难度：中级
快速问答：下面这个句子有21个字。你可以去掉4个字，同时保持句意不变吗？
"There are several reports that suggest a slight reduction in sugar intake could possibly extend one’s lifespan by about 1-3 years."
(“有几个报告显示略微减少糖的摄入量可能会延长人的寿命1-3年。 ”)
是的，这句话很啰嗦，我们可以减少字数。
句子啰嗦，是用了太多的词来表达观点。在各种形式的英语写作中，言简意赅是良好的写作风格。此外，简明扼要很容易满足期刊对字数的要求，尤其在摘要中，字数通常是有限的。
让我们来看一下三种减少赘述的方式。
改写： ““There is/are [noun] that [verb]…””
啰嗦：There are several studies that suggest a positive association between more moderate exercise in childhood and bone density.（有几项研究表明儿童适度的运动和骨密度呈正相关。）
简明：Several studies suggest a positive association between more moderate exercise in childhood and bone density.
说明：这两组短语意思完全相同，但简洁版本少使用了三个字！
删除意思上的赘述
啰嗦：This effect could possibly be explained by alternations in biomechanical forces present in the device.（此效果可能是因为在设备中存在生物机械力的交替。）
简明：This effect could be explained by alternations in biomechanical forces present in the device.
说明：“could ”和“possibly”意思重复，所以删除 “possibly”。
啰嗦：The nanotubes had an inner diameter of about 60-70 nm. (纳米管具有约60-70纳米的内径。)
简明：The nanotubes had an inner diameter of 60-70 nm.
说明：“about” 和 “60-70”，都含有大约的意思，意思上重复。
啰嗦：The melting point is very critical to consider for welding materials. (熔点对于焊接材料来说是十分关键的。)
简明：The melting point is critical to consider for welding materials.
说明：“very”、“extremely”与“critical”意思重复。
修改：“Due to the fact that”, “Based on the fact that”, “In light of the fact that”, etc. （“鉴于---事实”等）
这几个词组通常简化为“因为”,以便阅读。
啰嗦：WordNet has been successful based on the fact that it is available on-line, it is free of charge, and it is a dictionary based on concepts: i.e., it provides much more than just an alphabetic list of words.（WordNet很成功，因为它可以免费网上使用，而且它是一个以概念为基础的词典：例如，它所提供的不只是一个按字母排序的单词列表.）
简明：WordNet has been successful because it is available on-line, it is free of charge, and it is a dictionary based on concepts: i.e., it provides much more than just an alphabetic list of words.
啰嗦：However, due to the fact that drug conjugates are utilized as the capture and detection molecules, this type of assay is susceptible to drug and target interference. （然而，由于药物共轭物被用来捕获和检测分子，这种类型的化验易受药物和目标的干扰。）
简明：However, since drug conjugates are utilized as the capture and detection molecules, this type of assay is susceptible to drug and target interference.
现在你可以试一试：你可以让文章开头我们提到的那个啰嗦的句子变得更简洁吗？用鼠标选择下面的文字来揭晓答案。
“Several reports suggest that a slight reduction in sugar intake could extend one’s lifespan by 1-3 years.”
Download Tip Here: 
减少赘述
Uni-edit English Writing Tip 009: Reducing wordiness
Difficulty: Medium
Quick quiz: There are 21 words in the sentence below. Can you reduce it by 4 words while retaining the same meaning?
"There are several reports that suggest a slight reduction in sugar intake could possibly extend one’s lifespan by about 1-3 years."
Because this sentence is wordy, yes, you can reduce the number of words.
Sentences that are “wordy” use too many words to make their point. Making your point using few words—i.e. writing concisely—is considered good style in all forms of English writing. In addition, writing concisely makes it easy to meet word counts, especially in the Abstract, where space is usually limited.
Let’s look at three ways to reduce wordiness.
Revise: “There is/are [noun] that [verb]…”
Wordy: There are several studies that suggest a positive association between more moderate exercise in childhood and bone density.
Concise: Several studies suggest a positive association between more moderate exercise in childhood and bone density.
Explanation: The phrases are exactly equivalent in meaning, but the lower version uses three fewer words!
Remove: Conceptually redundant words
Wordy: This effect could possibly be explained by alternations in biomechanical forces present in the device.
Concise: This effect could be explained by alternations in biomechanical forces present in the device.
Explanation: The idea of ‘possibility’ is duplicated in ‘could’ and ‘possibly’, so ‘possibly’ can be deleted.
Wordy: The nanotubes had an inner diameter of about 60-70 nm.
Concise: The nanotubes had an inner diameter of 60-70 nm.
Explanation: The idea of “about” is implied by including a range of numbers.
Wordy: The melting point is very critical to consider for welding materials.
Concise: The melting point is critical to consider for welding materials.
Explanation: The idea of ‘very; extremely’ is implied by the word ‘critical’.
Revise: “Due to the fact that”, “Based on the fact that”, “In light of the fact that”, etc.
These words can almost always be replaced with “because” for a simpler, easier-to-read sentence.
Wordy: WordNet has been successful based on the fact that it is available on-line, it is free of charge, and it is a dictionary based on concepts: i.e., it provides much more than just an alphabetic list of words.
Concise: WordNet has been successful because it is available on-line, it is free of charge, and it is a dictionary based on concepts: i.e., it provides much more than just an alphabetic list of words.
Wordy: However, due to the fact that drug conjugates are utilized as the capture and detection molecules, this type of assay is susceptible to drug and target interference.
Concise: However, since drug conjugates are utilized as the capture and detection molecules, this type of assay is susceptible to drug and target interference.
Now you try: Can you make the wordy sentence at the start of the tip more concise? Select the text below with your mouse to uncover the answer.
“Several reports suggest that a slight reduction in sugar intake could extend one’s lifespan by 1-3 years."