Why Wordiness Is a Second Language Problem
Common Wordy Patterns and Their Slim Equivalents
• Due to the fact that → because
• In spite of the fact that → although
• At this point in time → now
• In the event that → if
• With reference to → about / regarding
• In the near future → soon
• Completely finish (you can't partially finish)
• End result ('result' implies 'end')
• Past history ('history' is past by definition)
• Future plans ('plans' are future by definition)
• To make a decision → to decide
• To give a presentation → to present
• To offer a suggestion → to suggest
• Have an impact on → impact / affect
• Provide assistance to → assist
• Reach an agreement → agree
Conciseness Principles
Word Economy
Every word should earn its place — teach students to question each phrase
Verb Power
Strong verbs ('decide') outperform weak verb + noun constructions ('make a decision') every time
Redundancy Hunt
Redundant pairs and circular phrases are the lowest-hanging editing fruit
Teacher Tip
“Give a student a 200-word sample (from their own writing or a business text) and set a target: get it under 140 words without losing any information. The constraint forces editing decisions that passive comprehension of 'be concise' never would. Count the words together — the game element is motivating.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is conciseness always appropriate?
No — legal documents, academic papers, and political texts sometimes use length deliberately for precision or rhetorical effect. Teach genre sensitivity: 'In a client email, concise. In a legal contract, complete. In an academic argument, precisely detailed.' The principle changes with context.
How do I teach without making students afraid to write?
Never comment on wordiness in first drafts. Keep the editing and concision focus for revision stage. If you correct 'due to the fact that' in every sentence of a first draft, students stop writing spontaneously and focus only on safe constructions.
What's the most common source of wordiness in ESL writing?
Nominalization combined with weak verbs: 'to make a consideration of' instead of 'to consider,' 'to perform an analysis of' instead of 'to analyse.' Teaching students to prefer strong verb forms over noun-heavy constructions is the most impactful single concision lesson.