Minutes a day n e w y o r k

L E S S O N
Editing
L E S S O N   S U M M A R Y
Editing takes a closer look at your writing, through a stronger lens that
highlights words and sentences. Are your word choices clear and
direct? Are there any repetitive or awkward sentences or phrases?
When you edit, you can clean up and clear up words and sentences
to make them better convey your intended meaning and easier to
understand.
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WORDY
REPLACE WITH
a lot of
many or much
all of a sudden
suddenly
along the lines of
like, such as
are able to
can
as a matter of fact
in fact, or Delete
as a person
Delete
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Are verb tenses consistent?
■
Is the antecedent for every pronoun clear?
■
Do you use precise adjectives and adverbs?
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Is your sentence structure varied? Sentences should not be the same length, nor should they be repetitive in
any other way, such as all beginning with a noun, followed by a verb, followed by an object.
After you’ve read your essay a few times and highlighted any areas that need improving, focus on one problem at
a time.
Be Concise
Why use ten words to get across a meaning that could be better said in five? Those ten words will definitely waste
your reader’s time and probably confuse the point you’re trying to make. Many of the words and phrases that fol-
low are both well known and, unfortunately, well used. They don’t convey meaning, and are therefore unneces-
sary. The following are three of the worst offenders, with usage examples.
1. Because of the fact that. In most cases, just because will do.
Because of the fact that he was late, he missed his flight.
Because he was late, he missed his flight.
2. That and which phrases. Eliminate them by turning the idea in the that or which phrase into an adjective.
These were directions that were well written.
These directions were well written.
3. That by itself is a word that often clutters sentences unnecessarily, as in the following example:
The newscaster said that there was a good chance that election turnout would be low and that it could
result in a defeat for our candidate.
The newscaster said there was a good chance election turnout would be low and could result in a defeat for
our candidate.