Most writers assume that adding words adds clarity. It feels logical. If one sentence explains something, then two sentences should explain it even better. If a phrase is good, a longer phrase should be even more precise. Unfortunately, writing rarely works that way.
In fact, extra words often have the opposite effect. They slow readers down, bury important information, and dilute the impact of what you're trying to say. The more unnecessary words a sentence contains, the harder readers must work to find the point. Consider this example from Little Red Riding Hood:
Little Red Riding Hood began to slowly walk down the path through the forest in order to visit her grandmother.
Nothing is technically wrong with the sentence. The reader understands what is happening. However, several words are doing very little work. A tighter version might read:
Little Red Riding Hood walked down the forest path toward her grandmother's cottage.
The second sentence contains fewer words but creates a clearer image. The action is immediate, and the destination is obvious.
Why Writers Add Extra Words
Most wordiness comes from habit rather than intention. Writers often add phrases that feel natural while drafting but contribute little meaning. Some common offenders include:
- began to
- started to
- in order to
- due to the fact that
- at this point in time
- in the process of
- was able to
These phrases are not always wrong. The problem is that they are frequently unnecessary. Consider another example:
Little Red Riding Hood was able to see the wolf standing near the path.
A stronger version is simply:
The wolf stood beside the path.
Readers understand that if Little Red Riding Hood notices the wolf, she can see him. The extra phrase adds words without adding value.
Every Word Should Earn Its Place
One useful editing question is: "If I remove this word, does the meaning change?" If the answer is no, the word may not be needed. Take these two examples:
- The wolf nodded his head.
- The Wolf nodded.
What else would the wolf nod?
Which of these two examples is easier to read:
- The cottage was completely surrounded on all sides by trees.
- The cottage was surrounded by trees.
Surrounded already implies all sides, so why tell readers what they already know.
Wordiness Often Hides the Action
Many wordy sentences bury the most important information beneath layers of extra language. Consider these versions:
- Little Red Riding Hood made the decision to open the cottage door.
- Little Red Riding Hood opened the cottage door.
The action is opening the door, and the second sentence reaches the action immediately and eliminates unnecessary wording.
Readers naturally fill in gaps. They understand basic cause and effect. They don't need every step explained. If Little Red Riding Hood walks to her grandmother's house, readers assume she traveled there. If she opens the door, readers assume she reached for the handle. If she screams, readers assume she is frightened. Writing becomes stronger when readers are allowed to participate instead of receiving a detailed report of every tiny action.
A Quick Editing Exercise
Open a chapter of your manuscript and search for phrases such as:
- began to
- started to
- in order to
- was able to
- made the decision to
- due to the fact that
Review each occurrence individually. Ask yourself whether the phrase adds meaning or simply adds words. You will often discover that removing a few unnecessary words makes the sentence stronger, clearer, and easier to read.
Strong writing is not about using fewer words at all costs. Sometimes a longer sentence is exactly what a scene needs. The goal is not brevity, it's precision. Every word should contribute something useful. When words stop carrying meaning, they become clutter. And clutter makes readers work harder than they should. The next time you edit, remember that readers are looking for your message, not your word count. Sometimes the clearest sentence is also the shortest one.