Just too much:

1. Just too much: Avoiding Wordiness in Writing Click for next 

2. Effective writing • Effective writingis concise, with no unnecessary words. • Effective writing is NOT WORDY. Click for next 

3. Effective writing • The term“wordy” refers to writing with unnecessary words. Click for next 

4. Wordy = too much • Wordy writing is like wearing too much, trying a little too hard Click for next 

5. Wordy writing takes too long to reach the point. Click for next 

6. You too can write badly!!! Bore your readers!! How to be really, really wordy Click for next 

7. Seriously….(a disclaimer) • You do not want to create wordy writing…you want to be concise. • The “Steps” in this presentation are used humorously…look for the word “seriously” after each step to find serious writing advice. Click for next 

8. How to be WORDY • Step #1 ...Dull, wordy writing uses the following: • I think that • I believe that • I feel that • In my opinion • It is my belief that • It is my opinion that Click for next 

9. You already own it! Seriously, never use • “I think” • “I feel” • “I believe” • “In my opinion” in your writing. Click for next 

10. You already own it! • If your name is on the paper, readers know to expect your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. I thinkcats make the worst pets. (wordy) Cats make the worst pets. (concise) In my opinion, caller I.D. is an invasion of privacy. (wordy) Caller I.D. is an invasion of privacy. (concise) Click for next 

11. How to be WORDY Step #2 …Bore readers with wishy-washy & uselessadjectives Click for next 

12. Wishy-washy adjectives OK, Seriously… don’t be wishy-washy • kind of • sort of • type of • specific • really • basically Click for next 

13. Eliminate wishy-washy adjectives Wishy-washy • My mood generallydepends on certain factors that are actuallyrelated to the type of foods I eat. Click for next 

14. Eliminate wishy-washy adjectives Better (concise) • My mood depends upon what I eat. Click for next 

15. Eliminate wishy-washy adjectives Wishy-washy: • Any particular type of dessert is fine with me. Click for next 

16. Eliminate wishy-washy adjectives Better (concise) • Any dessert is fine with me. Click for next 

17. Eliminate wishy-washy adjectives Wishy-washy -Balancing the budget by Friday is impossible without some kind of extra help. Click for next 

18. Eliminate wishy-washy adjectives Better (concise) --Balancing the budget by Friday is impossible without extra help. Click for next 

19. Wishy-washy words • kind of • sort of • type of • really • basically • particular • definitely • actually • generally • individual Guaranteed to bore your readers! Click for next 

20. How to be WORDY Step #3 …If one word is good, then LOTS of words must be better, right? Click for next 

21. Extra words!!! Seriously… • Like make-up, certain words enhance your writing. • But too many wordscan be ugly. Click for next 

22. Change phrases into single words • Look for prepositions to eliminate. with to of Click for next 

23. Change phrases into single words Look for prepositions to eliminate. Wordy • An employee with ambition... More Concise • An ambitiousemployee… Click for next 

24. Change phrases into single words Wordy • The decision of the judge will be final. More Concise • The judge’s decision will be final. Click for next 

25. Change phrases into single words Wordy • I met with a friend of mineat the doorof his office. More Concise • I met my friendat his office door. Click for next 

26. Change phrases into single words Use • who • which • that sparingly Extra is not always good. Click for next 

27. Change phrases into single words Wordy • The report, which was published recently... More Concise • The recently published report… Click for next 

28. Change phrases into single words Wordy • All applicants who are interested in the jobmust... More Concise • All interested job applicants must… Click for next 

29. Change phrases into single words • due to the fact that • because of the fact that • the reason why is that • given the fact that because = Click for next 

30. Change phrases into single words Wordy Concise • At this/that point in time... • Now/then • In accordance with your request... • As you requested, Click for next 

31. Change phrases into single words Wordy Concise • He is a man who... • he • has the ability to… • can Click for next 

32. Change phrases into single words Wordy Concise • in spite of the fact that • although • thinks/ believes • be of the opinion that • the question as to whether • whether Click for next 

33. Change phrases into single words Wordy Concise • try / attempt • put forth an effort • disappear from view • disappear / vanish Click for next 

34. How to be WORDY Step #4 …Weaken your sentences with expletives There are It is It was There were Click for next 

35. Avoid expletives Expletives are phrases using It+ be-verb or there + be-verb. AVOID: • It is • It was • There is • There was Click for next 

36. Avoid expletives Seriously… Instead of using expletives, begin sentences with a NOUNand VERB. Noun Verb Click for next 

37. Avoid expletives Wordy • It isimportant that we find a solution. Concise • We must find a solution. It is Click for next 

38. Avoid expletives Wordy • There are four rules that should be observed... Concise • Four rules should beobserved:... There are Click for next 

39. Avoid expletives Wordy • There wasa big explosion whichshook the windows, and there weremany people running into the street. Concise • A big explosion shook the windows, and people raninto the street. Click for next 

40. How to be WORDY Step #5 …Let your verbs be passive and lazy Click for next 

41. Verbs should be active! Seriously… • Verbs should show ACTION. • Avoid passive verbswhen possible. Click for next 

42. Active Verbs In sentences with active verbs, the subjectperforms the actionexpressed in the verb. The catate the goldfish. Scientistspresentedthe report. Click for next 

43. Passive Verbs • In sentences with passive verbs, the verbs are weaker because the objectreceives the action. The goldfishwas eaten by the cat. The reportwas presented byscientists. Click for next 

44. Verbs should be active! • ACTIVE VERB --- ate • PASSIVE VERB --- was eaten by • The teachers ate the cake. • The cake was eaten by the teachers. Click for next 

45. Verbs should be active! Wordy (passive verb) • An account was openedby Mrs. Simms. More Concise(active verb) • Mrs. Simms opened an account. Click for next 

46. Use active rather than passive verbs Wordy (passive verb) Many errors were correctedby the student. More Concise(active verb) The student corrected many errors. Click for next 

47. How to be WORDY Step #7 …Be redundant and repeat the same ideas over and over and over… Click for next 

48. Avoid Redundancy Redundancy Seriously… • Redundancy is unnecessary repetition. • Redundant expressions make writing longer, not better. Click for next 

49. Avoid Redundancy Redundancy Eliminateexpressions that add nothing to what has already been said. Click for next 

50. Avoid Redundancy Redundancy past memories (memories are always in the past) Absolutely certain (certain is already absolute) I remember the future! You’re going to eat me? Are you certain? Click for next 