What the Padding Displaced
The same sheet of paper twice. The words you save are not saved — they are spent on something else.
Click to zoom
Left: the padded script. Right: the same length, with the padding spent on an extra point.
Cut padding phrases that use up words without adding meaning, and spend those words on content.
Preview · progress not saved — Chapter 1 is free
One paragraph, counted twice. The second version says the same thing and has room left over.
It is important to note that, due to the fact that housing costs have risen sharply, there are many people who now commute from outside the city. In spite of the fact that transport links have improved, journey times remain long. With regard to the environmental effects, these are for all intents and purposes unchanged, and in the event that fuel prices rise further, they may worsen.
Sixty-eight words.
Now the same paragraph with nothing removed except padding:
Housing costs have risen sharply, so many people now commute from outside the city. Although transport links have improved, journey times remain long. The environmental effects are effectively unchanged, and if fuel prices rise further they may worsen.
Thirty-eight words. Same claims, same order, same connectives doing the same work.
Eight phrases, what each buys, and the caution that keeps this sprint from doing damage.
These four have exact one-word equivalents. Nothing is lost.
due to the fact that → because (saves 4)
in spite of the fact that → although (saves 5)
at this point in time → now (saves 4)
in the event that → if (saves 3)
Two notes so you do not overcorrect.
Due to on its own is entirely standard — delays due to weather is fine. Only the fact that is the padding, and you may have been told that due to cannot begin a sentence. That objection is dead and you can ignore it.
In the event that is not wrong either. It is at home in contracts and formal notices. In an essay it is simply if with four times the length.
for all intents and purposes → effectively (saves 5)
These two are close but not identical: the long phrase means in every practical respect, and effectively carries the same idea more briefly. It is the right trade in almost every essay sentence.
And a warning: the phrase is very often written as
for all intensive purposes, which is a mishearing. If you are not confident of the spelling, that is a second reason to write effectively.
The same sheet of paper twice. The words you save are not saved — they are spent on something else.
Left: the padded script. Right: the same length, with the padding spent on an extra point.
Eight sentences. In three of them the longer form is earning its length, and cutting it would cost you.
For each sentence, decide whether the marked phrase should be cut or kept.
The test is not length. It is whether the words are carrying meaning — a logical relation, an emphasis, a signpost. Three of these eight should be kept, and one of those is a sentence most candidates would cut.
"Due to the fact that housing costs have risen, many households now commute from further away."
Three chains. The middle one resolves to keeping the longer form, and that is the boundary of the rule.
Chain 1
Your draft reads: It is important to note that the effect was strongest in rural districts.
Candidates: keep the phrase / delete it
Step 1 — Does saying a point is important make it important, and what would show it instead?
Step 2 — Therefore the expert writes: effect was strongest in rural districts.
Chain 2
Your draft reads: Although the scheme reduced congestion, it did nothing for air quality.
You are running long and looking for words to cut.
Candidates: delete although / keep although
Step 1 — What would the sentence lose if the first word went?
Step 2 — Therefore the expert writes: the scheme reduced congestion, it did nothing for air quality.
Chain 3
Your draft reads: There are a number of households which have moved further out in the event that costs rise again.
Candidates: compress both / leave both
Step 1 — What is the relative pronoun telling you, and what is the four-word conditional worth?
Step 2 — Therefore the expert writes: Some households have moved further out costs rise again.