Business writing should be informative and concise. Avoid words that add no meaning.
By Andrew D. Miles
| Say | Don’t say | Reason |
| The show will last one week | The show will last for a period of one week | A week is always a period. |
| Facebook have lost subscribers. | Facebook, the social media company, have lost subscribers. | Everybody knows Facebook is a social medium. |
| We will hand out gifts. | We will hand out free gifts. | All gifts are free! |
| Please provide your opinion. | Please provide your personal opinion. | Opinions are personal, results are final and large is in size, unless otherwise stated. |
| The result was positive. | The final result was positive. | |
| The large building was damaged. | The large-sized building was damaged. |
Why should I eliminate empty words?
- Saves time: Readers appreciate direct writing. They’ll understand you faster!
- Looks professional: Concise writing shows you’re confident and know what you’re talking about.
- Reduces confusion: Fewer words means less chance of your message getting misunderstood.
- Makes it stronger: Removing unnecessary expressions makes your writing stronger and more effective.
Your sentences are like trains hoping to reach destination on time. Why attach empty wagons? They will only add weight and slow you down.
Read Andrew’s books on how to improve your business English here: www.andymiles.com