Avoid Wordiness and Repetition

 Distracts the reader  Assumes that the reader is dumb and needs everything laid out for him/her  Not everything needs to be repeated or said  LESS IS BEST - sometimes

 Sometimes we need to cut words from our writing  Cut repetition of words and ideas Example: The girls went shopping for prom dresses. They went shopping because the prom was only two weeks away. Fixed: The girls went shopping for dresses because prom was only two weeks away.

FormulaicUse instead at the present timenow at this point in time in today’s society because of the fact thatbecause due to the fact that for all intents and purposes are of the opinion thatbelieve or think or feel have the ability tocan in spite of the fact thatalthough or despite last but not leastfinally prior tobefore concerning the matter ofabout

 Change this sentence: The school board will meet concerning the matter of probation notes.

 most readers can and should be able to figure out what you are trying to do and say  don’t give them a play by play plan of what you are doing in your writing Example: The purpose of this paragraph is to show my students why they should not refer to their intentions in their writing. The first point that I would like to make is that most readers do not need to read a plan in order to follow the writing. Secondly, I wish to show that writing…………..

 edit words that simply repeat an idea expressed in another word in the same phrase Redundant PhraseRedundant Pairs free gifthopes and desires return againeach and every advance planninggoals and plans circle arounddiligence and perseverance

 make your writing less wordy by combining two or more clauses into a single clause  Wordy: The library contains several rare books. The books in the library are carefully preserved. The library also houses a manuscript collection.  Combined: The library carefully preserves many rare books and manuscripts.

 Wordy: His father was a man who knew how to fix every car that entered his shop.  Condensed: