Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021
Cut empty or inflated phrases
Tighten wordy sentences
Clarity
An empty phrase can be cut with little or no loss of meaning. Common examples are word groups that weaken the writer’s authority by apologizing or hedging: in my opinion, I think that, it seems that, and so on.
Inflated phrases can be reduced to a word or two without loss of meaning.
INFLATED |
CONCISE |
along the lines of |
like |
as a matter of fact |
in fact |
at this point in time |
now (or currently) |
due to the fact that |
because |
for the purpose of |
for |
in order to |
to |
in spite of the fact that |
although (or though) |
in the event that |
if |