The world has only so much space. When you write, your job is to use that space carefully. I can offer some quick tips: find the right word and use it; when in doubt, cut it out; edit your work like it was written by someone you don’t like. But in the end, the general principle is simple: if you’ve heard a phrase more than a couple of times, and it isn’t key wording, essential in carrying meaning, or a definitive phrase, try to get rid of it.
While you work on that one, you can get a good start by avoiding “there is/are/was/were,” “it is/was,” “that is/are/were,” and “which is/are.” You can also try to dump what I call “wazzle” (waffling and fuzzy) words, like “actually,” “aspects,” “basically,” “definitely,” “quite,” “really,” “situation,” “truly,” “ultimately,” and “very. ” Actually, these are basically fruity habits, and they can truly go in most situations. “Could,” “should,” and “would” are also famous wazzlers (in case you missed it, these strike-outs illustrate words that can be deleted from the sentence without reducing the meaning: “these fruity habits can go”).
Let me try an analogy. Think of your writing in the same way you think about all the stuff you own. Now think of having a yard sale. What you put into your yard sale is the useless junk that has been hanging around for a long time. At first you feel a little remorse in seeing it all go, but then, with your new, uncluttered world, you feel light, clean, and fresh, just like they say in the soap commercials. Apply this to your writing. Keep the good stuff, and get rid of the useless clutter that’s been cluttering your writing.
Aforementioned = DELETE
A considerable amount of = DELETE OR BE SPECIFIC
A lot of = many, much
A
majority of = most, much of, many
Added bonus = bonus
Advance warning = warning
Advance planning = planning
After all is said and done = DELETE
All across = across
All of a sudden = suddenly
All of these = these
Almost never = seldom
Along the lines of = like
Are such that = DELETE
Are/was/were able to = can OR DELETE
As a matter of fact = in fact OR DELETE
As a means to = to
As a whole = DELETE
As a way to = to
As being a = as OR DELETE
As it truly is = DELETE
As of the moment = DELETE
As the case may be = DELETE
At the conclusion of = after
At all times = always OR DELETE
At first glance = DELETE
At the present time = currently, now
At the same time that = while
At this point in time = now OR DELETE
Based in large part on = based on
Basic necessity = necessity
Basic fundamentals = basics OR fundamentals
Because of the fact of = because of
Being = DELETE
Being that = because
Both of these/them/the = both
Brings to mind = recalls/suggests
But yet = but OR yet
By and large = DELETE
By definition = DELETE
By leaps and bounds = DELETE
By means of = by
By the use of = using
By virtue of [the fact that] = by
Came to a realization = realized/recognized
Came to an abrupt end = end[ed] abruptly
Can be seen as = is OR DELETE
Clearly articulate = articulate
Close scrutiny = scrutiny
Common similarities = similarities
Compare and contrast = compare
Complete stranger = stranger
Completely eliminate = eliminate
Concerning the matter of = about/regarding
Connect[ed] together = connect[ed]
Continue into the future = continue
Core essence = DELETE
Correctional facility = jail
Despite the fact that = although
Did not succeed = failed
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