1. Editing for efficiency

2. We should write the way we talk, only better – Ernest Hemingway

3. Tips for the editing process Fix mistakes before fiddling with writing.

4. Tips for the editing process Fix mistakes before fiddling with writing. Cut words, dont add words.

5. Tips for the editing process Fix mistakes before fiddling with writing. Cut words, dont add words. Rewrite weak passives.

6. Tips for the editing process Fix mistakes before fiddling with writing. Cut words, dont add words. Rewrite weak passives. Make sure the subject is near the verb.

7. Tips for the editing process Fix mistakes before fiddling with writing. Cut words, dont add words. Rewrite weak passives. Make sure the subject is near the verb. Vary sentence length.

8. Tips for the editing process Fix mistakes before fiddling with writing. Cut words, dont add words. Rewrite weak passives. Make sure the subject is near the verb. Vary sentence length. Use first-degree words (house, business and office instead of domicile, establishment and facility.)

9. Wrong words: Dont use these Alright (all right) Irregardless (regardless, irrespective) Towards, Backwards (lose the s) Wreckless (reckless)

10. Crutch words: Dont misuse these Hopefully WRONG: Hopefully, Dave will get here on time. RIGHT: I hope Dave will get here on time. RIGHT: At dinner time, my dog looked up at me hopefully.

11. Crutch words: Dont misuse these Hopefully WRONG: Hopefully, Dave will get here on time. RIGHT: I hope Dave will get here on time. RIGHT: At dinner time, my dog looked up at me hopefully. Basically – its NOT the same as and thats all there is to it, or and its simple enough. WRONG: Basically, you just turn this knob and shove this lever forward. RIGHT: The proposal is basically sound (means fundamentally).

12. Misused words Like -- He feels like he was personally repudiated. Using like in place of as if is colloquial and should be avoided.

13. Misused words Like -- He feels like he was personally repudiated. Using like in place of as if is colloquial and should be avoided. Literally -- The three-year varsity player literally carried the team to victory in the Catholic League tournament championship.

14. Misused words Like -- He feels like he was personally repudiated. Using like in place of as if is colloquial and should be avoided. Literally -- The three-year varsity player literally carried the team to victory in the Catholic League tournament championship. Following -- Do not use following as a preposition.

15. Misused words Like -- He feels like he was personally repudiated. Using like in place of as if is colloquial and should be avoided. Literally -- The three-year varsity player literally carried the team to victory in the Catholic League tournament championship. Following -- Do not use following as a preposition. Dilemma -- The word means a choice between two equally unpleasant options – not just a problem or difficulty

16. Misused words Like -- He feels like he was personally repudiated. Using like in place of as if is colloquial and should be avoided. Literally -- The three-year varsity player literally carried the team to victory in the Catholic League tournament championship. Following -- Do not use following as a preposition. Dilemma -- The word means a choice between two equally unpleasant options – not just a problem or difficulty Over, more than– Over is for height, and more than is for number

17. Misused words Like -- He feels like he was personally repudiated. Using like in place of as if is colloquial and should be avoided. Literally -- The three-year varsity player literally carried the team to victory in the Catholic League tournament championship. Following -- Do not use following as a preposition. Dilemma -- The word means a choice between two equally unpleasant options – not just a problem or difficulty Fewer, less – use fewer to compare quantities Over, more than– Over is for height, and more than is for number

18. Wordy constructions At that that point in time At this time Due to the fact that In the course of In the near future Located at Often times On one occasion Once in a great while Previous to Subsequent to Went on to say During the summer months In reference to

19. Redundancies Traded to another team Has good speed Set a new record Completely destroy Ultimate outcome Very unique Acute crisis Basic essentials Large in size Climb up Dead body End result Depreciate in value Few in number Follow after Free gift Hot-water heater

20. Passive voice, weak verb construction Accusations were leveled by each side that the other initiated the first shooting, but both sides said they still had intentions to honor the truce.

21. Passive voice, weak verb construction Accusations were leveled by each side that the other initiated the first shooting, but both sides said they still had intentions to honor the truce. Each side accused the other of shooting first, but both said they intended to honor the truce.

22. Passive voice, weak verb construction Every morning the three professors rode in the same car pool to their jobs in the history department, but among them, they almost never had a civil word to say.

23. Passive voice, weak verb construction Every morning the three professors rode in the same car pool to their jobs in the history department, but among them, they almost never had a civil word to say. Every morning the three professors carpooled to the history department, arguing all the way.

24. Passive voice, weak verb construction Approaching maturity in the urban enclave of South Birmingham without benefit of paternal guidance, Roy Jefferes was cognizant of the syndrome of temptations and frustrations that leads a sizable proportion of adolescent males to gravitate toward criminal activity.

25. Passive voice, weak verb construction Approaching maturity in the urban enclave of South Birmingham without benefit of paternal guidance, Roy Jefferes was cognizant of the syndrome of temptations and frustrations that leads a sizable proportion of adolescent males to gravitate toward criminal activity. Growing up without a father in urban South Birmingham, Roy Jefferes knew well the temptations and frustrations that lead many young men toward a life of crime.

26. Passive voice, weak verb construction Approaching maturity in the urban enclave of South Birmingham without benefit of paternal guidance, Roy Jefferes was cognizant of the syndrome of temptations and frustrations that leads a sizable proportion of adolescent males to gravitate toward criminal activity. Growing up without a father in urban South Birmingham, Roy Jefferes knew well the temptations and frustrations that lead many young men toward a life of crime. Growing up without a father on the streets of South Birmingham, Roy Jefferes knew firsthand the psychological tug-of-war that drags too many young men into the trap of what they call thug life.

27. Passive voice The chemical dumping was allowed by insufficient government regulation.

28. Strong verbs Two hot dogs were consumed by the boy in less than 20 seconds.

29. Strong verbs Two hot dogs were consumed by the boy in less than 20 seconds. The boy quickly and hungrily ate two hot dogs in less than 20 seconds.

30. Strong verbs Two hot dogs were consumed by the boy in less than 20 seconds. The boy quickly and hungrily ate two hot dogs in less than 20 seconds. The boy inhaled two hot dogs in less than 20 seconds.

31. Strong verbs The hill was climbed by the children.

32. Strong verbs The hill was climbed by the children. The children climbed the hill in a hurried fashion.

33. Strong verbs The hill was climbed by the children. The children climbed the hill in a hurried fashion. The children scrambled up the hill.

34. Strong verbs The legislators were engaged in heated debate about the bill.

35. Strong verbs The legislators were engaged in heated debate about the bill. The legislators clashed over the bill.