in SET A NEW RECORD] not the least of them being = AVOID of great importance = DELETE OR is important off of = off OR from on a daily basis = daily on account of the fact that = because on the basis of = because, based on on the grounds that = because on the occasion of = on on the situation of = about on the whole = DELETE on top of all this = moreover OR DELETE one of the more = DELETE one of the most interesting = DELETE one time = once only serves to = DELETE over and over again = repeatedly overall goal = goal overall structure = structure owing to the fact that = because particular type of = DELETE past experience = experience past history = history past memories = memories period of time = period, time plan ahead = plan play[s] an important role = DELETE [be specific] previous/prior to = before providing that = provided put to use = use quite clearly = DELETE readily apparent = apparent real truth/life = truth/life reconsider again = reconsider regardless of the fact that = although respective/respectively = DELETE right up to the = up to the OR to the says exactly the same thing = repeats scrutinize carefully = scrutinize seems to infer = infers serious danger = danger serve the purpose of = DELETE serves to explain/show = explain/show share in common = share shout  loudly = shout some kind of = DELETE somewhere in the neighborhood of = about sort of = DELETE  state of affairs = DELETE [vague] still has yet = has yet study in depth = study subsequent to = after symbolically represents = represents OR symbolizes take action = act take into account = consider take the time = DELETE terrible/horrible tragedy = tragedy that/this being said = DELETE that exists = DELETE that exists between/with/among = between/with/among that is/are = DELETE when possible that is to say = DELETE the colour green = green the complete opposite of = the opposite of the end OR final result = the result the fact that = that OR DELETE the fact remains = DELETE the final conclusion = the conclusion the majority of = most/many the month of September = September The nature of the [NOUN] = The [NOUN] the overall plan = the plan the possibility exists for = may/might/could the reason is because = the reason/because the reason why = the reason, why, because the type OR use of = DELETE the way [manner] in which = the way OR DELETE the whole [any noun] = DELETE “whole” the world we live in = the world/life OR DELETE there is a chance that = may/might/could there is a need = DELETE This is a [NOUN] that would = This [NOUN] would time period = period to a further extent = further to a certain extent = DELETE [be specific] throughout the course of = throughout the throughout the entirety = throughout through the use of = through total abstinence = abstinence total annihilation = annihilation totally obvious = obvious true facts = facts true meaning = meaning two times = twice type of = DELETE united as one = united until such time as = until ultimate fate = fate ultimate objective OR goal = objective OR goal utmost perfection = perfection valuable asset = asset various different = various very unique = unique violent explosion = explosion we are of the opinion that = we believe we as a society = we OR society well aware of = aware what is important is = DELETE when all is said and done = DELETE whether or not = whether/if OR DELETE which have been found to be = are OR DELETE which is = DELETE [when possible] will come in the future = will come will have an effect on = will effect who are/was/were = DELETE why it functions the way it does = how it functions with regard to = about/regarding with the exception of = except for witnessed first hand = witnessed Kim Blank's "Wordiness, Wordiness, Wordiness List" G. K. Blank, English Dept., University of Victoria ©1998, rev. 2001-2009 gkblank@uvic.ca Read more at web.uvic.ca

 

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