Ban These Words Forever
Your goal is to share as much information as possible in the fewest amount of words.
These are some words you can cut or replace to shorten your writing:
Adverbs:
Instead of using an adverb, look for a better verb. Say whisper rather than talk softly.
Other adverbs can’t be expressed in the verb but don’t add value either. So be critical about “actually”, “really” and “basically”.
Avoid “very”. Use better adjectives. Don’t say “very good” when you can say “outstanding”, “brilliant” and “superb”. Very happy means elated and very sad devastated.
Unspecific words:
Words with “thing”, “some” or “one” are not specific. Replace them with more meaningful words. Instead of saying “someone”, say who it is.
Opinions:
When you’re writing an essay and are not quoting anyone, be careful with these words: “Personally, to me, in my opinion, honestly.”
It’s obviously your opinion.
Shorter versions:
Some words and expressions are wordy. “In order to” is mostly the same as “to”.
“That” can be deleted in many sentences. Say “shorten” instead of “make shorter”.
Write actively:
I believe we’re too strict on the passive voice. Then again, the active voice is shorter. So unless you have a good reason to use the passive voice, replace it with active verbs.
Follow the rule of one:
Stick to one thought per sentence, one argument per paragraph and one idea per text. How does this help to reduce the word count? Simple. If you read critically, you will find words or even sentences that are beside your point.
Does it add value?
Expanding on the previous rule: question the value of every word, sentence and paragraph. Kill your darlings as they say. Only leave in words that provide value to the reader.
Other words to avoid:
“As a matter of fact”, “needless to say”, “and again”, “in conclusion” and “in other words” lead to repetitions. Not only should you delete these words but also what follows. If you need to repeat your message, you were not clear enough the first time.
The same is true for examples. If you need two examples, one of them isn’t good enough.
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