Answer :
The subject of this question is about understanding how to effectively revise writing to make it clearer and more concise. When revising, one of the main objectives is to reduce wordiness without losing the meaning or clarity of the text.
Here are the options provided and analysis of each:
Exclude all unnecessary uses of the words 'which' and 'that'.
- Explanation: This is a valid technique to reduce wordiness. Often, sentences can be rephrased to eliminate these words while retaining the original meaning.
Revise from active to passive voice.
- Explanation: This option is not a way to reduce wordiness. Generally, revising from passive to active voice is encouraged to make sentences clearer and more direct. Active voice typically uses fewer words and is generally considered stronger.
Remove prepositional phrases from the beginning of sentences.
- Explanation: This is another effective strategy for reducing wordiness. Sometimes prepositional phrases at the start of sentences can be omitted or moved without changing the meaning.
Change all verbs to their simplest, strongest form.
- Explanation: Simplifying verbs can help create more direct and impactful sentences. This technique helps in eliminating unnecessary auxiliary verbs and complex verb forms.
The option that is not a way to reduce wordiness effectively is Option 2: Revise from active to passive voice. This is because moving from active to passive generally increases the sentence length and complexity, instead of making it more concise or clearer.
