Cut Your Word Count: Less is More in Academic and Professional Writing

Clear writing (and getting published) often requires you to cut your word count. In academic and professional contexts, word limits force you to express ideas efficiently. Cutting word count without losing meaning improves clarity, strengthens arguments, and keeps readers engaged.

Here are five quick strategies to shorten your text without sacrificing substance.

1. Remove Redundant Phrases to Cut Word Count

Phrases like “in order to,” “due to the fact that,” or “the reason why is because” can usually be shortened.

Example

❌ In order to explore how multilingualism shaped national identity in 19th-century Europe, it is necessary to analyze primary sources in several languages.

✅ Exploring how multilingualism shaped national identity in 19th-century Europe requires analyzing primary sources in several languages.

2. Cut Empty Openings and Fillers

Sentences often begin with phrases that add no meaning, such as “It should be noted that,” “There is a tendency to,” or “It can be argued that.” Removing them focuses attention on the core idea.

Example

❌ It should be noted that scholars debate the interpretation of Goethe’s Faust across European traditions.

✅ Scholars debate the interpretation of Goethe’s Faust across European traditions.

3. Replace Long Phrases with Single Words

Many multi-word phrases have shorter equivalents, which keeps sentences concise and easier to read.

Common Replacements

• a large number of → many
• has the ability to → can
• in the event that → if
• in order to → to
• due to the fact that → because
• with regard to → about

Example

❌ In order to assess the impact of the EU Green Deal, it is necessary to analyze energy policy reports from multiple member states.

✅ To assess the impact of the EU Green Deal, analysts review energy policy reports from multiple member states.

4. Combine Overlapping Sentences to Cut Word Count

Writers sometimes repeat ideas across two or three sentences that could be combined into one concise statement. Look for repetition and merge where appropriate.

Example

❌ The article explains Foucault’s view on power. It also describes how this view influenced later thinkers.

✅ The article explains Foucault’s view on power and its influence on later thinkers.

5. Remove Unnecessary Qualifiers

Words like very, really, quite, somewhat, or vague hedges (perhaps, it seems) can weaken prose and add bulk. Keep them only when they add real nuance.

Example

❌ The results of the study are very significant and quite important for understanding the causes of the French Revolution.

✅ The study’s results are significant for understanding the causes of the French Revolution.

Final Thought

Writers often think that longer sentences or extra words sound more academic, but clarity and precision matter more than length. By applying these strategies, you can cut word count without losing meaning, making your writing sharper and more impactful.