Contents:
Avoiding unnecessary there is, there are, it is, it seems constructions
Avoiding wordy noun forms
Using simple grammatical structures will often strengthen your sentences considerably.
Deleting unnecessary words and replacing five words with one tightens the sentence and makes it easier to read.
Combining two sentences produces one concise sentence.
Avoiding unnecessary there is, there are, it is, it seems constructions
In general, do not use there is, there are, it is, it seems, or similar phrases unless you are introducing an idea to give it extra emphasis:
It is for us, the living, to ensure that We the People shall become the powerful.
—JUNE JORDAN, “Inside America”
Here, it is slows down the opening of the sentence and sets up a formal rhythm that emphasizes what follows. Often, however, writers merely overuse expletives. Note how the following sentences are strengthened by deleting the expletives:
Avoiding wordy noun forms
Forming nouns from verbs, a process sometimes called nominalization, can help make prose more concise—
The original sentence sounds pretentious, and the noun phrases cloud the message. In contrast, the edited version is clear and forceful.