Word fat

English language writing happily accommodates words that do nothing. These “do-nothing” words are bits of fat a writer can remove without changing meaning—leaving tighter, more readable prose. They are the written equivalent of saying, “Um…” in the middle of a sentence.

For example:
“There are many types of tubas that are manufactured in Europe, the United States, and Asia.”
Three words in that sentence do nothing and can just go away…
“There are many types of tubas that are manufactured in Europe, the United States, and Asia.”
Leaving…
“Many types of tubas are manufactured in Europe, the United States, and Asia.”

Another example—also with the rarely useful “There are…” beginning:
“There are only two old-style operating theaters that are left, both of which are preserved as part of museums.”
Remove five bits of word fat…
“There are only two old-style operating theaters that are left, both of which are preserved as part of museums.“
And we have…
“Only two old-style operating theaters are left, both preserved as part of museums.”

Here’s one with only a single, but silly do-nothing word:
“The team met up on Friday.”
Could people meet down or sideways on Friday? No, so…
“The team met on Friday.”

These do-nothing words are only do-nothing in context—they aren’t bad words. In the right sentence, they are alive and useful. In the wrong sentence, however, they’re like tuba players in an operating room. The patient can’t hear them, and the surgeon is trying to concentrate.