Wordiness in Writing: How to Cut Words and Write More Clearly

What Causes Wordiness?

Wordiness comes from several sources. Some writers pad sentences to reach a word count or to sound more authoritative. Others do it out of habit, falling into stock phrases that inflate length without adding meaning. Some wordiness is structural — patterns like noun phrases built from verbs, or prepositional phrases that replace simpler constructions.

The result is the same regardless of cause: sentences that take longer to say less.

Wordy Phrases with Concise Replacements

The most common wordiness is found in stock phrases that can be replaced by a single word or a shorter construction. These appear so frequently that writers stop noticing them.

Nominalization: Turning Verbs into Nouns

Nominalization is the conversion of a verb or adjective into a noun. This frequently produces wordiness because the verb or adjective itself is simpler and more direct. The result is sentences heavy with abstract nouns and weak verbs like make, give, take, provide, perform, conduct.

• Wordy: We conducted an analysis of the data.
• Concise: We analyzed the data.
• Wordy: The team made a decision to proceed.
• Concise: The team decided to proceed.
• Wordy: There was a failure on the part of the system to process the input.
• Concise: The system failed to process the input.
• Wordy: She gave a recommendation that the policy be revised.
• Concise: She recommended revising the policy.

The fix is to identify the underlying verb buried in the noun phrase and use it directly. Analysis → analyze, decision → decide, recommendation → recommend, failure → fail.

Redundant Pairs and Pleonasms

Redundant pairs use two words that mean the same thing. One is sufficient.

• each and every → each or every
• null and void → void
• first and foremost → first
• various and sundry → various
• past history → history
• future plans → plans
• free gift → gift
• advance warning → warning
• final outcome → outcome
• unexpected surprise → surprise

For a deeper treatment of redundancy as a pattern, see the guide on redundancy in writing.

Throat-Clearing Openers

Many sentences begin with filler phrases that delay the main point. These "throat-clearing" openers signal that the writer has not committed to their sentence yet.

• It is worth noting that the results were inconclusive. → The results were inconclusive.
• It should be pointed out that this approach has limitations. → This approach has limitations.
• There are a number of reasons why this matters. → This matters for several reasons.
• It is clear that the policy needs revision. → The policy needs revision.

The rule: if the opener adds no information, delete it. The main clause carries all the meaning.

Weak Verb + Noun vs. Strong Verb

A weak verb paired with an abstract noun can almost always be replaced by a single strong verb:

• give consideration to → consider
• provide assistance to → help
• make mention of → mention
• take action on → act on
• reach a conclusion → conclude
• be in agreement with → agree with
• have an impact on → affect
• come to a realization → realize

Unnecessary Modifiers

Some modifiers add nothing because they are already implied by the noun or verb they modify:

• absolutely essential → essential (essential already means absolutely necessary)
• completely finished → finished
• very unique → unique (unique means one of a kind; it has no degrees)
• totally unanimous → unanimous
• personally believe → believe (all beliefs are personal)
• actively participate → participate (participation implies activity)

How to Revise for Wordiness

When editing your own work, follow these steps:

1. Flag every sentence longer than about 30 words. Long sentences are not automatically wordy, but length is a useful first signal.
2. Search for the phrases in the wordy-to-concise table above. These appear in nearly every draft.
3. Find nouns ending in -tion, -ness, -ment, -ance, -ence. Ask whether the underlying verb or adjective would be more direct.
4. Look for weak verbs (make, give, have, provide, conduct, perform) followed by abstract nouns. Replace with a single strong verb.
5. Cut sentence openers that contain no information.

For sentences you cannot easily tighten, Rephrasely can rephrase verbose constructions into cleaner alternatives.

See the complete revision checklist in the guide on how to edit and proofread.

Wordiness in Academic and Professional Writing

Academic and professional writing is especially prone to wordiness because writers often mistake length and complexity for sophistication. The opposite is usually true. A concise, precise sentence demonstrates clearer thinking than a padded one.

In academic writing, nominalization is particularly common because it sounds formal. A determination of the significance of the results was made sounds academic; The researchers determined the results were significant is clearer and shorter without being less precise. Formality and wordiness are not the same thing. Formal writing can be concise.

In professional and business writing, wordiness taxes the reader's attention in contexts where readers are already busy. Emails, memos, reports, and proposals all benefit from cutting every word that does not contribute to the point. For guidance on register and tone in professional contexts, see the guide on formal vs. informal writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there ever a reason to use more words?

Yes. Clarity sometimes requires more words, not fewer. A short sentence that omits necessary context is not clear — it is incomplete. The goal is not minimum word count; it is maximum ratio of meaning to words. If those extra words carry information, keep them. If they carry only the appearance of substance, cut them.

Does cutting words change the meaning of a sentence?

It should not, when done correctly. The test for any cut: read the revised sentence and confirm that it says the same thing the original said. If cutting a phrase changes the meaning or removes important nuance, do not cut it.

What is the difference between wordiness and redundancy?

They overlap but are not identical. Wordiness is the broader category: using more words than necessary, for any reason. Redundancy is a specific type of wordiness in which the same idea is expressed twice — either through repeated words (past history) or through a phrase that restates what the main clause already said. All redundancy is wordiness, but not all wordiness is redundancy.

How do I know when a sentence is too wordy?

Try the knife test: remove a word or phrase and read the sentence. If the sentence says the same thing without it, the word or phrase was unnecessary. If the sentence loses meaning or precision, put it back. Apply this test systematically to every modifier, every prepositional phrase, and every opener.