Good writing isn’t just about having great ideas—it’s about communicating clearly. If your message is lost in wordiness, vague phrasing, or awkward structure, your readers won’t stay engaged.
The good news? You can instantly improve clarity with a few simple tweaks.
Here are three quick editing tips to sharpen your writing today!
1. Cut Unnecessary Words
❌ Before: In order to improve clarity, it is important that you carefully review your writing and try to remove any words that are not really necessary.
✅ After: To improve clarity, review your writing and remove unnecessary words.
Why this works:
Every extra word makes your sentence harder to read. Be direct. If a word doesn’t add meaning, cut it.
Quick Fix:
- Replace “in order to” → “to”
- Remove “that are not really necessary” → “unnecessary”
- Avoid filler words like just, very, really, kind of, actually
Tip:
Imagine having to pay $100 for each word you use—which words aren’t worth the price?
I learned this trick in the LinkedIn Learning Business Writing Principals course by Judy Steiner-Williams —I recommend checking out this course for excellent tips on writing for business. The techniques she covers translate well beyond the business realm. Have you watched it? Let me know your thoughts!
2. Use Strong, Active Verbs
❌ Before: The presentation was written by the customer service department, and the final decision was made by the leadership team.
✅ After: The customer service department wrote the presentation, and the leadership team made the final decision.
Why this works:
Passive voice makes sentences longer and harder to follow. Active verbs create stronger, more engaging writing.
Quick Fix:
- Look for “was” + past participle (e.g., was written, was made)
- Rewrite with the doer of the action first
Tip:
Passive voice can be tricky to spot, and while active voice is usually preferred, there are times when it makes sense to use passive. Grammarly is a great tool for checking when you’re unsure! For more on this, check out my earlier post on Editing Like a Pro: My Must-Have Tools for Flawless Writing
3. Break Up Long Sentences
❌ Before: When writing, it can seem like using long sentences is a way to come across as professional and thorough, but in actuality, using long sentences can make your writing hard for the reader to follow and can confuse readers, requiring them to reread sentences again to try and find the ideas you’re trying to convey; ultimately, long sentences with multiple ideas should be shortened to more concise and direct sentences, otherwise, your reader may give up and stop reading altogether.
✅ After: Long sentences may seem professional, but they often confuse readers. If someone has to reread a sentence to understand it, they’ll lose interest. Keep it short and clear.
Why this works:
Long, complex sentences overload the reader. Breaking them up makes your writing easier to understand.
Quick Fix:
- One idea per sentence
- Use periods instead of excessive commas
- Read your work aloud (one of my favorite tips!)—if you run out of breath, it’s too long!
Bonus Tip: Remember You’re Communicating with a Human—Not a Robot
❌ Before: As per your request, find the documents attached.
✅ After: Attached are the documents you requested.
Why this works:
When was the last time you said “per your request” in a face-to-face conversation? If it wouldn’t sound natural when spoken, it won’t sound natural in writing.
This tip is new to me—I’ll admit, I’m guilty of using ‘as per your request’ multiple times a day in emails! Judy Steiner-Williams covers this in her Business Writing Principals course, where she shares excellent examples and better alternatives.
Tip:
When re-reading your document or email, picture how it would sound if you were speaking to the person face-to-face. We can be professional without sounding robotic—or like we’re reading a telegram from the early 1900s.
That said, always consider your audience. A conversational tone enhances readability, but slang or shorthand (like in a casual text message) isn’t the goal. Catch my drift? K thnx. 😉
Final Thoughts: Write with Clarity & Confidence
Improving clarity isn’t about writing more—it’s about writing better.
The next time you’re about to hit send on an email or publish on a blog post, take a moment to ask yourself – is my message clear? Engage your readers by improving clarity in your writing.
✅ Cut unnecessary words
✅ Use strong, active verbs
✅ Break up long sentences
✅ Bonus: Remember you’re communicating with a human
Give these tips a try in your next writing session and notice the difference!
💬 Have a favorite clarity hack? Drop it in the comments!
Pen and Polish 