Chapter
Why is it Important to be Concise?
As we develop our ideas in a draft, we are likely to repeat the same point in different phrases and sentences. In drafting, we are still thinking our ideas out and searching for the best way to articulate them. However, readers often don’t want to read all those versions of the same thing. If we can cut out repetition in the final version, we can create a more lively, interesting, and focused piece. Cutting out excess wordiness can help make space for new, related ideas and a stronger argument.
A general rule is that every word and sentence should do some significant work for the paper as a whole. Sometimes, that work is more to provide pleasure than meaning—we needn’t ruthlessly eliminate every flourish—but each phrase in the final version should add something unique to the paper.
Of course, we may be tempted to add padding to our writing to meet the length criteria for an assignment. However, such padding will be tedious for readers, including the instructor. Often, instructors require a certain word count because they can’t imagine a shorter piece of writing meeting the goals of the assignment. If our writing isn’t long enough yet, a good first move is to go back to the assignment description and see if there’s anything we haven’t fully addressed.
Michael Harvey notes that sometimes we may be reluctant to write concisely because it makes us feel more vulnerable. Wordiness may seem to add to our academic credibility, and it can cover over areas of uncertainty. Harvey writes,
[M]any of us are afraid of writing concisely because doing so can make us feel exposed. Concision leaves us fewer words to hide behind. Our insights and ideas might appear puny stripped of those inessential words, phrases, and sentences in which we rough them out. We might even wonder, were we to cut out the fat, would anything be left?
As writers, we may need encouragement from peers and teachers to gradually gain confidence and trust that our ideas, even in their barest, simplest forms, are worthwhile. Others will take our writing seriously when it is clear and substantive.
Strategies for eliminating wordiness
It’s best to wait until the final stage of the revision process to look for wordiness. Then, we can try the strategies below. The more we do this, the more it will become second nature.
- Look for words and phrases that you can cut entirely. Some bits may be redundant or meaningless, as in the following phrases, where the italicized words can be cut:
- each and every
- unexpected surprise
- predictions about the future
- very unique
- certain factors
- slightly terrifying
- Look for opportunities to replace longer phrases with shorter phrases or words. For example, “the way in which” can often be replaced by “how” and “despite the fact that” can usually be replaced by “although.” Strong, precise verbs can often replace bloated phrases. Consider this example: “The goal of Alexander the Great was to create a united empire acr