1. Remove unnecessary adjectives and adverbs:
The weakest links in your sentence are adjectives and adverbs. They should be your first target of attention. Try and remove as many of them as possible. You will find that you are not weakening your sentence, but strengthening it.
Example 1: At least nine trains along the Konkan railway route were cancelled on Monday and one train rescheduled.
Corrected: Nine trains along the Konkan railway route were cancelled on Monday and one train rescheduled.
Example 2: The total shortage of life saving jackets is 86,220.
Corrected: The shortage of life saving jackets is 86,220.
You save two words in sentence one, and one word in sentence two.
2. Substitute wordy phrases with simple words:
You always save words when you replace wordy phrases with simple and short words.
Example 1: The Sports Secretary submitted his resignation today.
Corrected: The Sports Secretary resigned today.
Example 2: The World Cup soccer will be held in the month of June.
Corrected: The World Cup soccer will be held in June.
You save two words in sentence one and three in sentence two.
3. Review subsidiary clauses:
Subsidiary clauses delay the news point, waste words and reduce clarity.
Example: Targeting to check the double digit inflation, the Reserve Bank of India hiked its short-term lending and borrowing rates by 0.25 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively on Tuesday.
Rewritten: The Reserve Bank of India hiked the short-term lending and borrowing rates by 0.25 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively on Tuesday to rein in inflation.
You save three words, and improve clarity.
4. Build sentences around one idea:
Sentences built around a single idea are short, and easy to understand.
Example: Noting that NAM countries faced common challenges like terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said mutual support and solidarity among its 116 members is of prime importance to deal with the scourge of terrorism, as he left for a tour of Brazil and Cuba to attend the IBSA and NAM summits.
Rewritten: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed to the 116 NAM nations to join hands to fight terrorism. Singh made the statement on Sunday before leaving for Brazil and Cuba to attend the IBSA and NAM summits.
The first sentence is made of two ideas, and needs 52 words to make the point. When it is broken into two sentences – with each sentence focused on one idea – it uses 35 words.
5. Use active voice:
This is the best way to make you sentences short and crisp. You also lend immediacy to your writing.
Passive voice: A remarkable recovery was made by the Indian cricket team.
Active voice: The Indian team made a remarkable recovery.
You save three words. Your news writing improves.
Read also: The ultimate guide to quality web writing