How to Reduce Wordiness in English Writing
Wordiness is one of the most common problems for English learners. Writing too many words can make your message unclear and difficult to read. Learning to cut unnecessary words will make your English writing stronger and more professional.
What Is Wordiness?
Wordiness means using more words than needed to express an idea. For example, "due to the fact that" can be replaced with "because." Both phrases mean the same thing, but "because" is shorter and clearer.
Common Wordy Phrases to Avoid
Here are common wordy phrases English learners use and their concise alternatives:
- "In the event that" → "If"
- "At this point in time" → "Now"
- "In order to" → "To"
- "Despite the fact that" → "Although"
- "Has the ability to" → "Can"
- "A large number of" → "Many"
- "In the near future" → "Soon"
- "Is of the opinion that" → "Believes"
How to Check Your Writing for Wordiness
Use the Readability Checker to see if your sentences are too long. A high readability score means your writing is clear and concise. The Word Counter can also help you track your average sentence length — aim for under 20 words per sentence.
Simple Strategies to Cut Wordiness
- Remove filler words: Delete words like "very", "really", "actually", "basically" from your sentences.
- Use active voice: "The team completed the project" is shorter than "The project was completed by the team."
- Avoid redundancy: Don't say "advance planning" or "past history". One word is enough.
- Combine short sentences: If two sentences are related, combine them into one clear sentence.