129 Deadwood Phrases that Kill Good Writing

Reduce the word count and create more space by pruning dead wood phrases, such as:

1. a majority of – most
2. a sufficient amount of – enough
3. according to our data – we find
4. accordingly – so
5. accordingly – therefore, so
6. add an additional –
7. added – bonus
8. addressees – you
9. advance – planning
10. advance – warning
11. affirmative – yes
12. after the conclusion of –
13. aid and – abet
14. all-time – record
15. along the lines of – like
16. annual – anniversary
17. anonymous – stranger
18. armed – gunman
19. as a matter of course –
20. as a matter of fact –
21. as a means of – to
22. as is the case – as is true
23. as prescribed by in – under
24. ascertain the location of – find
25. assist, assistance aid – help
26. at a later date – later
27. at such time as – when
28. at the present time – now
29. at the present time – now
30. at this point in time – now
31. be deficient in – lack
32. be in a position to – can, be able
33. by a factor of two – two times, double, twice
34. by means of –
35. come to a conclusion – conclude
36. commence begin – start
37. constitutes forms – makes up
38. continue on –
39. current trend –
40. depreciate in value –
41. despite the fact that – although
42. due to the fact that – because
43. during the time that – while
44. equally as well – as well, equally well
45. facilitate – help
46. fewer in number – fewer
47. for the purpose of – for
48. for the purpose of to – for
49. for the reason that – because
50. for this reason – thus, therefore
51. give consideration to – consider, examine
52. give indication of – show, indicate, suggest
53. happens – to be – am/is/are
54. has been proved to be – is
55. heretofore until – now
56. if conditions are such that – if
57. implement start – carry out
58. in a number of – several, many
59. in accordance with – under
60. in all cases – always
61. in case – if
62. in close proximity to – near
63. in excess of – more than
64. in fact
65. in large measure – largely
66. in many cases – often
67. in most cases – usually
68. in my opinion
69. in no case – never
70. in order – to
71. in order that – so that
72. in order to – to
73. in order to – to
74. in some cases – sometimes
75. in terms of –
76. in the amount of – for
77. in the case of – for
78. In the event of – if
79. in the event that – if
80. in the event that – if
81. in the field of –
82. in the near future – soon
83. in the neighborhood of – near, about, nearly
84. in the vicinity of – near
85. in this case – here
86. in view of the fact that – because, since
87. initiate begin – start
88. is capable of – can
89. is found to be –
90. is in a position to – can
91. it has been found that
92. it has long been known that
93. it is a fact that
94. it is evident that
95. it is interesting to note that – note that
96. it is noted that
97. it is our opinion that – we think
98. it is possible that – perhaps
99. it is well known that –
100. it may be said that –
101. make inquiry regarding – ask about, inquire about
102. manner in which – how
103. not with standing the fact that – although
104. obtain get – gain
105. on a monthly basis – monthly
106. on the basis of – from, because, by
107. on the order of – about, approximately
108. pertaining to of – about
109. present in greater abundance – more abundant
110. prior to – before
111. provide – give
112. provided that – if
113. put an end to – end
114. reach a conclusion – conclude
115. related to – of
116. serves the function of being – is
117. should it appear that – if
118. so as to – to
119. subsequent to – after
120. such that – so
121. the question as to – whether
122. the reason is because – because
123. there can be little doubt that – probably
124. unknown – suspect
125. utilize or utilization – use
126. very – unique
127. with reference to – about
128. with regard to – about
129. with the exception that – except that

What else would you add?