众所周知，不管中文还是英文写作，不管风格华丽还是朴实，好文字都是要言不烦，简洁明了的。初写作者或是无意之间，或有意炫耀，往往平添周折，冗余繁琐，反倒辞不达意。事实上，写作中有一些技巧，可以让你避免最基本的误区和陷阱。
本期将引介一些常见的应当予以避免的冗余词句：
有些人可能会认为花里胡哨的词汇能让你的文章更好看，但实际上更重要的是词语的质量，而不是数量。字数、词汇过多会使写作不清晰，没有耐心的读者会很快放弃。相比之下，更紧凑简洁的写作会使人读完留下更清晰、更难忘的印象。下面分成三类介绍哪些词汇是多余从而可以被删掉或者替代的。
# 不必要的介词 #
有些介词是多余的，因为它们被包含在动词的定义中。写作水平的提高与我们能从其中剔除的不应该存在的词汇数量成正比。比如，"free up "中的 "Up "就不应该出现。下面举一些可以被删掉的介词例子：原词替代
beat out
beat
start off
start
match up
match
head up
head
finish up
finish
enter into
enter
exit out of
exit
depart from
depart
permeate through
permeate
escape from
escape
flee from
flee
orbit around
orbit
clean up
clean
shout out
shout
jump up
jump
sit down
sit
# 多余的短语 #
不仅仅介词可被消除，还有一些常见的短语是可以被简化而不影响意思的，如：原词替代
as per
per
share the same
share (or have the same)
both agree
agree
laptop computer
laptop
cheaper price
cheaper (or lower price)
on sale for a discounted rate
on sale (or discounted)
debut of a new product
product debut
collide into each other
collide
crammed close together
crammed
insist adamantly
insist
tragically sad
tragic
tall skyscraper
skyscraper
urban city
city
a little bit
a bit (or a little)
small bits
bits
hotter temperature
hotter (or higher temperature)
colder temperature
colder (or lower temperature)
once used to do
did (or used to)
used to at one time
used to
used to in the past
used to
deceptive lie
lie
dark, black sky
black sky
scrutinize very carefully
scrutinize
wander around aimlessly
wander, roam
# 繁琐的词汇 #
冗长的句子会使用许多无用的词，使文章显得杂乱无章。好的写作简单而直接，它使用尽可能简短的词句来表达同样的意思。那么，我们怎么知道一段话是否足够简洁呢？——可以试着从每个句子中删除单词。一个词是必要的，意味着它：对构成一句话的语法不可或缺；或它构成一个关键的想法、事实、感觉或描述成分。如果你能在保持句子意思不变的情况下删除一些词汇，那这个句子就是繁琐的：
For all intents and purposes, the reason Mr. Henderson arrived late for work was due to the fact that he stopped at very many traffic lights that were red in colour.（31 words）Mr. Henderson arrived late for work because he stopped at many red lights. （13 words）
繁琐冗长的词汇类型众多，下面举出五个最常见的例子并给出修改意见：
1. 消除多余的内容Eliminate redundancy
redundantBetter
each separate incident
each incident
many different ways
many ways
dash quickly
dash
as to whether
whether
tall skyscraper
tall
blue in colour
blue
free gift
gift
advance notice
notice
he is a man who is
he is
appear to be
appear
completely finished
finished
the reason . . . is because
because
2. 删除空洞的单词和短语Delete empty words and phrases
generallytend to
really
apparently
in my opinion
very
basically
I think that
various
essentially
I feel
in some ways
virtually
I believe
for all intents and purposes
3. 选择最简洁省力的表达方式Avoid expressions that can be more clearly said in another way
outlawrehabilitated
at this point in time
at this time/now
in the neighbourhood of
of about
had an effect upon
influenced
due to the fact that
because
in order to
to
for the purpose of
for
it is important that
must
until such time as
until
at the same time as
while
with the possible exception of
except
4. 删除以下短语和变体：there is . . . that；it is . . . thatDelete the following phrases and variations
There are many students who like reading.
Many students like reading.
It is the desk that is uncomfortable.
The desk is uncomfortable.
5. 避免使用被动语态：被动语态往往比主动语态使用更多的词。Avoid using the passive voice
6. 用不需要介词的动词代替有介词的动词。当你可以写 "discover"时，千万不要写 "find out"。Substitute verbs with prepositions with verbs not needing prepositions
记住，重中之重在于，当一个较短的词就可以完成表达时，要克制住使用更长、更复杂表达方式的冲动。以下有一些需要避免的词组，以及更简洁的替代词：
Replace with
in terms ofregarding (or recast the sentence)
when it comes to
as far as [X] is concerned
at the present timenow, currently
as of this writing
at the time of publication
at the current time
at this point in time
has the ability tocan
is able to
is capable of
has the capability to
in the near futuresoon (or, better yet, be more specific about when)
not too long from now
the fact thatDelete “the fact”” and/or recast the sentence
despite the fact thatalthough, even though
the reason why is thatbecause
be aware of the fact thatnote, understand
the fact that it doesn’t haveits lack of, its omission of (or recast the sentence)
in light of the fact thatconsidering
less than greatsubpar, mediocre, OK
less than spectacular
not very good
comes with it right out of the boxincludes, comes with, is preinstalled, is preloaded
comes equipped with
it’s important to note thatNotably
in the direction oftoward
make a choicechoose, decide
the thing is that(Nothing; delete these words)
the truth is that
