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<h3>Be Your Own Editor: Phrases that Do not Belong in Your Writing</h3>
 
Too often in today\'s business writing, we scatter our pages with lengthy, awkward phrases that bog down our ideas and turn our reader away. In this article, you will find three types of phrases that belong on your \"no fly\" list-and examples of how to cut and slash them to reasonable size. 
 
1. Wordy Phrases. Many compound phrases do not compound meaning. They are either repetitive or have one-word equivalents. Frequently, \"legalistic\" language is an offender; phrases that use too many relative pronouns (who, that, which) cause clutter and confuse your reader. Even articles can be excessive (the word \"the\" wears out quickly when used excessively in a single sentence). 
 
Poor 
this is to inform you that we have 
for the sum of 
in the event that 
on the occasion of 
prior to the start of 
a small number of 
during the time that 
due to the fact that 
in the same way 
at an early date 
remember the fact that 
not in a position 
most of the time 
in view of the fact that 
until such time when 
we are of the opinion that 
with reference to 
without further delay 
as a result of 
for the month of December 
 
Improved 
we have 
for 
if 
on 
before 
few 
while 
because 
similarly 
soon 
remember 
unable 
unusually 
since 
when 
we believe 
about/regarding 
now/immediately 
because 
for December 
 
2. Infinitive Substitutes. Whenever a phrase substitutes for an infinitive (the verb form with \"to\" in front of it, giving it no particular tense, person, or subject), the sentence will be longer, and your meaning will be harder to get. Using the infinitive gets to the point sooner and makes your purpose clearer. 
 
Poor 
In order to be a successful writer, hard work is necessary. 
He went to the library for the purpose of studying. 
The employer increased the salaries so that he could improve morale. 
 
Improved 
Hard work is necessary to be a successful writer. 
He went to the library to study. 
The employer increased salaries to improve morale. 
 
3. Obsolete Phrases. Obsolete phrases are simply out-of-date phrases. They contribute to tiresome sentences. They increase sentence length. They come between you and the reader. Need any more reasons to get rid of them? The best way to figure out whether your phrasing is obsolete is to ask yourself, \"Would I say it this way if I were talking to this person face to face?\" If the answer is no, get out your red pen and find a better way to say it. 
 
Obsolete				 
beg to state 
as per your communication 
hoping to hear from you 
	soon, we remain 
in response to same 
yours of the 12th 
awaiting your reply, we are 
in due course 
permit me to say that 
we are in receipt of 
pursuant to 
in closing, I\'d like to say 
accordance to our records 
attach herewith is 
kindly advice 
this will acknowledge 
contents duly noted 
as stated above 
 
Up-to-Date 
(omit) 
as in your e-mail/phone call/letter 
(omit) 
in response 
your e-mail of June 12 
(omit) 
today; tomorrow (or a specific time and date) 
(permission is not necessary; just say what you wish) 
we have received 
(omit) 
(omit) 
we find 
here is 
please let us know 
thank you for 
followed in every detail 
as I have said 
 
By getting rid of long, awkward phrases, you clear the way for better understanding between you and your reader-so be bold and let the red ink fly. 
Author Info
 
Courtland L. Bovee, one of America\'s leading instructors in clear and 
effective communication, co-authors several leading college-level texts 
with John V. Thill, a prominent communications consultant and current 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Communication 
Strategies. Their website, Business Communication Headline News, the #1 
business communication site on the web, is at http://www.businesscommunicationheadlinenews 
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