Tighten prose

Wordiness is rarely one big problem. It is a hundred small ones: "in order to" where "to" works, "the fact that" in front of a clause, a paragraph that announces what it is about to say, three hedges on one claim. Each costs the reader a moment, and together they bury the sentence's real verb. Cutting them makes writing faster to read and usually more confident, because the claims stop hiding behind padding.

Tightening is not rewriting. The author's meaning, facts, and voice stay. A sentence that is long because it is carrying a lot is fine; a sentence that is long because it is circling is not. This skill cuts to a stated target and shows its work, so the writer can put back anything they miss.

When to use it