1. That
   If the sentence reads okay without it, omit it.      

   I think that yogurt is delicious.

   I think yogurt is delicious.

2. There is

Get to the point. A sentence beginning with “there is” is a weak sentence.

There is only one cup of yogurt left.

Only one cup of yogurt is left.

3. Adverbs

 Do you need it to get your point across?

I am madly in love with yogurt.

I am in love with yogurt.

4. Doublets

 Cease and desist? Really?

I really and truly love that yogurt.

I really love that yogurt.

(Ignoring the preceding tip, of course.)

5. Or not

 I don’t care whether you think you need it — you don’t.

I don’t know whether or not I love her as much as I love yogurt.

I don’t know whether I love her as much as I love yogurt.

6. Kinds of

Don’t artificially limit your writing when it’s already done for you.

I like some kinds of yogurt.

I like some yogurt.

7. For all intents and purposes

For all intents and purposes, yogurt has become my primary food group.

Yogurt has become my primary food group.

“All intensive purposes” is right out.

8.   Generally speaking

This is a classic example of weasel language.

Generally speaking, spoiled yogurt is not yummy.

Spoiled yogurt is not yummy.

9. Phrases that can be turned into single words

Omit needless words.
 

Yogurt with strawberry chunks in it is my favorite.

Strawberry yogurt is my favorite.

10. It is, there are

These and similar phrases only stand in the way of your point.

It is my wife who picks out the flavors.

My wife picks out the flavors.

11. The fact that

These three meaningless words are the quickest way to turn a perfectly active voice to a passive one.

The fact that I don’t get to pick the yogurt is cause for concern.

I don’t like not getting to pick the yogurt.

12. At this point in time

Wow, you’ve managed to cram one word of meaning into five.

At this point in time, we’re flush with yogurt.

We’re flush with yogurt now.

13. With regards to

“Regarding” will fit the bill quite nicely.

With regards to your yogurt obsession, we need to cut back on your culture intake.

Regarding your yogurt obsession, we need to cut back on your culture intake.

14. Has the ability to

“Can.”

Yogurt has the ability to wreck a marriage.

Yogurt can wreck a marriage.

15. It could happen that

“May.”

It could happen that she leaves me, solely because I love yogurt.

She may leave me, solely because I love yogurt.

16. It goes without saying

Well, it should have.

It goes without saying that you should never love yogurt more than your wife.

You should never love yogurt more than your wife.

 

This article was written by John Roach http://prowritingtips.com John is a writer and copy editor. You can follow him on twitter at @johnwroachiii. To see more posts click here

Related Posts

• The 4 most destructive writing rules
• 7 software programs and services for writing
• How do you keep your readers reading?
• The 7 worst ways to start your novel
• What copyeditors are and aren’t