Time is money in any business environment. People want information communicated quickly and clearly. To make your writing more concise and understandable, avoid flabby expressions, long lead-ins, and unnecessary fillers. Your audience will appreciate your brevity.

If your writing contains a flabby expression like despite the fact that, replace it with the word because / seldom / although.

For each of the following two sentences, choose the best revision.

1. I am sending you this letter to let you know that the team is ready for its next assignment.

1) I am writing this letter because I need to let you know that the team is ready for its next assignment.

2) This is to inform you that the team is ready for its next assignment.

3) The team is ready for its next assignment.

2. There are six folders left in the break room.

1) Six folders are left in the break room.

2) There are six folders left in the break room, so come get them.

3) It is important to note that there are six folders in the break room.

Read the following passage, and then answer the question.

[1] There are seven conference calls scheduled for this morning between 10 and 11 a.m. [2] Generally, it is a good idea to limit the number of conference calls to three per hour. [3] In the future, we should schedule calls more carefully.

3. Which sentences contain unnecessary fillers?

1) 1 and 3

2) 2 and 3

3) 1 and 2