How to Reduce Word Count
Whether you are over your essay word limit or just want tighter prose, these 15 strategies will help you reduce word count while maintaining — or improving — the quality of your writing.
1. Cut Filler Words
Words like very, really, just, actually, and basically rarely add meaning. Delete them. Use our Filler Word Checker to find them automatically.
2. Replace Wordy Phrases
| Wordy (cut these) | Concise (use these) |
|---|---|
| in order to | to |
| due to the fact that | because |
| at the present time | now |
| in the event that | if |
| for the purpose of | for / to |
| a large number of | many |
| has the ability to | can |
| in spite of the fact that | although / despite |
| it is important to note that | (delete — just state the point) |
| the reason is because | because |
3. Eliminate Redundancies
Phrases like "free gift", "advance planning", "end result", "past history", and "basic fundamentals" say the same thing twice. Keep one word.
4. Convert Passive to Active Voice
"The report was written by the team" (8 words) → "The team wrote the report" (6 words). Active voice is shorter and clearer. Use our Passive Voice Checker.
5. Remove "That" Where Possible
"She said that she would come" — the word "that" is often optional. Read the sentence without it; if it still makes sense, delete it.
6. Use Stronger Verbs
"He made a decision" (4 words) → "He decided" (2 words). Strong verbs eliminate the need for helper words.
7. Cut Unnecessary Adverbs
"She ran quickly" → "She sprinted." A precise verb beats a weak verb plus adverb. Use our Adverb Checker to identify overused adverbs.
8. Combine Short Sentences
"The study was extensive. It covered three years." → "The three-year study was extensive." Merging related short sentences saves words.
9. Remove Throat-Clearing Openers
Delete opening phrases like "It is interesting to note that", "It should be pointed out that", and "As a matter of fact". Just state the point directly.
10. Use Contractions (Where Appropriate)
In informal writing, "don't", "can't", "it's" save a word each. Not appropriate for formal academic writing, but fine for blogs and casual content.
11. Replace Clichés With Direct Language
Clichés like "at the end of the day" and "the bottom line is" waste words. Say what you mean directly. Use our Cliché Finder.
12. Delete Obvious Statements
"It goes without saying that..." — if it goes without saying, don't say it. Cut statements that tell the reader what they already know.
13. Shorten Lists
"apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, and pears" — if you are over the word limit, consider "various fruits" or pick the two most relevant examples.
14. Cut Repeated Points
Read your text for ideas that appear in more than one place. If you have made a point in paragraph 2, you do not need to make it again in paragraph 6.
15. Read Aloud
Reading aloud reveals padding and awkward phrasing that your eyes skip over. If you stumble on a sentence, it probably needs trimming.
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