One (Isn't) the Loneliest Number

A cut 'n' save special: Some of the phrases I see a lot that can easily be replaced with one word without losing meaning are: at all times: replace with always at the present time: replace with now or currently because of the fact that: replace with because due to the fact that: replace with because for the purpose of: replace with for in order to: replace with to in spite of the fact that: replace with although or though prior to, in anticipation of: replace with before with regard to: replace with about on an annual basis: replace with yearly at this point in time: replace with now subsequent to: replace with after a large majority: replace with most be in a position to: replace with to or can in view of the fact that: replace with because in the event that: replace with if at your earliest convenience: replace with soon be in a position to: replace with are or can under the circumstances: replace with because or therefore

Comments

[anne mette]

I do I do see your point(s) and thanks for the reminder. But if I'm not careful I find myself writing 'now' and 'currently' to clients all the time. Explaining why we are currently awaiting x, now working on z... In the end more word fluff keeps me from repeating myself ALL of the time when the emails are more or less the same. Isn't that why we come up with all these extras?

[Christine Smith]

Thanks for this. The one I hate is "back in." For example, "Back in 2007." Why not just write: in 2007?

[Brent]

Or Although or Though with Altho/tho

Because with Becuz

With with w/

Without with w/o

I think you get the idea. =P

[Made in DNA]

You haven't seen optimal use of 140 characters until you have tried writing Twitter fiction. http://www.twitter.com/junkdnafiction

[David B. Thomas]

A useful list. Thank you. I've also found that "now" and "currently" are often superfluous. When you ask, "What time is it?" instead of "What time is it now?" people will assume you mean now. "We currently have four people on the team" is the same as "We have four people on the team."

[my backyard]

Great post, but did you realize there's a typo in your header? Lonliest instead of Loneliest? I know it's hard to proofread your own work.

[my backyard]

Also, "at this point in time" occurs twice in your list. Perhaps if you alphabetize future lists, you'd find it easier to catch repeats like this. Good luck! You're taking on a worthy cause in reducing wordiness.

[Vasudev Ram]

Good list - thanks. Came across it via Dave Winer's post on how Twitter improves your writing :)

One suggestion:

When "At this point in time" is used at the start of a sentence, replacing it with "right now" or "as of now" (instead of just "now") may be more suitable.

E.g. compare:

1. "At this point in time, the product works, but needs some improvement".

with

2. "Now, the product works, but needs some improvement".

and with

3. "As of now, the product works, but needs some improvement".

- Vasudev

[Beverly Brown]

Great advice! Reinforces my fav Strunk & White rule: "Omit needless words." Corollary from Mark Twain: "If you can catch an adjective, kill it!"

[David Lewis]

Sometime zero words is even better. For example...

"As of now, the product works, but needs some improvement"

==>

"The product works, but needs some improvement"

Need I explain why this change works? ;-)))

[mc]

You forgot the best one of all: replace 'having said that' with .

[Murli]

Supposedly superfluous words often serve a rhetorical purpose. They are often useful in spoken communication to provide needed rhythm. May not always be essential in written communication.

David's example of the use of "currently" in "We currently have four people on the team" may suggest the number may be different in the future or may have been different in the past. For instance, "we currently have four people on the team" but ... (unstated) ... "we plan on growing to be 100."

Weeding is a good thing, but keep your eyes open; not everything that looks like a weed actually is one.

[Lisa Dale]

This is a fantastic list. Thank you!

[Japanese words]

I find I do this in my writing all the time. When I read it again I always wonder why I make it so complicated.

[c.]

Chopping down the wording isn't always a good thing. Without variety, the reader gets bored. Then they stop reading. Then their mind wanders. Then they go read something else less boring.

See my point? The english language has many words or phrases that mean the same thing, and using only one phrase or another makes life dull.

[Jordan Jumpman]

Always be the first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds, the last to criticize a colleague who fails.

[Jordan 1]

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