Take Away One Word Or Two

The Art of Subtraction: How Taking Away Just One or Two Words Can Transform Your Writing

The power of words is undeniable, but sometimes, the most effective way to strengthen your writing is not by adding more, but by subtracting. Learning to strategically take away one word or two can be the key to achieving clarity, conciseness, and impact in your writing. This article explores the techniques, benefits, and nuances of this powerful editing method, providing you with practical strategies to elevate your writing to the next level.

Why Less is More: The Importance of Concise Writing

In today's fast-paced world, readers are bombarded with information. Their attention spans are shorter, and their tolerance for verbose writing is minimal. This is where the principle of "less is more" becomes essential. Concise writing respects the reader's time, delivers information efficiently, and leaves a lasting impression. Here's why it matters:

• Clarity: Removing unnecessary words clarifies the core message. Readers can grasp the central idea without wading through fluff.
• Impact: Concise sentences pack a punch. They command attention and are more likely to be remembered.
• Professionalism: Clear and concise writing is a hallmark of professionalism in any field. It demonstrates respect for your audience and mastery of your subject.
• Engagement: Readers are more likely to stay engaged when they don't have to struggle to understand the point.
• Efficiency: Both writers and readers benefit from concise writing. Writers save time during the editing process, and readers can extract information quickly.

Identifying Redundant Words and Phrases

The first step in the art of subtraction is identifying the words and phrases that add little or no value to your writing. These are the culprits that dilute your message and clutter your text. Here's a breakdown of common redundancies to watch out for:

• Unnecessary Adverbs: Adverbs like "really," "very," "basically," and "actually" are often overused. Ask yourself if the sentence loses its meaning without the adverb. If not, cut it. For example, "He ran really fast" can simply be "He ran fast."
• Redundant Adjectives: Similar to adverbs, adjectives can sometimes be redundant. Consider whether the adjective is truly adding new information or simply restating something already implied by the noun. For example, "a round circle" is redundant because all circles are round.
• Wordy Phrases: Certain phrases can be replaced with single words or shorter alternatives. For example, "due to the fact that" can be shortened to "because," and "in order to" can be replaced with "to."
• Repetitive Words: Be mindful of repeating the same word or phrase too closely together. This can make your writing sound monotonous. Look for synonyms or rephrase the sentence to avoid repetition.
• Filler Words: Words like "um," "ah," "like," and "you know" are common in speech but should be eliminated in writing unless you're intentionally capturing a conversational tone.
• Tautologies: These are phrases that repeat the same idea using different words. Examples include "past history," "free gift," and "personal opinion."

Techniques for Subtraction: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you know what to look for, let's dive into the specific techniques you can use to trim the fat from your writing. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Read Aloud: Reading your work aloud helps you identify awkward phrasing and unnecessary words that you might miss when reading silently. Your ear will often catch redundancies that your eye overlooks.
2. The "So What?" Test: For each sentence, ask yourself, "So what?" If the sentence doesn't add new information or contribute to the overall argument, it's likely unnecessary.
3. Identify the Core Message: What is the single, most important idea you want to convey in each sentence and paragraph? Once you've identified the core message, ruthlessly cut anything that doesn't directly support it.
4. Replace Phrases with Single Words: Look for opportunities to replace wordy phrases with more concise alternatives. Here are a few examples:
   • "In the event that" -> "If"
   • "At this point in time" -> "Now"
   • "With regard to" -> "About"
   • "For the purpose of" -> "To"
5. Eliminate Qualifiers: Words like "somewhat," "kind of," and "sort of" can weaken your writing. Use them sparingly and only when necessary to convey a nuance or uncertainty.
6. Use Active Voice: Active voice is generally more concise and direct than passive voice. For example, "The ball was thrown by the boy" (passive) can be shortened to "The boy threw the ball" (active).
7. Combine Sentences: Look for opportunities to combine short, choppy sentences into longer, more complex sentences. This can improve the flow and readability of your writing.
8. Don't Be Afraid to Rewrite: Sometimes, the best way to achieve conciseness is to completely rewrite a sentence or paragraph. Don't be afraid to scrap your original wording and start fresh.
9. Get a Second Opinion: Ask a friend, colleague, or editor to review your work and identify areas where you can cut words. A fresh pair of eyes can often spot redundancies that you've become blind to.
10. Practice Regularly: The more you practice these techniques, the better you'll become at identifying and eliminating unnecessary words. Make conciseness a habit, and your writing will become sharper and more impactful over time.

