Unnecessary words come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s difficult to put them into distinct categories. To address the problem, become more critical of your own writing, and consider whether you need every word. Challenge every word—do you need it? Pronouns, active voice, and base verbs help eliminate excess words.

Writers sometimes clog up their prose with one or more extra words or phrases that seem to determine narrowly or to modify the meaning of a noun but don't actually add to the meaning of the sentence. Although such words and phrases can be meaningful in the appropriate context, they are often used as "filler" and can easily be eliminated.

Use verbs when possible rather than noun forms known as nominalizations. Example: Wordy: The function of this department is the collection of accounts. Concise: This department collects accounts. Eliminate Unnecessary Words Unnecessary words can come in many forms like excessive detail, repetitive words, or redundant words.