How to Make Your Writing More Concise and Effective
In admission essays, such as personal statements, motivation letters, and statements of purpose, the word count is of essence. Usually, you have to comply with strict constraints on how much you can write.
In this blog post, I would like to talk about strategies to make your writing concise and at the same time more effective.
Strategy #1: Remove filler words
Filler words are words that add nothing of value to your message, words that don't carry your message forward. They are often used in spoken speech but employed in an admissions essay may eat into your word count.
The best policy regarding unnecessary or redundant filler words is to delete them. Filler words include, but are not limited to:
- really
- actually
- as to whether
- at all times
- it is important to mention/note
- just
- even
- that (unless needed for clarity)
Compare, for instance, the following sentences:
This is actually a very interesting dilemma.
vs. This dilemma is interesting.
The second one is not only shorter, but also more effective.
Other unnecessary filler words include:
- kind of
- sort of
- type of
- basically
- for all intents and purposes
- definitely
- generally
- individual
- specific
- particular
Strategy #2: Restructure filler phrases
Sometimes, redundant phrases can be restructured to convey the same meaning but not occupy the same space:
has the ability, is able to - can
in spite of the fact that - despite
in order to - to
with regard to - regarding
all of the - all the
for the purpose of - to + verb
due to the fact - because
as to whether - as to
Strategy #3: Avoid tautologies
Avoid pairs of words that imply each other and therefore simply repeat your point instead if making it clearer. For instance:
- past memories
- false delusion
- various differences
- each individual
- basic fundamentals
- true facts
- important essentials
- future plans
- terrible tragedy
- end result
- final outcome
- past history
- unexpected surprise
- sudden crisis
Strategy #4: Avoid empty qualifiers
Qualifiers include such words as:
- quite
- somehow
- somewhat
- fairly
- absolutely
- totally
- probably
- really
- very
- utterly
- extremely
- considerably
- for the most part
- by and large
and the like.
In spoken speech, they act like 'crutch words,' helping to make it smoother. In admissions essay, however, they weaken your message. This particularly applies to the word very. Very is so overused that it does not do what you want it to do.
So do the words absolutely, completely, definitely, certainly - if you look at the verb that they accompany, you'll often see that the verb already carries the meaning that you want to convey (if it doesn't, change the verb, but do not add the qualifier).
Strategy #5: Avoid overusing to be
Constructions with the word to be -
- be
- am
- are
- is
- was
- were
- will
- could/would be
often indicate passive voice and use more words than necessary. To be often comes with an adjective - look for a verb in that adjective and restructure.
Compare:
Her scores were indicative of a person likely to succeed.
vs. Her scores indicated a person likely to succeed.
The same applies to:
- there
- here
- it is
- there has/have been
Restructure them to use a stronger, more active verb.
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The above six strategies will help you make your writing not only more concise, but also precise and effective.