ELIMINATING WORDS
    • Get rid of words that are unnecessary, obstruct your meaning, or could be 
     confusing to your reader.
    ELIMINATE WORDS THAT EXPLAIN THE OBVIOUS OR 
           PROVIDE EXCESSIVE DETAIL
   • Wordy (47 words): After booking a ticket to Dallas from a 
    travel agent, I packed my bags and arranged for a taxi to the 
    airport. Once there, I checked in, went through security, and was 
    ready to board. But problems beyond my control led to a three-
    hour delay before takeoff.
   • Concise (9 words): My flight to Dallas was delayed for three 
    hours.
         ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY DETERMINERS AND MODIFIERS
          These are words that do not add meaning to the sentence by adding 
          more detail. In the right context, these words can add value to the 
          sentence, but often they just act as “filler”
           • Wordy (9 words): Any particular type of dessert is fine with me.
           • Concise (6 words): Any dessert is fine with me.
          The following is a list of words and phrases that are often 
          unnecessary:
           •  kind of                                      •   definitely
           •  sort of                                      •   actually
           •  type of                                      •   generally
           •  really                                       •   individual
           •  basically                                    •   specific
           •  for all intents and purposes                 •   particular
                    ELIMINATE WORDS THAT ARE REPETITIVE
                                                                Redundant Pairs
                                                                past memories
         • Omit redundant pairs—these are 
           pairs of words that imply each                       various differences
           other.                                               each individual _________
         • For Example: Finish implies                          basic fundamentals
           complete, so the phrase 
           “completely finish” is redundant                     true facts
           in most cases                                        important essentials
         Wordy (33 words): Before the 
         travel agent was completely able to                    future plans
         finish explaining the various                          terrible tragedy
         differences among all of the many                      end result
         very unique vacation packages his 
         travel agent was offering, the                         final outcome
         customer changed her future plans.                     free gift
         Concise (23 words): Before the 
         travel agent finished explaining the                   past history
         differences among the unique                           unexpected surprise
         vacation packages his travel 
         agency was offering, the customer                      sudden crisis
         changer her plans.
                   ELIMINATE WORDS THAT ARE REPETITIVE
                                                                Redundant Categories
                                                                large in size
         • Omit redundant categories—                           often times
          specific words imply their                            of a bright color
          general categories, so usually 
          both do not have to be stated                         heavy in weight
         • For Example: We know that                            round in shape
          “a period” is a segment of                            of cheap quality 
          time, that “pink” is a color, and 
          that “shiny” is an appearance,                        honest in character
          so it is unnecessary to write “a                      at an early time
          period of time,” “the color 
          pink,” or “a shiny appearance”                        of an uncertain condition
        Wordy (16 words): The                                   unusual in nature 
        microscope revealed a group of                          in a confused state
        organisms that were round in 
        shape and peculiar in nature.                           extreme in degree
        Concise (9 words): The                                  of a strange type 
        microscope revealed a group of                          economics field
        peculiar, round organisms.