One writing issue I find myself editing frequently, particularly in academic writing, is the usage of “in ______________ ways”. For example, I recently edited a paper for a graduate student, who had used the phrase “in different ways”. Specifically, the sentence has a structure similar to this:
The disparate actors within this debate come to understandings about these issues in different ways.
To be clear, there is nothing technically wrong with this wording. My issue with it is that it sounds wordy. I think the word differently could easily substitute for in different ways without sacrificing meaning.
Here are a few other examples, with corresponding fixes:
| This allows students to demonstrate their knowledge in an active way. | This allows students to actively demonstrate their knowledge. |
| Learn about opportunities to work in comprehensive ways. | Learn about opportunities to work comprehensively. |
| Deal with underperforming employees in effective ways. | Deal with underperforming employees effectively. |
| This downtown intersection fails in dangerous ways. | This downtown intersection fails dangerously. |
| It affects us all in serious ways. | It affects us all seriously. |
Here’s a bonus example. Its constructions differs, but it does included the word way.
- I am angry with him for the way he spoke to me.
- I am angry with him for how he spoke to me.
Again, these constructions aren’t wrong per se, but they’re kind of wordy. And the best way to get your message across is as concisely and clearly as possible, which often includes as few words as possible.
