Mark Twain once said, “The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction.” That may sound like a tall task, but you already know that writing is hard work and the hardest part of the process is the editing. If you want to help yourself get through your revisions faster and with more confidence, follow these essential writing tips when working on your first draft.

Less is More

Why say in 20 words what you can say just as well in 12? Using unnecessary words makes your work come across as less readable, boring, and unprofessional. The Chicago Manual of Style suggests avoiding the phrases “whether or not”, “at the present time”, “due to the fact that”, “in the process of”, and several others. Ask yourself whether phrases you’ve used are redundant or verbose. If the answer is yes, then change them.