Take Away One Word Or Two

Unlocking Eloquence: The Art of Subtraction in Writing

In the realm of writing, it’s often said that less is more. The ability to convey profound ideas with brevity and precision is a hallmark of skilled writers. "Take away one word or two" encapsulates this philosophy, urging us to scrutinize our prose and eliminate unnecessary verbiage. This isn't about dumbing down our message; instead, it's about enhancing clarity, impact, and overall readability. By consciously reducing word count, we can craft sentences that resonate more deeply, leaving a lasting impression on our audience. This article explores the concept of subtracting words to amplify your writing, providing techniques, examples, and insights into why this practice is essential for effective communication.

Why "Take Away One Word or Two" Matters

At its core, the principle of "take away one word or two" is about maximizing efficiency in writing. Here's why it's so important:

• Clarity: Every unnecessary word dilutes the core message. By eliminating redundancy, you sharpen focus and ensure that your readers grasp the intended meaning quickly and easily.
• Impact: Concise writing has more punch. When every word counts, your message carries greater weight and resonates more powerfully.
• Readability: Shorter sentences and paragraphs are easier to digest. By streamlining your prose, you make it more accessible and engaging for a wider audience.
• Professionalism: Overly verbose writing can come across as amateurish or unfocused. Concise writing, on the other hand, conveys competence and respect for the reader's time.
• SEO Benefits: In the context of online content, conciseness can also improve search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines favor content that is easy to read and understand, rewarding it with higher rankings.

In essence, learning to "take away one word or two" is about becoming a more effective communicator. It's a skill that benefits writers in all fields, from journalism and marketing to academic writing and creative fiction.

Techniques for Subtracting Words

So, how do you actually go about implementing this principle? Here are some practical techniques to help you identify and eliminate unnecessary words:

1. Identify Redundancies: Redundancy is the most common form of unnecessary verbiage. It occurs when you repeat the same idea using different words.

   • Examples:

     • "Completely finish" (Finish implies completion)
     • "Past history" (History is inherently in the past)
     • "Personal opinion" (Opinion is personal by definition)
     • "Absolutely essential" (Essential means absolute)
     • "Added bonus" (Bonuses are always additions)

2. Eliminate Empty Phrases: Many phrases add little or no value to a sentence. These phrases often serve as fillers, padding out the word count without contributing to the meaning.

   • Examples:

     • "In order to" (Use "to" instead)
     • "Due to the fact that" (Use "because")
     • "In the event that" (Use "if")
     • "With regard to" (Use "about")
     • "It is important to note that" (Often unnecessary; state the point directly)
     • "As a matter of fact" (Often unnecessary; state the fact directly)
     • "There is/are" (Can often be rephrased for greater conciseness)

3. Replace Weak Verbs with Stronger Ones: Weak verbs (e.g., "is," "are," "was," "were," "have," "has") often require extra words to convey the intended meaning. Stronger verbs can communicate the same idea more directly.

   • Examples:

     • "The company is in a state of decline" (Better: "The company is declining")
     • "She gave a presentation" (Better: "She presented")
     • "He made a decision" (Better: "He decided")
     • "They had a discussion" (Better: "They discussed")
     • "The report is indicative of a problem" (Better: "The report indicates a problem")

4. Reduce Adjective and Adverb Overuse: While adjectives and adverbs can add detail and nuance, they are often overused. Ask yourself whether each adjective and adverb is truly necessary to convey your intended meaning.

   • Examples:

     • "The brightly shining sun" (Better: "The shining sun" or even just "The sun")
     • "He spoke very loudly" (Better: "He shouted")
     • "She walked slowly and deliberately" (Better: "She sauntered")
     • "Completely unique" (Better: "Unique" - it's already complete in its definition)

5. Use Active Voice Instead of Passive Voice: Passive voice often requires more words than active voice and can make sentences sound convoluted.

   • Examples:

     • "The ball was thrown by the boy" (Passive)
     • "The boy threw the ball" (Active - more concise and direct)
     • "The report was written by the committee" (Passive)
     • "The committee wrote the report" (Active)

6. Combine Sentences: Sometimes, two or more short sentences can be combined into a single, more concise sentence.

   • Example:

     • "The dog barked. It was a loud bark." (Separate sentences)
     • "The dog barked loudly." (Combined into a single sentence)
     • "She studied diligently. She passed the exam." (Separate sentences)
     • "She studied diligently and passed the exam." (Combined into a single sentence)

7. Cut the Fluff: Be ruthless in cutting out any words or phrases that don't contribute directly to the meaning of your sentence. This may involve rewording entire sentences or paragraphs to make them more concise.

