1. are able to
Example: We are able to wash dishes, mow lawns, or do any of your other household tasks.
Revised: We can wash dishes, mow lawns, or do any of your other household tasks.
When you cut these useless words, you avoid using a “to be” verb (“are”) and a preposition (“to”). They bloat your writing. Use them only when they’re absolutely necessary.
2. as well as
Example: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate nutrition guide includes grains, vegetables, and fruit, as well as protein.
Revised: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate nutrition guide includes grains, vegetables, fruit, and protein.
People tend to use “as well as” in favor of “too” or “also,” especially if they’ve already used them, as a way to vary their word choices. They’re good alternatives, but you can also insert an “and” every now and then for better variety.
3. along with
Example: High winds and frigid temperatures, along with snow and ice, make for hazardous winter driving conditions.
Revised: High winds, frigid temperatures, and snow and ice create hazardous winter driving conditions.
Replace these useless words with plain old “and.”
4. there are/there is
Example: There are several action movies released during the summer.
Revised: Several action movies are released during the summer.
In many cases, you can trim these seemingly harmless phrases entirely.
5. in order to
Example: In order to finish processing your purchase, we need your payment information.
Revised: To finish processing your purchase, we need your payment information.
Trim the first few words to the essential: “to.”
Read more about cutting Filler Words in Your Speech at Ivypanda.
Quotes
“The best sentence? The shortest.” ~ Anatole France
“If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.” ~ George Orwell
Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.
Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com
