"I believe more in the scissors," author Truman Capote once said, "than I do in the pencil." In other words, what we cut out of our writing can be more important than what we add to it. As we've seen, an effective way to improve our work is to cut the clutter.
So how do we stop wasting words and get to the point? Here are five more strategies to apply when revising and editing essays.
1) Use Active Verbs
- Whenever possible, make the subject of a sentence do something.
Wordy: The grant proposals were reviewed by the students.
Revised: The students reviewed the grant proposals.
More About Verbs:
2) Don't Try to Show Off
- As Leonardo da Vinci observed, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Don't presume that big words or lengthy phrases will impress your readers: often the simplest word is the best.
Wordy: At this moment in time, students who are matriculating through high school should be empowered to participate in the voting process.
Revised: High school students should have the right to vote.
More About Words:
3) Cut Empty Phrases
- Some of the most common phrases mean little, if anything, and should be cut from our writing:
- all things being equal
- all things considered
- as a matter of fact
- as far as I am concerned
- at the end of the day
- at the present time
- due to the fact that
- for all intents and purposes
- for the most part
- for the purpose of
- in a manner of speaking
- in my opinion
- in the event of
- in the final analysis
- it seems that
- the point that I am trying to make
- type of
- what I am trying to say
- what I want to make clear
Revised: Students should have the right to vote.
More About Cliches:
4) Avoid Using Noun Forms of Verbs
- The fancy name for this process is "excessive nominalization." Our advice: don't name something when you can show it instead.
Wordy: The presentation of the arguments by the students was convincing.
Revised: The students presented their arguments convincingly. Or . . .
The students argued convincingly.
More About Nouns:
5) Replace Vague Nouns
- Replace vague nouns (such as area, aspect, case, factor, manner, situation, something, thing, type, and way) with more specific words--or eliminate them altogether.
Wordy: After reading several things in the area of psychology-type subjects, I decided to put myself in a situation where I might change my major.
Revised: After reading several psychology books, I decided to change my major.
More About Cutting the Clutter:
