An introduction to wordy words for the
presentation slideshow that gives the
detailed description on how to avoid
unnecessary redundant words and or
modifiers.
Pages 220-228
ELIMINATING REDUNDANCY
Don’t use double words that work in pairs from
one another.
 Don’t use redundant modifiers that repeat all
or part of the meaning of other words in a
sentence.
 Your language is redundant when you use
words or phrases that unnecessarily repeat
towards in the sentence.

REDUNDANCY EXAMPLES
Double words
Redundant: The evil and nasty villain in the black coat knocked the tasty and delicious ice cream
out of the crying child's hand.
Concise: The devious villain in the black coat knocked the chocolate ice cream out of the crying
child's hand.
Redundant Modifiers
Redundant: A farmer growing pumpkins must be aware of these things. Pumpkins are
orange in color, must have a smooth surface in touch, and must weigh about 10-20
pounds in weight.
Concise: A farmer growing pumpkins must be aware of these things. Pumpkins are
orange, must have a smooth surface, and must weigh about 10-20 pounds.
COMMON REDUNDANCY
Double Words
Advice and counsel
Agreeable and satisfactory
Any and all
Assist and help
Basic and fundamental
Due and payable
Each and every
Fair and equitable
Fair and reasonable
Full and complete
Help and benefit
Hope and trust
Null and void
Opinion and belief
True and accurate
Redundant modifiers
Instead of these
words……
Absolutely essential
Absolutely free
Circle around
Continue on
Decrease down
End result
Free gift
Future plans
Mail out
Past history
Past memories
Repeat again
Use these concise
alternatives
Essential
Free
Circle
Continue
Decrease
Result
Gift
Plans
Mail
History
Memories
repeat
ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY WORDS

Readers want to read technical documents as
quickly as possible.
 So
eliminate any words not necessary to convey
your message.

For instance, instead of stating “have the ability
to,” “have the capability to,” “has the capacity
for,” or “has the opportunity to,” state “can.”
ELIMINATING EXAMPLES

Sample:
 Wordy:
It should be pointed out that there are three
candidates whom our organization without further
delay will endorse, despite the fact that we are not
in a position to contribute any money to their
campaigns.
 Concise: Our organization will now endorse three
candidates although we cannot contribute any
money to their campaigns.
COMMONLY USED PHRASES THAT
YOU CAN USUALLY DELETE
as a matter of fact
 I believe
 I hope
 in my opinion
 in other words
 I should point out that
 I think
 it is essential
 it is evident

It is interesting to note
that
 It should be noted
that
 Thanking you in
advance
 The fact that
 There are
 There is
 To the extent that

USE SIMPLE WORDS

When you want to impress your reader, resist
the temptation to use words that you don’t
normally use.
 Words

that you rarely use when talking
Your readers will prefer words that are more
familiar.
SIMPLE WORDS EXAMPLES

Less-familiar words




Pursuant to our conversation on December 15.
Your firm’s response purports to explain why you deviated from the grant
guidelines.
The accounting office will endeavor to procure our compensation
checks.
Simple, familiar words



As we discussed on December 15.
Your firm attempts to explain why you deviated from the grant
guidelines.
The accounting office will try to find our paychecks.
COMMONLY USED “FANCY” WORDS

“Fancy” words

Accumulate

Apparent

Ascertain

Cognizant

Commence

Commitment

Deem

Endeavor

Facilitate

Herewith is

Indebtedness

Initiate

Locality

Optimum

Proceed

Procure

Pursuant to

Subsequent to

Sufficient

Terminate

utilize

Simple Words

Gather

Clear

Learn, find out

Know

Begin, start

Promise

Consider

Try

Help, ease

Here is

Debt

Begin

Place

Best, most

Go

Buy, get

As

After, next, later

Enough

End

Use
PARAGRAPH

Although the average egg looks innocent enough, it can harbor dangerous
food borne bacteria. Salmonella enteritis is the bacteria that can invade
eggs in several ways. It is not passed hen to hen but usually from rodent
droppings to chickens. Egg shells can be contaminated by fecal matter. It
comes from the intestines and feces of infected animals including chickens.
It can be passed to the egg shell when the chickens sit on the eggs.
Salmonellosis (an infection caused by salmonella bacteria) can also be
passed to eggs when the ovaries of chickens silently harbor the salmonella
bacteria. Then, the eggs are contaminated while inside the chicken, before
the shells are even formed. Because of the recent alarm about egg recalls,
the public has learned that USDA inspectors don’t check hen houses or look
into farms’ salmonella prevention programs, such as inoculation. Recent
inspections of egg farms have brought attention to the numerous rodent
holes in the chicken farms. Rodent holes are a sign that mice have entered
the buildings and infecting hens with salmonella. Eggs are washed and
disinfected to deal with the dirt and germs on the shells. Many farmers
inoculate the hens, but salmonella contamination in eggs is not prevented
entirely by this method.
PARAGRAPH EDITED

Eggs can harbor dangerous food borne bacteria such as salmonella.
Salmonella forms in the intestines and feces of infected animals including
chickens. Salmonellosis (an infection caused by salmonella) can
contaminate eggs when the egg shell comes in contact with the fecal matter
of rodents and chickens. It can also be passed to eggs inside the ovaries of
an infected chicken before the shell is formed. The public has been made
aware of inspections by the USDA due to recent egg recalls. USDA
inspectors do not check hen houses, or the farms’ salmonella prevention
programs such as inoculations. Egg inspections have brought attention to
numerous rodent holes on the farms. Farmers prevent most contamination
by washing and disinfecting eggs, as well as inoculating the hens.
SOURCE

Sims, Brenda. Technical Communications.
Kendall Hunt publishing company, 220-228.
Print.