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When Less Is More by Susan Thurman

Wordiness is the first cousin of redundant writing. If you use six words when two will do, your writing becomes bloated and loses its effectiveness. Wordiness takes up your readers' valuable time, and it can make your writing seem pompous.

Still have your eraser handy or your finger on the delete key? Take a look at the following list of common wordy expressions; then get to work putting your words on a diet. For even more common wordy expressions and their suggested substitutes, see Appendix C.

<tgroup cols="2" align="center"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="1" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="1" align="left"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p>Wordy Phrase</p></td> <td><p>Suggested Substitute</p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p>a small number of</p></td> <td><p>a few</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>being of the opinion that</p></td> <td><p>I believe (think)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>cannot be avoided</p></td> <td><p>must, should</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>due to the fact that</p></td> <td><p>since, because</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>excessive number of</p></td> <td><p>too many</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>for the purpose of</p></td> <td><p>to, for</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>give consideration to</p></td> <td><p>consider</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>has a tendency to</p></td> <td><p>often</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>last but not least</p></td> <td><p>finally</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>make an examination of</p></td> <td><p>examine</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>none at all</p></td> <td><p>none</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>present time</p></td> <td><p>present, now</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>the majority of</p></td> <td><p>most</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>until such time as</p></td> <td><p>until</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>with regard to</p></td> <td><p>concerning, about</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <div class="npsb"> <h2></h2> <p>Try the interactive quizzes on eliminating wordiness at these Web sites:</p> <table width="100%" frame="none"> <title/> <tgroup cols="1" align="center"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="100%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>tinyurl.com/lrqdr</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>tinyurl.com/2owum2</emphasis></p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> </div> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/grammar/in-plain-english-please/no-need-to-repeat-yourself.htm" 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EVERYTHING GRAMMAR AND STYLE BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-grammar-and-style-book-2nd-edition">By Susan Thurman</a></p><div id="fp"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-grammar-and-style-book-2nd-edition">Buy This Book</a></div></div></div> <div id="toc" class="pane"><div class="n3">Grammar and Style Sections</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/grammar/whats-in-a-word/">What's in a Word?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/grammar/cracking-the-code-of-punctuation/">Cracking the Code of Punctuation</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/grammar/more-fun-with-punctuation/">More Fun with Punctuation</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/grammar/punctuation-pairs/">Punctuation Pairs</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/grammar/wrapping-it-all-up/">Wrapping It All Up</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/grammar/parts-of-speech-the-big-eight/">Parts of Speech: the Big 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