How to Avoid Wordiness in Writing

Have you ever read a paragraph that felt like it was saying something important—but took forever to get to the point? That’s wordiness. Wordiness is what happens when writers use more words than necessary to convey a message. And while it might seem harmless, it can actually weaken your writing, lose readers, and even bury your most valuable ideas under fluff.

In an age of short attention spans and information overload, concise writing isn’t just preferred—it’s expected. Whether you’re writing a school essay, a blog post, or a company email, trimming the fat from your writing makes it sharper, more persuasive, and easier to follow.

But cutting wordiness doesn’t mean cutting your personality. It’s about writing with intention, choosing the strongest words, and keeping only what counts. This guide will show you how.

What Is Wordiness?

Wordiness is the use of more words than needed to express an idea. It’s a form of verbal clutter—extra phrases, roundabout wording, or unnecessary repetition that slows down your message.

More words ≠ More meaning

The first version is filled with long-winded phrases that dilute the core message. The second version gets right to the point—without sacrificing clarity or tone.

Wordy writing tends to be indirect, repetitive, or overly formal. Concise writing, on the other hand, is clear, focused, and direct.

How to Recognize Wordiness in Your Own Writing

It’s easier than you think—if you know what to look for.

Sometimes, we don’t notice wordiness because we’re so close to our own writing. Here are a few signs that you might be using more words than necessary:

• Sentences feel long but empty.
• You use phrases like “in order to,” “the fact that,” or “at this point in time.”
• You repeat the same idea in slightly different ways.
• The writing sounds formal for the sake of sounding formal.

Try This: The Skim Test

Read your paragraph aloud or skim it with a highlighter in hand. Mark any word or phrase that doesn’t directly add meaning. If you can remove it without changing the message, cut it.

Bonus Tip: Use Tools (Sparingly)

Tools like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, or ProWritingAid can help flag common wordy constructions. But remember—you’re the editor, not the algorithm. Use tools as a guide, not gospel.

Root Causes of Wordiness and How to Eliminate them

Understanding what causes wordiness is the first step toward eliminating it.

Many writers don’t set out to be wordy—it just happens. Often, it’s because we’re trying to sound smarter, be more formal, or simply fill space. Let’s look at the most common culprits behind bloated sentences and how they sneak into your writing:

1. Redundancy & Repetition

Redundancy happens when you say the same thing twice—often unintentionally.

We think repetition adds emphasis. But more often than not, it just adds clutter.

Here are some common redundant pairs to spot and slash in writing:

• Past history → History
• Future plans → Plans
• Advance warning → Warning
• End result → Result
• Final outcome → Outcome
• Small tiny → Tiny
• Large big → Large
• Complete and total → Complete
• Each and every → Each
• First and foremost → First
• Climb up → Climb
• Fall down → Fall
• Return back → Return
• Repeat again → Repeat
• Continue on → Continue
• Free gift → Gift
• True facts → Facts
• Personal opinion → Opinion
• Close proximity → Proximity
• Exact same → Same
• Added bonus → Bonus
• New innovation → Innovation
• Basic fundamentals → Fundamentals
• Joint collaboration → Collaboration
• Mutual cooperation → Cooperation

Read your draft aloud – redundant pairs often sound awkward when spoken. Ask yourself: “Does removing one word change the meaning?” If not, cut it!

These redundancies sneak into writing because they feel emphatic, but they actually weaken your message by adding unnecessary words.

2. Fillers & Empty Phrases

Phrases like “in order to,” “the fact that,” “it is important to note,” or “at this moment in time” pad your sentence without adding real meaning.

These phrases feel natural in speech—but weaken writing. Cut them or replace them with tighter alternatives.

3. Nominalizations (Noun-ified Verbs)

Turning strong verbs into nouns makes sentences weaker and longer.

Academic and business writing often favors complex nouns, but this often leads to vagueness. Use the verb form instead—it’s more direct and active.

4. Weak Verbs + Excessive Adverbs

Using a vague verb and boosting it with an adverb makes writing less precise.

It’s easier to fall back on “safe” verbs. But specific verbs are cleaner and more powerful.

5. Overuse of Prepositional Phrases

Stacking too many prepositions makes writing bulky.

We often try to be thorough, but piling on “of,” “in,” “for,” etc., makes your writing hard to follow. Use possessives, compound nouns, or reword for clarity.

6. Passive Voice Overload

Passive voice isn’t always wrong—but too much of it leads to roundabout sentences.

We sometimes avoid assigning responsibility or want to sound objective. But active voice is usually stronger, clearer, and shorter. Ask “Who’s doing the action?” and make that the subject.

