Avoid Excess Wordiness Eliminate unnecessary expressions Limit long lead-ins Drop unnecessary fillers Remove redundant words Dump trite expressions Avoid slang and clichés

Eliminate Unnecessary Expressions Instead of this We are of the opinion that Please feel free to In addition to the above At this point in time Despite the fact that Try this We think Please Also Now Although In business writing, unlike academic writing, more is NOT better.

Limit Long Lead-ins Instead of this Try this This memo is to inform you that all employees meet today. I am writing this letter to say thanks to everyone who voted. Try this All employees meet today. Thanks to everyone who voted.

Drop Unnecessary Fillers Revise sentences to avoid fillers such as there is/was and it is/was when used merely to take up space. Instead of this There was only one employee who should be promoted. It was Lisa and Jeff who were honored. Try this Only one employee should be promoted. Lisa and Jeff were honored.

Remove Redundant Words Avoid unnecessarily repetitious words. What words could be omitted in these expressions? advance warning close proximity exactly identical filled to capacity final outcome necessary requisite new beginning past history refer back serious danger advance warning close proximity exactly identical filled to capacity final outcome necessary requisite new beginning past history refer back serious danger

Omit Trite Expressions Trite and Outdated as per your request pursuant to your request attached hereto under separate cover Modern at your request attached separately

Avoid Slang and Clichés Avoid informal expressions that have changed meanings. Good communicators aim for clarity and avoid unintelligible slang. If you want to sound professional, don’t use slang expressions. Avoid clichés. Substitute more precise words. Instead of this We had reached the end of our rope. Try this We could go no further.