Maximum word limits are a pain in the butt. It’s kinda soul destroying to have to cut all the beautiful words you’ve just spent hours writing.
But they are there for a reason.
Word limits force you to write concisely so you can answer the question well without wasting words. I often felt like there was no way I could cut enough from my word count but, using my techniques below, I always managed to and the end result was a clearer, more powerful piece of writing.
In this blog post you’ll discover:
- Why you should cut the fluff from your writing
- Why you should try to reduce your word count
- 7 simple techniques to improve your writing today
Your goal isn’t to write a literary masterpiece. You won’t get higher marks for knocking your tutor’s socks off with your elegant prose.
Instead – you need to get your ideas down on paper in the least amount of words possible. While your writing may seem less pleasant to read, your tutor will appreciate de-bloated writing…and you should gain higher marks.
Benefits of reducing your word count and improving the clarity of your writing:
- Your ability to control your language will give the reader the impression you are intelligent and educated
- Clear writing will help the reader understand your ideas and argument
- Cutting the fluff will allow you to include more valuable points so you can score the highest mark possible
If you manage to cut 100 words from an essay by using these tips, that’s 100 extra words to answer the question. Those 100 spare words could be used to craft seven or eight kick ass sentences that could gain you the marks needed to push you to the next grade.
7 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Word Count
1. Get rid of redundant modifiers
The use of redundant modifiers has crept into our everyday language so they’re hard to spot. Marketing messages often include redundant modifiers to attempt to add effect, such as, ‘very unique’. If something is ‘unique’ it is one of a kind. Adding ‘very’ does nothing to the meaning, adds an extra word and just sounds silly if you think about it. The same applies to the examples, ‘added bonus’ or ‘absolutely certain’.
Look through your writing to see if you’ve included any redundant modifiers. After awhile you’ll get in the habit of not using them.
Here's some examples you can edit to reduce your word count
Absolutely certain > certain
Added bonus > bonus
Basic essentials > essentials
Complete monopoly of the market > monopoly of the market
Crystal clear > clear
End result > result
Exact same > exact/same
Final outcome > outcome
Immediate vicinity > vicinity
Major breakthrough > breakthrough
Make plans in advance > make plans
New initiative > initiative
Natural instinct > instinct
Over exaggerate > exaggerate
Past experience > experience
Past memories > memories
Personal opinion > opinion
Postpone until later > postpone
Revert back > revert
Top priority > priority
True fact > fact
Very unique > unique
Weather conditions > weather
Written down > written
2. De-bloat your inflated phrases
Similarly, there are probably instances where you’re using two, three or four words where one would do. These can take a few edits to pick up but once removed your word count and clarity are improved pretty quickly.
Here's some examples you can edit to reduce your word count
Are indications of > indicates
At all times > always
At the present time > at present/currently/now
Collaborate/join together > collaborate/join
Completely ruined > devastated
Concerning the matter of > about
Despite the fact that > although
Due to the fact that > because
During the course of > during
For the purpose of > for
Has a tendency to > tends
Has knowledge of > knows
Has the ability to > can
In a situation in which > when
In order to > to/so that
In the event that > if
It is necessary that > must/should
On the other hand > conversely
On two separate occasions > twice
The majority of > most
There is a chance that > may/might/could
Until such time as > until
What the organisation aims to do is > the organisation aims to
Whether or not > whether
Will provide a summary > will summarise
With regards to > about
3. Redundant categories
Some people have a tendency to state an attribute or characteristic and then, perhaps in an effort to be more accurate, state its category too. For example, ‘blue in colour’ should just be ‘blue’. ‘Small in size’ should just be ‘small’. Remove these in your writing and sound smarter.
Here's some examples you can edit to reduce your word count
Attractive in appearance > attractive
Blue in colour > blue
Heavy in weight > heavy
Honest in character > honest
In a confused state > confused
Of a strange type > strange
Of cheap quality > cheap
Period in time > period
Small in size > small
Unusual in nature > unusual
4. Remove ‘that’
Some words take up precious word count but add nothing. The most common is ‘that’ which is fairly harmless but, over the course of an entire essay, could increase the word count. You won’t always be able to remove ‘that’ and maintain clarity, but search your document and see if removing them alters the meaning of the sentence.
Delete
Ensure that you make relevant use of both articles
This is the book that she wrote
The report that was approved by the board
Keep
I want to buy that car
5. Delete adverbs
Adverbs can weaken academic writing by detracting from what is being said. Using adverbs frequently will bloat your writing and can disrupt a reader’s flow. Don’t add a descriptive word to a verb, instead just use a descriptive verb. For example, ‘dropped rapidly’ can become ‘plummeted’.
Search your text for the word ‘very’ or adverbs ending in ‘ly’ and see if they can be replaced while maintaining clarity.
Here's some examples you can edit to reduce your word count
Eat noisily > gulp
Drop rapidly > plummet
Look angrily > scowl
Run quickly > sprint
Say quietly > whisper
Very big > enormous
Very tired > exhausted
6. Eliminate redundant pairings
The English language is so rich we often have too many words to choose from. Rather than choosing one and sticking to it we tend to pile them on top of each other. A simple idea can quickly become a bloated sentence filled with pointless words.
Look out for some of the examples below and shorten them to reduce the word count but maintain clarity
(Also do this where you’ve created your own list of descriptive or explanatory words.)
First and foremost
Hope and trust
Each and every
So on and do forth
Over and done with
One and only
Few and far between
Peace and quiet
Hope and desire
Tidy and presentable
7. Remove ‘helping words’
This technique can take a little practice to implement but it can reduce your word count quickly. Sentences including words in the form of ‘be’ or ‘have’ can often be edited and rearranged to reduce word count and add clarity. Check your writing for these sentences.
Here's some examples you can edit to reduce your word count
First, one has to analyse the situation > first, analyse the situation
The report was prepared by Psychology students > Psychology students prepared the report
This report has been prepared to analyse… > this report analyses/aims to analyse…
His duties were classified in the report > the report classified his duties.