Wordiness in writing. 1000 Wordiness Examples With Answers 2022-10-29

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Wordiness in writing refers to the use of unnecessary words or phrases that add little value to a text and can make it more difficult for readers to understand the intended message. It is a common mistake made by writers, particularly when they are trying to pad out their writing to meet a specific word count or when they are uncertain about the content they are presenting.

One of the main reasons for wordiness is a lack of clarity. When writers are not sure about what they want to say, they may use additional words or phrases to try to convey their ideas more effectively. However, this often has the opposite effect, as it can make the writing seem more confusing and difficult to follow.

Another reason for wordiness is a lack of editing and proofreading. Writers may not take the time to carefully review their work and eliminate unnecessary words or phrases, resulting in writing that is unnecessarily long and cumbersome.

There are several strategies that writers can use to avoid wordiness in their writing. One effective method is to use strong, concise language that gets straight to the point. This means using specific, descriptive words rather than vague or ambiguous ones, and avoiding unnecessary filler words such as "very," "that," and "really."

Another strategy is to eliminate redundant words and phrases. For example, instead of saying "the reason why is because," simply say "the reason is." Similarly, instead of saying "free gift," just say "gift."

Another way to avoid wordiness is to use active rather than passive voice. Passive voice tends to be more wordy, as it requires additional words to convey the same meaning. For example, "The ball was thrown by the boy" is written in passive voice, whereas "The boy threw the ball" is written in active voice.

Finally, writers can use editing and proofreading tools to help identify and eliminate wordy phrases in their writing. These tools can highlight areas of the text that may be unnecessarily wordy and suggest alternative ways of expressing the same ideas more concisely.

Overall, wordiness in writing can make it more difficult for readers to understand and engage with the content. By using strong, concise language, eliminating redundant words and phrases, and using active voice, writers can improve the clarity and effectiveness of their writing.

Essentials

wordiness in writing

Knowing how to write concisely will serve you well in many situations. Half the phrases made up of a bunch of words have short and precise analogs. Wordiness is one of the most Wordiness can seriously detract from the coherency and quality of your writing and frustrate your readers. There are many people today who believe that a college education is necessary for success. Identify negatives and change them to affirmatives Expressing ideas in negative form means you must use an extra word; it also makes readers work harder to figure out your meaning.


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Wordiness Definition and Examples

wordiness in writing

Attitude Markers Attitude markers e. The Writing Center has a great resource on smoothness and economy of expression at. The author might be using nature imagery to show how the characters connect with their spirituality. Unless a reader wants to be transported to another world, they probably just want you to get to the point. Wordiness in writing is like tossing chalk dust into the cookie batter because you have no flour, a filler that will be easily detectible at first bite.

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Improving Communications

wordiness in writing

While it is essential that you use basic That said, as rule number one, you should try to identify such adverbs. So as well as helping you avoid wordiness, cutting unnecessary qualifiers can make your writing more forceful, leaving a stronger impression on the reader. Example: For each and every book you purchase, you will receive a free bookmark. Keep in mind that not all qualifiers should be instantly omitted to avoid wordiness. Depending on the genre in question, the setting of a story fictional or real , or the character, flowery phrases may be appropriate to convey authenticity. His choice of hat was controversial.

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Writing Concisely

wordiness in writing

Common passive verbs: is, are, was, were, am, be, been Example: In her essay, there are many passive verbs being used. When you're struggling to just get words down on the page, using too many words is often the last thing on your mind. Doing the opposite is what we call "wordiness". This occurs when writers attempt to describe something and overuse synonyms. That can bring you to fill the text with phrases involving redundant information, provide the facts or some examples that aren't important or interesting, and turn your assignment into a wordy illogical mess.

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Strategies to Reduce Wordiness

wordiness in writing

But: We have been searching for you for hours! What documents are necessary in order to apply for a visa? During the course of winter, energy bills collectively rise because people rely on their heaters. They could not come due to the fact that their train was late. The assignments include homework, the exam, and the project. Original 12 words: The cafeteria, which was new and spacious, served better food than before. Unnecessary Intensifiers Often, intensifiers like really and very are unnecessary and have alternatives that make the sentence shorter. Three people know the combination to the safe.

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What Is Wordiness and Why Is It Bad?

wordiness in writing

Keep these strategies in mind when working to reduce wordiness! Furthermore, which version makes the best impact on the audience? To ensure clarity and concision, it would be better to give a specific number and cut the filler term: Sixty percent of the students are studying for exams. For example: Yesterday's party was simply amazing. By deleting unnecessary qualifiers, you can often eliminate one or two words per sentence. For example, the phrase "Some experts commonly believe that. The main character in Heart of Darkness is Marlow. To get rid of expletives at the beginning of sentences, eliminate the " to be" verb and make the object of the expletive phrase the subject of the sentence.

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Wordiness

wordiness in writing

Rewritten 10 words: The student body president combined homecoming dances with Neptune High. You can often replace propositional phrases with one-word modifiers or just reword to avoid using them. Often, it is during revision that wordiness becomes apparent. Remember, a prepositional phrase contains the preposition, the object, and any modifiers. If so, you may be suffering from something called prolixity, or in layman's terms, wordiness.

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Avoiding Wordiness: 330 Examples & What to Use Instead

wordiness in writing

Get rid of wordy phrases. Always try to use one good word rather than two or three mediocre ones. These phrases often crop up in writing that requires a formal tone, but they detract from, rather than add to, meaning. A sentence is wordy if it can be tightened without loss of meaning. Here, we will look through some of them and provide you with effective text-fixing strategies. They can be used as a tool for evoking an emotion or for setting the stage for a more dramatic passage It was a dark and stormy night after all! They allow for communication, which is essential for groups of people to work together. Adjectivizations Using verbs as adjectives.

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How to Avoid Wordiness in Writing

wordiness in writing

Look for ways to modify the structure of your sentences in order to reduce wordiness. This principle holds true with words. Use stronger verbs, rather than adverbs. Depending on what it is you're repeating, you may have to delete whole sentences, even paragraphs. However, when you can, no one will complain if you reduce your word count, and it often leaves a stronger impact. Two important essentials are needed for success in college: determination and a North Face jacket.


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1000 Wordiness Examples With Answers

wordiness in writing

She checked participants into the conference and handed out gift bags. Outside of school, writing concisely can help you create more effective business letters, email messages, memos, and other documents. Wordiness can be difficult to spot on a page, but it becomes painfully apparent when you hear it. Tweaks like this may not seem like much, but they can add up. If you still have repeating ideas, then try adding in new information that will support the topic of each paragraph. His condition is typified by total physical inertia, absence of interest in its ambiance — what we vets call environment — failure to respond to the conventional external stimuli — a ball of string, a nice juicy mouse, a bird. Also place an important concept at the beginning of a section or paragraph to draw more attention to it, rather than burying it.

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