7. Throat-Clearing Sentences & “Wind-Ups”

These are long introductions to a point that could be made directly.

We think we’re being polite or formal, but these “softeners” waste space and delay the real message.

8. Expletive Constructions

Phrases like “there is,” “there are,” and “it is” often add fluff at the beginning of a sentence.

Start with the real subject of the sentence, not with filler.

9. Empty Intensifiers

Words like very, really, quite, actually, and basically usually don’t add much.

Use a more precise word instead of intensifying a vague one.

Concise Writing

Trim the excess. Keep the meaning. Strengthen the message.

Concise writing doesn’t mean dry or robotic—it means every word matters. The goal isn’t just to write less, but to write better.

If a word doesn’t contribute to meaning, rhythm, clarity, or tone—it doesn’t belong.

Think of your writing like a suitcase: you only have room for essentials. Each word must justify its spot.

Ask:

• Does this add something specific?
• Would the sentence be just as clear without it?
• Is there a simpler way to say it?

If not—let it go.

Concise Writing ≠ Robotic Writing

It’s easy to confuse “concise” with “choppy” or “boring.” But concise writing can still be elegant, expressive, and warm. The trick is using the right words in the right place, not more words.

The second version gets to the point—and respects the reader’s time.

Trying to cram too many ideas into one sentence leads to confusion and wordiness.

Break one idea into multiple shorter sentences. Shorter doesn’t mean less professional—just clearer.

Why Concise Writing Matters:

• It makes your ideas easier to understand.
• It improves flow and rhythm.
• It builds credibility and professionalism.
• It helps your message stick.

Exercises for Practice

Practice is the best way to internalize what you’ve learned. Below are a few exercises that challenge you to revise wordy sentences, identify unnecessary words, and rewrite them more clearly and concisely.

Exercise 1: Identify the Wordiness

Read each sentence. Can you spot the unnecessary words or phrases?

1. At this point in time, we are in the process of conducting research on the matter.
2. There are many different ways in which students can improve their writing.
3. He made the decision to cancel the meeting due to the fact that several people could not attend.
4. In the event that you are late, please let us know as soon as possible.
5. The report, which was written by the analyst, was presented by the manager at the meeting.

Write down what you would cut, replace, or simplify in each.

Exercise 2: Rewrite for Conciseness

Try rewriting the following sentences to be more direct and powerful:

1. The teacher gave a detailed explanation in regard to the importance of punctuation.
2. There is a possibility that we may have to reschedule the event.
3. It is important to note that regular practice can lead to better results over time.
4. She was very happy and excited about the opportunity that was presented to her.
5. Due to the fact that the application was incomplete, it could not be processed in a timely manner.

Challenge yourself to use fewer words without losing the core message.

Exercise 3: Edit a Paragraph

The paragraph below is bloated. Can you revise it for clarity and conciseness?

In today’s modern society, the importance of being able to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms is something that cannot be overstated. It is important to note that this ability is something that plays a crucial role in the world of business as well as in educational environments. For this reason, it is absolutely essential for individuals to be able to express their ideas in a way that is both clear and understandable to others.

Task: Rewrite this paragraph to cut the clutter and deliver the message in a clearer, cleaner way.

Exercise 4: Spot the Stronger Version

Which of the following sentence pairs is more concise and effective? Choose the better one:

A.

1. The report that was completed by the team yesterday was submitted by the manager.
2. The manager submitted the team’s report yesterday.

B.

1. There are several ways in which we can enhance the quality of our service.
2. We can enhance our service in several ways.

C.

1. He ran quickly down the stairs because he was in a hurry.
2. He dashed down the stairs.

Answers: 2, 2, 2

Tips for Self-Practice:

• Set a word limit for paragraphs to force clarity.
• Read aloud: It helps you hear what’s awkward or too long.
• Use editing tools like Hemingway or Grammarly to highlight long, complex sentences.
• Get feedback from others: If they stumble while reading, you may need to simplify.

Final Thoughts

Cutting wordiness isn’t just about trimming fat. It’s about respecting your reader’s time, strengthening your message, and sharpening your voice.

When your writing is concise, every word carries weight. Every sentence moves the reader forward. And your message—whether it’s a story, an essay, a report, or an email—lands with clarity and confidence.

Remember: Writing Is Rewriting

The first draft is just the beginning. Good writing happens in revision—when you question every phrase, tighten every thought, and craft every word with intention.

So take your time. Be patient. Be curious.

And keep this truth close:

“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.”
— Thomas Jefferson