“Play It again sam.” on second thought, better not. Less is best!!! One of the most common categories of mistakes on the English test involve: Redundancy Wordiness/Less is Best Relevancy

Redundancy The ACT is very strict about redundancy; never let the passage repeat itself. Let’s say it again: the same thing shouldn’t be said more than once in a passage. This is typical redundancy.

Wordiness The ACT is also very strict about wordiness. The best way to write (according to the ACT, not your English teacher), is the shortest way, as long as the shortest way doesn’t violate any of the rules of writing conventions (i.e., grammar or punctuation) or contain slang. Okey-dokey?

Less is Best! Generally, the shortest answer is the correct answer. IF, and only IF it is gramatically correct. Some questions contain the “OMIT” choice that is apparently the shortest one. As a matter of fact, “OMIT” has a higher correct rate than any other answer choice. If you can’t answer a certain question, or don’t have time for the remaining questions, choose the shortest answer.

RELEVANCE The ACT is very strict about relevance. Ideas that are not directly and logically tied in with the purpose of the passage should be ELIMINATED!

Relevance in practice: A lot of people hate to ride the New York City subways, but I love them because I like to get places fast. A musician balancing a cello case, two Buddhist monks in saffron robes, and a group of stockbrokers in crisp, black suits get on at Wall Street. At this point, the writer wants to provide one reason why she likes to ride the subways. Which choice is most relevant to the information provided in this first paragraph? A. NO CHANGE B. I never know what I’ll see there. C. They are so much cheaper than taxis. D. They are places of enormous quiet and calm.

Practice Unbricking a kiln after firing is like a person uncovering buried treasure. NO CHANGE someone a potter OMIT the underlined portion.

My friend, Ellen, is typical of many more potters in that some pieces she shapes on a spinning potter’s wheel and others she builds on a work table from coils or slabs of clay. NO CHANGE of many mostly of for most

Over many weeks, as time goes by, her collection of pottery slowly grows. NO CHANGE with the passing of time, gradually, OMIT the underlined portion

Let’s Practice: “Notes from Underground”