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Blog Grammar Rules Improve Your Writing Tip #10: Chop away deadwood

Improve Your Writing Tip #10: Chop away deadwood

The ProWritingAid Team

The ProWritingAid Team

ProWritingAid: A grammar guru, style editor, and writing mentor in one package.

Published Jul 30, 2018

Improve your writing

No, we're not talking about the HBO show. Deadwood phrases are wordy ways of saying simple things. We all use them from time to time, even though we shouldn't.

For example, we might write "has the ability to" in place of a simple "can." Or "in regards to" instead of "regarding." These phrases make our writing far less readable, not to mention lengthier.

Some other examples:

  • At this point in time => Now
  • Due to the fact that => Because
  • In order to => To
  • In the event that => If
  • Prior to the start of => Before

You can search for deadwood on your own. Or you can use ProWritingAid's writing improvement software to find it and improve it.

Next writing tip: Improve Your Writing Tip #11: Read your work aloud.

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The ProWritingAid Team

The ProWritingAid Team

ProWritingAid: A grammar guru, style editor, and writing mentor in one package.

The most successful people in the world have coaches. Whatever your level of writing, ProWritingAid will help you achieve new heights. Exceptional writing depends on much more than just correct grammar. You need an editing tool that also highlights style issues and compares your writing to the best writers in your genre. ProWritingAid helps you find the best way to express your ideas.

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