   • Example:

     • "It is my belief that we should consider all options." (Wordy and indirect)
     • "We should consider all options." (Concise and direct)
     • "In today's modern world, there are many challenges that we face." (Fluffy and vague)
     • "Today, we face many challenges." (More concise and direct)

Examples of "Take Away One Word or Two" in Action

Let's look at some more extended examples of how these techniques can be applied to improve writing:

Example 1: Original Sentence: "Due to the fact that the weather was inclement, the outdoor concert was completely cancelled."

• Analysis: "Due to the fact that" can be replaced with "because." "Completely cancelled" is redundant.
• Revised Sentence: "Because the weather was inclement, the outdoor concert was cancelled." (Reduced from 17 words to 12)

Example 2: Original Sentence: "It is important to note that the research findings are indicative of a potential problem with the manufacturing process."

• Analysis: "It is important to note that" is often unnecessary. "Are indicative of" can be replaced with "indicate." "Potential problem" can be simplified to "problem".
• Revised Sentence: "The research findings indicate a problem with the manufacturing process." (Reduced from 20 words to 12)

Example 3: Original Sentence: "The manager gave a presentation that was very informative and covered all of the key aspects of the new marketing strategy."

• Analysis: "Gave a presentation" can be replaced with "presented." "Very informative" can be simplified to "informative." "All of the key aspects" can be shortened to "the key aspects".
• Revised Sentence: "The manager presented an informative overview of the key aspects of the new marketing strategy." (Reduced from 24 words to 17)

Example 4: Original Paragraph: "In the event that you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you are entitled to receive a full refund. We believe that it is essential to ensure that all of our customers are completely happy with their shopping experience."

• Analysis: "In the event that" can be replaced with "if." "Completely satisfied" can be simplified to "satisfied." "It is essential to ensure that" can be shortened to "we must ensure". "Completely happy" can be shortened to "happy."
• Revised Paragraph: "If you are not satisfied with your purchase, you are entitled to a full refund. We must ensure that all of our customers are happy with their shopping experience." (Significantly more concise and direct)

The Importance of Context

While "take away one word or two" is a valuable principle, it's important to apply it judiciously. Context matters. In some cases, adding detail and nuance may be necessary to convey your intended meaning or to create a specific tone or effect.

• Creative Writing: In creative writing, such as poetry or fiction, a certain degree of wordiness may be desirable to create a particular rhythm or mood.
• Technical Writing: In technical writing, clarity and precision are paramount. While conciseness is still important, it should not come at the expense of accuracy or completeness.
• Audience: Consider your audience when deciding how concise to be. A highly specialized audience may appreciate more technical jargon and detail, while a general audience may prefer simpler language and shorter sentences.

The key is to strike a balance between conciseness and clarity, ensuring that your writing is both efficient and effective.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

As you strive to "take away one word or two," be aware of these common pitfalls:

• Over-Simplification: Don't sacrifice clarity for the sake of brevity. Make sure your sentences still convey the intended meaning accurately.
• Loss of Nuance: Be careful not to eliminate words that add subtle shades of meaning or emotional impact.
• Monotony: Overly concise writing can become monotonous. Vary your sentence structure and length to keep your readers engaged.
• Sounding Abrupt: Eliminating too many words can make your writing sound abrupt or even rude. Strive for a conversational tone that is both concise and polite.

The Editing Process: Where the Magic Happens

The principle of "take away one word or two" is best applied during the editing process. After you've finished writing a first draft, take the time to carefully review your work, looking for opportunities to streamline your prose.

• Read Aloud: Reading your writing aloud can help you identify awkward phrasing and unnecessary words.
• Seek Feedback: Ask a trusted colleague or friend to review your work and provide feedback on its clarity and conciseness.
• Use Editing Tools: There are a variety of online editing tools that can help you identify redundancies, weak verbs, and other areas for improvement.
• Take Breaks: Don't try to edit your entire document in one sitting. Take breaks to refresh your mind and gain a fresh perspective.

Conclusion

The ability to "take away one word or two" is a powerful skill that can transform your writing from mediocre to masterful. By consciously eliminating unnecessary verbiage, you can enhance clarity, impact, and readability, making your message more compelling and engaging for your audience. While it requires practice and attention to detail, the effort is well worth it. So, embrace the art of subtraction, and unlock the full potential of your writing. Remember, less is often more, and the most powerful messages are often the most concise.