41 redundancies you should ditch
As Strunk and White wrote, ‘Omit needless words.’ Many common phrases include superfluous modifiers. Whether you’re writing or editing, get rid of them.
• absolutely essential • actual facts • added bonus • ATM machine • brief moment • brief summary • classify into groups • close proximity • consensus of opinion • emergency situation • empty space • filled to capacity • general public • heat up • introduced a new • introduced for the first time • joint collaboration • look ahead to the future • major breakthrough • mix together • mutual cooperation • natural instinct • new beginning • new recruit • overused cliché • period of time • personal friend • PIN number • plan ahead • reason why • reflect back • reply back • safe haven • still remains • sudden impulse • temper tantrum • ultimate goal • unexpected surprise • unintentional mistake • very unique • visible to the eye
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