For writers, the editing process is every bit as important as the writing process—perhaps more so. In the writing stage, the writer is concentrating on getting words on the page. It's the editing stage that strips away superfluous language and gets to the heart of the writing. Here, then, are five editing tips you can use as a checklist when fighting wordiness in your own writing.
Editing Tip 1: Get Rid of the Adverbs
This is a pretty good place to start in any kind of editing. Most times, the adverb is supporting a lazy or inaccurate verb. When you get rid of the adverb and find a better verb, it’ll tighten up your writing, making it more streamlined and efficient.
Editing Tip 2: Get Rid of the Adjectives
After you get rid of the adverbs, go after the adjectives . While they have their place in descriptive writing, it can be easy to get carried away with them. Readers are a pretty intuitive lot. They usually assume clouds are fluffy, flowers are colorful, and trains are loud without needing to be told. Therefore, if you find redundant adjectives, pull them.
Editing Tip 3: Watch Your Infinitives
Being mindful of infinitives actually serves a two-fold purpose. First, “I would have done this,” “I had done that,” add unnecessary words. Second, infinitives add a layer of distance to the writing. Instead, opt for “I did this,” or “I did that.” It makes the scenario more concrete and tightens up your writing in two ways.
Editing Tip 4: Avoid Common Wordy Phrases
In modern writing, there are many instances of writers (and journalists) using phrases that do not need to be in the writing, or could be made much shorter. For instance:
- in order to – This can be replaced with “to” and be good enough
- the fact that – The word “that” is enough
- due to the fact that – Try “because” instead.
This is just the beginning. Be mindful of these phrases in your writing and see how many new ones you can weed out.
Editing Tip 5: It's “That” Word
More often than not, the word “that” can be removed from a piece of writing and never be missed. Either it is being misused when a writer really means “who” or “which” instead. Also, it is usually grouped together in clusters like “that is” or “that are.” Such instances are almost always indicative of passive voice, and getting rid of “that” will help you fight wordiness and create a more immediate scene.
In Conclusion
These editing tips are far from being the final word on editing. When used as a quick guide during your first edit, they will get you back to your story, essay, or article sooner.
