To write better, edit out these filler phrases

The biggest improvement in my writing skills happened when I became an editor.

Writers are often too familiar with their own ideas to spot mistakes and poor phrasing in their work. When you’re reading someone else’s writing, though, you see points that need clarity and sentences that can be worded better.

Entrepreneur contributor Shaun Buck reminds us that people have an “infinite number of options” for media consumption and that if they get bored with your piece, they’ll simply find another article to read. It’s crucial to capture and keep readers’ attention with concise, to-the-point ideas; long-winded narratives will only drive them away.

This is especially true in press releases, which reporters will delete if they take too long to read. (Jessica Lawlor recommends 500 words maximum.)

As a professional copy editor, I read and review dozens of articles every week, and I’ve noticed some common clunky or extraneous phrases.