Cutting Unnecessary Words
Most authors overwrite on their first drafts, adding unnecessary words and phrases. Itâs a normal, natural part of the composition process, and it doesnât mean that youâre a bad writer. It does mean that you need to look out for text to cut during editing.
Common unnecessary words and phrases include
Qualifiers: Examples are really, very, quite, mostly, and usually. Sometimes, you need them â and often, you can cut them. The sentence âIt was really a very hot dayâ can be better written as âIt was a scorching day.â
Adjectives: Examples are quickly, slowly, happily, quietly, and loudly. A good rule of thumb is to let the verb carry the weight. If youâve written âTom said loudly,â âTom shoutedâ or âTom yelledâ is a better alternative.
Personal phrases: Examples are âIn my opinion,â âI think,â and âI believe.â Occasionally, you must clearly distinguish your opinion from objective fact, but you can generally omit these phrases. Readers will understand that your e-book naturally expresses your opinion.
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