Want to be a better writer? Learn to “write small.”
Great writers know how to pack loads of meaning and emotion into the fewest possible words. Ernest Hemingway’s works contain powerful examples of small writing. He was once challenged to tell an entire story in only six words. Here’s how he did it:
“For sale: baby shoes, never used.”
In six words, he told a complete story in our minds—a story of a child lost. Did the child die? If so, how? Grief. Sadness. A mother’s desire to move on with her life. Were there money problems?
That which was not said makes that which was said all the more significant. This is the power of small writing.
A key component of writing small is to edit long phrases into shorter ones. Here are some examples that you can use right away to help put small writing principles into action on your next writing project!
| Before | After |
| a majority of | most |
| a number of | some, many |
| at an early date | soon |
| at the conclusion of | after, following |
| at the present time | now |
| based on the fact that | because |
| check out | check |
| despite the fact that | although |
| due to the fact that | because |
| during the course of | during |
| during the time that | during, while |
| have the capability to | can |
| in connection with | about |
| in order to | to |
| in regard to | regarding, about |
| in the event of | if |
| in view of the fact that | because |
| it is often the case that | often |
| it is our opinion that | we think that |
| it is our recommendation that | we recommend that |
| it is our understanding that | we understand that |
| make reference to | refer to |
| of the opinion that | think that |
| on a daily basis | daily |
| on the grounds that | because |
| prior to | before |
| relative to | regarding, about |
| so as to | to |
| subsequent to | after |
| take into consideration | consider |
| until such time as | until |