Test Yourself

Wordiness

[Harbrace 14c & 15] 

Review

See Introduction to Wordiness below 

Introduction

Trim away unnecessary words so you write clearly, directly, and forcefully. Eliminate redundancy, empty phrasing, rambling constructions, nonessential words, vague words, and repetitive expressions.

EXAMPLES: 

1. The fish was yellow in colour with dark black markings. 

REVISED:
The fish was yellow with black markings. 

2. It is entirely possible that after the exam I may drop the course from my schedule. 

REVISED:
After the exam, I may drop the course. 

3. An especially popular course is "Classics 101: Introduction to Mythology," which always is taken by many students. 

REVISED:
An especially popular course is "Classics 101: Introduction to Mythology." 

Revise such wordy phrases as: 

1. WORDY: in this day and age 
   REVISED: today
   
   
2. WORDY: in the modern world 
   REVISED: today 
   
   
3. WORDY: it should be noticed 
   REVISED: notice
   
   
4. WORDY: as far as _________ is concerned 
   REVISED: (eliminate the entire phrase) 
   
   
5. WORDY: at this point in time 
   REVISED: now 
   
   
6. WORDY: by means of 
   REVISED: by 

Eliminate such formulas as: 

• the fact that 
• type of 
• field of 
• sort of 
• the use of 
• I believe 
• experience 
• I think 
• there is 
• it is 
• who are 
• which are 
• that is 
• situation 
• in my opinion 
• it is interesting to note 

Use specific words to replace such general ones as: 

• important 
• nice 
• interesting 
• great 
• fine 
• true 
• really 
• basically 
• actually 
• rather 
• real 
• very