Writing and Editing Services
  Rosebud Communications
  • Home
  • About
  • Projects
    • Clients
  • Rose's Red Pen Blog
  • A Rose in Oz Blog
  • Photos Down Under
  • Contact

Cutting for Length

5/7/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture

I worked with a writer once to cut nearly 300 words from a 700-word script. Few things are worse for writers than finishing a piece and realizing it’s too long. Where to start cutting? Here are some ideas:

  • Look at introductory clauses. They are often wordy. For example: “at the current time” can be shortened to “now” or deleted altogether if the audience can assume the writer’s talking about the present.
  • Examine verbs, particularly “-ing” constructions. Can you trim or replace them with shorter, more active verbs? Examples: “took off running” can be shortened to “ran” AND “conducted an analysis of” can become “analyzed.” 
  • Check for multiple adjectives and adverbs. Can you cut one or find a different word that conveys both meanings? For example, instead of describing a “rundown, deteriorating building,” use the single adjective “ramshackle” instead.
Below are some wordy phrases and ways to fix them:
Picture
Here’s a more complete list of solutions to wordy phrases. Just about every piece of writing can be improved by some judicious pruning.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Books
    Dialogue
    Editing
    Grammar
    Mechanics
    Punctuation
    Usage
    Verbs
    Writing

    Author

    Rose Ciccarelli offers writing and editing services through Rosebud Communications.

    Archives

    July 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Camp Pinewood YMCA, ChrisL_AK, sylvrilyn, Banjo Brown, OC Always, CapCase, John-Morgan, quinn.anya, poppet with a camera, quinn.anya, Moyan_Brenn, pierre bédat, iansvendsplass, Philippe Put, Hackley Public Library, mrhayata, amslerPIX, romana klee, n_sapiens, perpetualplum, Images_of_Money, trophygeek, fontplaydotcom, Thomas Leth-Olsen, reynermedia, U.S. Army Europe Images