Grade 8 English 2.25 More Ways to Omit Needless Words in Writing
It is important that your writing contains only what is necessary to relay important details and ideas; anything unneeded or unimportant should be discarded. Below are more ways to omit wordiness from your writing.
Rule: Avoid using "it is" unless the it is in reference to something mentioned earlier in your writing.
Example:
Wrong: It is my understanding that you will be taking Chemistry 3 next semester.
Right: I understand that you will be taking Chemistry 3 next semester.
Wrong: It is acknowledged that if the project is not complete by next week, we will lose the job.
Right: We acknowledge that if the project is not complete by next week, we will lose the job.
Rule: Omit the phrase "there is" or "there are".
Example:
Wrong: There are some people who struggle to make ends meet.
Right: Some people struggle to make ends meet.
Wrong: There is a student in the class who gets straight A's on all her work.
Right: A student in the class gets straight A's on all her work.
Rule: Do not use two words to say the same thing. One word will do.
Example:
He was nervous and anxious
She is smart and intelligent
Don't go to all the trouble and bother
Rule: Use less formal words rather than elaborate (or formal) words.
Example:
No: methodology
Yes: method
No: magnitude
Yes: size
No: terminate
Yes: end
No: appreciable
Yes: many
Directions: Answer the following questions, then write five examples for each of the above rules.
