One writing issue I find myself editing frequently, particularly in academic writing, is the usage of “in ______________ ways”.
Category: Reducing wordiness
Why you probably don’t need “whether or not”
While editing a client document yesterday, I came across the phrase whether or not. I realized that I’ve seen this plenty of times. In fact, the usage is so common, it comes up as a suggestion when you type whether into Google:
Why “it’s important to note” is redundant
I was recently editing a large document for a client, and I encountered the phrase “it’s important to note”.
Why you should stop using “also”
One common writing issue I’ve encountered is the overuse of also.
What’s a noun string, and why you should avoid it
A noun string is a group of several nouns that act as one noun. Technically, all but one of the nouns act as adjectives, but we’d normally use those words as nouns.
“Which include but are not limited to”
I recently wrapped up a 250-page editing contract for one of my clients. I noticed the following phrases popping up often: which include but are not limited to Here’s generic example: When I was at the store, I bought groceries, which included but are not limited to apples, milk, eggs, and bread. This isn’t incorrect… Continue reading “Which include but are not limited to”
Eliminate “of” to reduce your wordiness
When editing client copy for clarity and conciseness, one of the first things I cut is the overuse of . . . well . . . of.