Examples of Word Subtraction in Action

Let's look at some specific examples of how taking away one or two words can improve your writing:

• Original: "Due to the fact that it was raining, the game was canceled."
  • Improved: "Because it was raining, the game was canceled."
• Original: "He ran very quickly to the store."
  • Improved: "He ran quickly to the store."
  • Even Better: "He sprinted to the store."
• Original: "She expressed her personal opinion on the matter."
  • Improved: "She expressed her opinion on the matter."
• Original: "In order to succeed, you must work hard."
  • Improved: "To succeed, you must work hard."
• Original: "The report contained a number of different findings."
  • Improved: "The report contained several findings."

In each of these examples, removing just one or two words makes the sentence more concise and impactful without sacrificing any essential information.

When to Break the Rules: Deliberate Wordiness

While conciseness is generally desirable, there are times when deliberate wordiness can be effective. Here are a few situations where you might choose to be more verbose:

• Emphasis: Sometimes, adding extra words can emphasize a particular point. For example, you might repeat a key phrase or use a longer, more descriptive sentence to draw attention to an important idea.
• Humor: Wordiness can be used for comedic effect. Exaggerated descriptions and rambling sentences can create a sense of absurdity or satire.
• Character Development: In fiction writing, a character's speech patterns can reveal a lot about their personality. A verbose character might be portrayed as pompous, long-winded, or insecure.
• Creating a Specific Tone: Wordiness can contribute to a particular tone or mood. For example, a writer might use long, flowing sentences to create a sense of tranquility or nostalgia.
• Legal or Technical Writing: In certain fields, precision is more important than conciseness. Legal and technical documents often use longer, more detailed sentences to avoid ambiguity.

However, even in these situations, it's important to be mindful of your audience and the overall purpose of your writing. Use deliberate wordiness sparingly and only when it serves a clear and intentional purpose.

The Psychological Impact of Concise Writing

Concise writing not only improves clarity and efficiency, but it also has a psychological impact on the reader. Here are a few ways that conciseness can influence your audience:

• Builds Trust: Readers are more likely to trust writers who are clear and concise. It shows that you respect their time and have a firm grasp of your subject matter.
• Enhances Credibility: Concise writing can make you appear more confident and knowledgeable. It suggests that you've carefully considered your words and chosen them deliberately.
• Increases Persuasion: Concise arguments are more persuasive than rambling, convoluted ones. When you get straight to the point, your audience is more likely to be convinced by your message.
• Reduces Cognitive Load: Concise writing is easier to process and understand. This reduces the cognitive load on the reader, allowing them to focus on the content rather than struggling to decipher the meaning.
• Creates a Positive Impression: Readers appreciate writers who are concise and to the point. It makes them feel like their time is being valued, which can create a positive impression of you and your work.

Tools and Resources for Improving Conciseness

Fortunately, there are many tools and resources available to help you improve the conciseness of your writing. Here are a few of the most popular:

• Grammarly: This online grammar checker can identify redundant words and phrases, suggest more concise alternatives, and help you improve your overall writing style.
• ProWritingAid: Similar to Grammarly, ProWritingAid offers a comprehensive suite of editing tools, including a redundancy checker, a style guide, and a thesaurus.
• Hemingway Editor: This tool highlights long, complex sentences and suggests ways to simplify them. It also identifies adverbs, passive voice, and other potential areas for improvement.
• The Elements of Style by Strunk and White: This classic writing guide provides timeless advice on clarity, conciseness, and effective communication.
• Online Thesauruses: A good thesaurus can help you find synonyms for overused words and phrases, allowing you to vary your vocabulary and avoid repetition.

The Importance of Practice and Feedback

Mastering the art of subtraction takes practice and feedback. Don't expect to become a concise writer overnight. Start by focusing on one or two techniques at a time, and gradually incorporate them into your writing process. Seek feedback from trusted sources, and be open to criticism. The more you practice and refine your skills, the better you'll become at identifying and eliminating unnecessary words.

Conclusion: Embrace the Power of Subtraction

In conclusion, learning to take away one word or two is a powerful tool for improving the clarity, conciseness, and impact of your writing. By identifying redundant words and phrases, using active voice, and replacing wordy constructions with more concise alternatives, you can transform your writing from cluttered and confusing to clear and compelling. While there are times when deliberate wordiness can be effective, conciseness is generally the key to engaging your audience, building trust, and conveying your message with maximum impact. So embrace the power of subtraction, and watch your writing soar.