Take a critical look at your writing. At this first stage, you are probably writing in a conversational style. Certainly, this tone is usually a good idea, but there are likely to be many expressions that are redundant. In our culture, we tend to fill up air space when we talk, with ums and ahs, and their verbal equivalents, like like, you know and basically.
Wordiness
As a further disadvantage, the world of business has become a major source
of language and it often produces extremely bad results. It is as if the writers
believe they will have no credibility unless they use convoluted phrases and
tired buzzwords. Actually, it is very easy to write in that vein. The ponderous
words just roll off our fingertips onto the keyboard and may resonate
magnificently in our heads.
Think of the following terms and see how easy it is to replace them with just one or two plainer words:
afford an opportunity
at the end of the day
at the present time
at this point in time
attached herewith is
ballpark figure
bottom line
during such time
has the capability
in excess of
in lieu of
in the absence of
in the course of
in the event that
in the near future
in view of the fact that
perform an assessment of
prior to
provided that
terms of reference
the manner in which
until such time
with a view to
with reference to
with respect to
let, allow
in the end
now
now
here is
about
profit, result, point
while
can, is able to
more than
instead of
without
while
if
soon
because
test
before
if
what we do
how
until
to
about
on, about
I’m sure you can add to this list. You may well use some of these—I know I catch myself at times. But they are clumsy, clichéd and seldom needed.