![]() ![]() Writing that utilizes an active voice tends to use fewer words than writing that uses a passive voice. The result is shorter, more direct, and easier to understand. Getting rid of the prepositional phrases forces you to tighten up the sentence. Edited: Changing careers makes many people anxious.Original: For many people, the reality of an entry into a new area of employment is cause for a host of anxieties.Too many prepositional phrases can be a sign of excessive wording. This is yet another example of separating how we speak from how we should write. Edited: We knew he was active in the 1960s and 1970s.Įliminate unnecessary prepositional phrases.Original: We knew that he was active in the 1960s and the 1970s.An example is in the sentence you just read-the writer instinctively put that before we and then realized it was unnecessary. That is another common word we use, which may be unnecessary in some sentences. We often use the while speaking, but in writing, there are times when the can be removed without changing your sentence’s meaning. Trying to build up your argument not only adds more words but may also weaken it, especially if you’re using unnecessary words. We could’ve built up that last sentence by talking about the different styles of communication or the pros and cons of being direct, but instead, we got to the point. The best arguments are clear and direct, and your paper should strive to be the same. For example, if you’re writing a paper about George Washington’s policy positions, you don’t need to mention his personal life unless it directly impacted his political career. 2Įliminate unnecessary or ancillary informationįind any details that don’t serve your argument and delete them. ![]() If you find yourself reiterating the same point in slightly different language, choose the one that is written more clearly and eliminate the other. If your paper has to do with climate change and you mention the rate at which the polar ice caps are melting twice, delete the second mention (unless it’s related to a separate point you’re trying to make). Look to see if you’ve repeated any information in your paper, and delete any redundant points. Instead, you want to find small but significant ways to bring down your word count. When trying to reduce word count it’s important to use a scalpel and not an axe-meaning you don’t want to delete large portions of your paper to ensure you’re below the maximum word count. Your main priority is making sure your argument and writing are strong, and you may find that reaching your word count is made easier by doing just that. The writer can become more focused on the number of words than on getting their point across clearly and concisely. One of the biggest reasons some students run into problems with word count requirements is that they may be too focused on it. A strong writer can do this without using unnecessary words to reach the minimum word count, while also avoiding rambling and exceeding the maximum word count. Word counts exist for many reasons-print publications, for example, have them to ensure stories can fit in a defined space in a newspaper, magazine, or book.īut when it comes to research papers and essays, word counts are used to level the playing field: Each student has the same number of words to get their point across. Word count is the number of words in a writing sample or document. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly What is word count? ![]()
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