Concise writing

Cheat sheet for web writers

Writing concisely will help people read your content online. Watch out for redundant modifiers (my personal opinion, in actual fact). Don’t use redundant categories (pink in colour, large in size). Avoid using pairs (each and every, first and foremost). Edit wordy phrasing (in order to, is located at).

Avoid these phrases Try these instead
By virtue of By
Came to a realisation Realised
Can be seen as Is or DELETE
Cheap in quality Cheap
Cease and desist Stop
Circumstances in which When or where
Compare and contrast Compare
Complete failure Failure, failed
Complete stranger Stranger
Concerning the matter of About
Despite the fact that Although
Did not succeed Failed
Due to the effects Because
Due to the fact that Because
During the course of During, while
Each and every Each, all, every
Each individual Everyone, all
Early on in the Early in the
End result End, result
Excessive number of Too many
Extreme in degree Extreme
Final conclusion Conclusion
Final result Result
First and foremost First
For all intents and purposes Actually or DELETE
For that which is For the
For the duration of While, during
For the purpose of For
For the purpose of doing To do
Free of charge Free
Full and complete Full
Future plans Plans
Gather together Gather
General public Public
Has a negative impact Hurts, harms
Has (had or have) been found to Is, was, are
Has (had or have) the ability to (capacity for) Can, could
Has (had or have) the opportunity to Can, could
I myself I
In a case in which When, where
In accordance with By
In actual fact In fact, actually
In a situation in which In, when, where
In all likelihood (probability) Likely, probably
In close proximity Close, near
In connection with About
In light of the fact that Because
Inner feelings Feelings
In order to To
In reference to About
In the course of While, during
In the event that If
In the final analysis Finally
In the light of Considering, because
In the majority of cases (instances) Most
In the midst of (middle of) During, while
In the near future (not too distant future) Soon
In the neighbourhood of About, around
In this day and age Now, currently, today
In view of the fact that Because
Is able to Can
Is aware of the fact that Knows
Is found to be Is
Is going to Will
Is in conflict with Contradicts, is against
Is in contrast with Compared with, contrasts with
Is of significant importance Is important
Is located at Is at
It can be seen that So or DELETE
It could happen that Could, may, might
It has to be remembered Remember
It is apparent (clear) that Clearly
It is necessary that Must
Join together Join
Last but not least Finally
Later on Later
Make a decision Decide
Make contact with Contact
Make reference to Refer to
Manner in which Way
Mental attitude Attitude, opinion, view
Mix together Mix
More preferable Preferable
Mutual agreement Agreement
Natural instinct Instinct
Necessary prerequisite Prerequisite (needed)
New initiative New, initiative
Of great importance Important
Of the opinion Think, believe
On account of (the fact that) Because
On a daily basis Daily
On the basis of Because, based on
On the grounds that Because
On the occasion of On
On the whole Overall or DELETE
On top of all this And then or DELETE
On two different occasions Twice
Overall goal Goal
Overall structure Structure
Owing to the fact that Because
Past experience Experience
Past history History
Past memories Memories
Period of time Period, time
Pink in colour Pink
Plan ahead Plan
Prior to (Previous to) Before
Providing that If
Real truth Truth
Reconsider again Reconsider
Regardless of the fact that Although
The majority of Most
The month of November November
The reason why Reason, because
There is a chance that It may, might, could
Throughout the course of During, while
Totally obvious Obvious
True facts Facts
Until such time as Until
Was aware Knew
Whether or not Whether, if
Which have been found to be Are
With regard to About, regarding
With the exception of Except for
Witnessed first hand Witnessed, saw

We’ve compiled this from other word lists, and added to it as we’ve found problems while editing clients’ content. Thanks to those who have emailed us words to include.

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