4. As a result
Even if you’re discussing complicated topics, your writing should be simple, direct, and logical. Using “as a result” signals to your reader you aren’t sure if your argument stands on its own without additional guidance from filler transitions.
5. So
Sometimes, we need “so”; I just advocated for its use over “thus.” It’s a succinct transition that can help us make our arguments flow. But like any transition (including “but”), we should use it only when necessary. It saves space to replace a longwinded transition with something shorter, but it’s even more concise to forego a transition altogether.
6. Then
Unless otherwise noted, your readers assume you’re writing about events in chronological order. Adding “then” just makes them wonder if that assumption is incorrect.
7. Consequently
“Consequently” is another example of an artificial transition. Your writing should be logical enough that your reader understands you without using transitions like “consequently” and “moreover.” WordRake recognizes this, too, and suggests cutting “consequently” every time you use it to start a sentence.
8. Because
You don’t always need to remove because, but frequently you could use a more precise word, such as “citing,” or rephrase the sentence to be more succinct, since “because” is often surrounded by wordiness. For example, “Because of his tardiness, Brian received a verbal warning” would be clearer and shorter as “Brian received a verbal warning for tardiness.”
Check for More Unnecessary Words
When reviewing your work, look for transitions. Try substituting an unnecessarily long or complicated transition with a shorter one or removing the transition completely.
If you need an editor to help break your attachment to transitions, try WordRake. It removes or rewords several transitions mentioned in this piece, plus other often needless words like “furthermore” and “currently.” Try it free for seven days.
About the Author
Caroline Engle is WordRake’s Marketing Communications Specialist. She convinced WordRake to hire her as an intern after placing in editing competitions and writing a novel in a month. When she isn’t editing or writing copy, coordinating conference logistics, or helping improve WordRake’s functionality, she’s reading, going on ten-mile walks, or looking up flight prices. Connect with her on LinkedIn here.
