1. Making your writing readable
Concise writing

2. What is concise? Using most effective words
Eliminate weak, unnecessary words

3. Roy Peter Clark advice
Cut big, then small

4. Replace vague words with specifics
One powerful word can replace several vague words.

5. Examples
The politician talked about several of the merits of after-school programs in his speech (14 words)
The politician touted after-school programs in his speech. (8 words)

6. Examples
Suzie believed but could not confirm that Billy had feelings of affection for her. (14 words)
Suzie assumed that Billy adored her. (6 words)

7. Be a word prosecutor Does every word add something to the sentence?
Delete dead weight words.

8. Examples
The teacher demonstrated some of the various ways and methods for cutting words from my essay that I had written for class. (22 words)
The teacher demonstrated methods for cutting words from my essay. (10 words)

9. Examples
Since she was a little girl growing up in Lincoln, Brown has been a natural learner. (16)
Since she was a little girl in Lincoln, Brown has been a quick study. (14)

10. Unnecessary words “in view of the fact” becomes “because”
“set a new record” becomes
“set a record”
“in the vicinity of” becomes
“near”

11. Combine sentences
Some information doesn’t need a separate sentence.

12. Examples
New riders need to learn cycling etiquette. Brown said the riders taught her the basics of cycling. (17)
New riders need to learn cycling etiquette, and Brown said the group taught her the basics. (16)

13. Examples
The supposed crash of a UFO in Roswell, New Mexico aroused interest in extraterrestrial life. This crash is rumored to have occurred in (24 words)
The supposed 1947 crash of a UFO in Roswell, New Mexico aroused interest in extraterrestrial life. (16 words)

14. Eliminate words
Delete words that explain the obvious.

15. Examples
Imagine a mental picture of someone engaged in the intellectual activity of trying to learn what the rules are for how to play the game of chess. (27 words)
Imagine someone trying to learn the rules of chess. (9 words)

16. One word at a time
In fall 2006, Brown began training with her current coach, Marc Walter, of Rightway Personal Training.
In fall 2006, Brown began training with coach Marc Walter of Rightway Personal Training.

17. Modifiers
Eliminate unnecessary words or phrases

18. Examples
Balancing the budget by Friday is an impossibility without some kind of extra help. (14 words)
Balancing the budget by Friday is impossible without extra help. (10 words)

19. Cut these kind of sort of really basically definitely actually
generally

20. Watch for words that repeat
Our branch office currently employs five tellers. These tellers do an excellent job Monday through Thursday but cannot keep up with the rush on Friday and Saturday. (27 words)
Our branch office employs five tellers, who do an excellent job Monday through Thursday but cannot keep up with Friday and Saturday rush periods. (24 words)

21. Omit redundant pairs past history various differences each individual
true facts
future plans
end result
final outcome
free gift

22. Omit redundant categories
large in size
often times
period in time
an early time
of cheap quality
in a confused state

23. Change phrases
Use a single word instead

24. Examples The employee with ambition The ambitious employee
The department showing the best performance
The best-performing department

25. Who, which, that
Dump unnecessary clauses

26. Examples The report, which was released recently,
The recently released report
All applicants who are interested in the job
All job applicants

27. Make passive verbs active
An account was opened by Mrs. Jones.
Mrs. Jones opened an account.
A training schedule was created by Walter.
Walter created a training schedule.

28. Avoid these Starting sentences with “It is” or “There are.”
There are four rules that must be obeyed.
Four rules must be obeyed.

29. Avoid noun forms of verbs
The function of this department is the collection of accounts.
This department collects accounts.

30. Avoid unnecessary infinitive phrases
The duty of the clerk is to check the .
The clerk’s duty is to check .

31. Be direct. At this point in time = now In regards to = about
It is important that = must
Is able to = can

32. Credit to: OWL at Purdue
More resources: