We’re always told to write concisely. Great advice – but how? This can mean:
🎯Getting straight to the point instead of waffling
✂️ Structuring sentences well so there are no unnecessary words
🗑️Ditching ‘slacker’ words and phrases that don’t pull their weight
These are those lazy words or phrases that we often use without thinking but that don’t serve any useful purpose. With thanks to Grammarly, here are a few examples of phrases to avoid if you want to write more concisely:
🚫At all times (Watch out for flabby phrases at all times)
🚫Each and every (Look out for filler words in your writing each and every day daily)
🚫As yet (We don’t know as yet whether we’ll succeed)
🚫In order (Be ruthless – eliminate excess verbiage in order to clean up your writing)
🚫Basically, essentially (These words basically don’t add value)
🚫Totally, completely, absolutely, literally, actually (without filler words your writing will be totally fabulous dahling)
🚫Very, really, quite, rather, extremely (These very common words are really not useful. In fact, they’re rather dull).
🚫Simply (Simply don’t use this word often).
🚫Pretty (It’s a pretty good idea to use this qualifier sparingly too).
🚫Just (If your sentence works without it, you just don’t need this word).
🚫That (This is a word that you should only use when you need it for clarity).
🚫 In the process of (We’re in the process of learning to remove wordiness).
🚫All of (All of Your readers will enjoy reading cleaner copy).
🚫As being (You’ll be known as being a proficient writer).
🚫Being that (Being that Because you’re the best candidate, you’re sure to get the job).
🚫Point in time (You don’t need to use filler words at this point in time now).
Every word needs to work hard in your writing, and there are plenty that don’t contribute anything but clutter.
Is your writing working hard for you or is it more like this sleepy cat? For concise, effective marketing communications, get in touch!
Image credit: Islandworks – Pixabay
