20 Words and Expressions That Good Writers Avoid
Instructors: Looking for a change-of-pace exercise? Try this worksheet with your students! Discuss the wordy expressions with your class; then let them apply what they’ve learned by editing the practice sentences. We’ve included a key for you, too!
Avoiding the following 20 wordy expressions and poor word choices will make your writing stronger.
- And also. This expression is usually redundant.
- And/or. Outside the legal field this expression is unnecessary. Use one word or the other.
- As to whether. The single word whether is sufficient.
- Basically, essentially, and totally. Eliminate these overused and empty words because they seldom add anything useful to your writing.
- Being that, being as. Replace these nonstandard expressions with because.
- Considered to be. Eliminate to be for concise expression.
- Due to the fact that. Convey your meaning concisely with because.
- Each and every. Use one or the other but not both words.
- Equally as. Something can be equally important or as important as, but not equally as important.
- Etc. This abbreviation suggests that you could provide more examples but you don’t want to bother.
- Firstly, secondly, thirdly. Instead of these adverbial forms, use first, second, and third.
- Get, got. Use more precise words to avoid the ugly and meaningless verb get.
- Kind of, sort of. These expressions are appropriate in informal communication. In business writing substitute somewhat, rather, or slightly.
- Lots, lots of. Instead of these colloquial words, use many or much.
- Nature. Instead of movies of a violent nature, describe them as violent movies.
- On account of. Replace with because.
- Per. In legal and technical documents, per is acceptable. Elsewhere, use according to.
- Plus. Don’t use this word as a conjunction. Use and or in addition.
- The reason is because. Replace with the reason is that.
- Utilize, utilization. Replace with use.
Revise the following sentences to avoid any of the poor expressions discussed above.
- Many companies are limiting the use of personal cell phones in the workplace on account of the jangle of beeps and tunes coming from them.
- A total of 53 percent of employees said that they felt impatient and/or angry when a coworker stops a conversation because of an incoming wireless call.
- A lot of employees said that their No. 1 pet peeve at work was the ringing of cell phones.
- Plus, employers are worried about the drain on productivity.
- More than a third of companies have gotten policies to address the utilization of personal cell phones.
- Companies cited lots of reasons for limiting the use of cell phones on the job.
- Firstly, cell phones in the workplace are noisy. Secondly, they disrupt the work environment. Thirdly, they reduce productivity and etc.
- Employees are totally exasperated at coworkers who leave a cell phone essentially blasting away unanswered.
- Equally as important is the safety issue, as per a recent report.
- Being that employees are driving and conducting business while talking on cell phones, employers are concerned.
- The reason is because employers may be held liable when accidents occur.
- It is not important as to whether the employee is using a personal cell phone.
- It is also considered to be unimportant as to whether the employee is conducting business outside of normal working hours.
- Employers are basically afraid that they will be responsible for injuries and damage caused by employees using cell phones.
- Due to the fact that employers fear all accidents, whether of a serious nature or not, they are limiting cell phone use.
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Solutions
- Many companies are limiting the use of personal cell phones in the workplace on account because of the jangle of beeps and tunes coming from them.
- A total of 53 percent of employees said that they felt impatient and/or and [or or] angry when a coworker stops a conversation because of an incoming wireless call.
- A lot of Many employees said that their No. 1 pet peeve at work was the ringing of cell phones.
- Plus, In addition, employers are worried about the drain on productivity.
- More than a third of companies have gotten enacted [or instituted] policies to address the utilization use of personal cell phones.
- Companies cited lots of many reasons for limiting the use of cell phones on the job.
- Firstly First, cell phones in the workplace are noisy. Secondly, Second, they disrupt the work environment. Thirdly, they reduce productivity and etc.
- Employees are totally exasperated at coworkers who leave a cell phone essentially blasting away unanswered.
- Equally as important is the safety issue, as per according to a recent report.
- Being that Because employees are driving and conducting business while talking on cell phones, employers are concerned.
- The reason is because that employers may be held liable when accidents occur.
- It is not important as to whether the employee is using a personal cell phone.
- It is also considered to be unimportant as to whether the employee is conducting business outside of normal working hours.
- Employers are basically afraid that they will be responsible for injuries and damage caused by employees using cell phones.
- Due to the fact that Because employers fear all accidents, whether of a serious nature or not, they are limiting cell phone use.
Source: Based on “Plague Words and Phrases” <http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/plague.htm>