You can learn to avoid wordiness through careful examination and revision of your sentences.

Examples:

Expletive phrases, such as it is, there is, or there are:

Wordy: It is not difficult to write a concise essay.
Concise: Writing a concise essay is not difficult.

Wordy: There are many things you should remember in order to write effectively.
Concise: You should remember many things in order to write effectively.

Adjectival phrases or dependent clauses introduced by which or that:

Wordy: My class, which meets three times a week, is preparing a final project.
Concise: My class, meeting three times a week, is preparing a final project.

Wordy: My best friend plays in a band that is known for music that is cacophonous, lyrics that are bad, and song titles that are cheesy.
Concise: My best friend plays in a band known for cacophonous music, bad lyrics, and cheesy song titles.

Sentences in the passive voice when active voice is more effective:

Wordy: Your exams are being marked by your professor.
Concise: Your professor is marking your exams.

Sentences using the verb to be when a strong or action verb is more effective:

Wordy: Hard work and studying are essential for success in school.
Concise: Success in school requires hard work and studying.

Past or present participle (was —ed, have —ed, or is —ing) when a simple past or present tense is more effective:

Wordy: I have learned that my principal has spoken to my parents about my work.
Concise: I learned that my principal spoke to my parents about my work.

Should, could, or would when a strong verb is more effective:

Wordy: A verb phrase would be more effective in this sentence.
Concise: A verb phrase is more effective in this sentence.

Overuse of intensifiers and modifiers also results in wordiness. Intensifiers are adjectives and adverbs used for description, but they are often unnecessary to the meaning of the sentence.

Some examples of intensifiers that can be omitted for conciseness include: very, more, most, best, quite, kind of, sort of, type of, really, basically, for all intents and purposes, definitely, generally, individual, specific, peculiar, absolutely, rather, etc.

Wordy: We were very much interested in the new kind of computer on sale.
Concise: We were much interested in the new computer on sale.

Next to Wordiness 1: Test Yourself
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