Avoiding Awkward and Wordy Sentences in English Writing
Many students unknowingly write in ways that sound awkward or use more words than necessary. This makes their sentences clumsy, unclear, or simply difficult to follow. For exams like WAEC, NECO, IELTS, or TOEFL, where clarity and precision matter, avoiding such writing flaws is essential.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to identify awkward and wordy sentences, understand why they happen, and apply simple techniques to make your writing smoother, clearer, and more effective.
What Are Awkward and Wordy Sentences?
An awkward sentence is one that sounds unnatural or disrupts the rhythm of your writing. It may confuse the reader or make your ideas harder to understand.
On the other hand, a wordy sentence includes more words than needed to express a simple idea. This not only weakens your writing but can also bore or confuse your reader.
Why You Must Avoid Awkward and Wordy Sentences
When you write with clarity, your readers understand you without effort. Writing concisely means you express more with fewer words, which saves time and sharpens meaning.
Beyond clarity and conciseness, your tone becomes more confident and polished; exactly what examiners expect in formal English exams like WAEC.
Common Causes of Awkward and Wordy Sentences
One of the most common causes is the use of unnecessarily long phrases. For instance, saying “in order to improve your writing” is wordier than simply saying “to improve your writing.”
Sometimes, students repeat the same idea without realising it. A sentence like “He returned back to the house” says “back” twice because “return” already carries the meaning of “back.”
Another issue arises from filler phrases that serve no real function. A sentence such as “There are many students who struggle with grammar” can be improved by removing “There are” and rewriting it as “Many students struggle with grammar.”
Problems also occur when pronouns are vague. A sentence like “When John talked to James, he was angry” leaves the reader guessing who was angry. Rewriting it as “John was angry when he talked to James” removes the ambiguity.
Overusing the passive voice makes writing feel less direct. For example, instead of saying “The homework was completed by the students,” it is clearer and more active to say, “The students completed the homework.”
Another issue comes from trying to say too much in one sentence. Instead of writing, “Due to the fact that the weather was bad and there was a lot of traffic, we couldn’t get to the meeting on time,” you can simplify it as, “Because of bad weather and traffic, we couldn’t reach the meeting on time.”
Lastly, piling on too many adjectives or adverbs can weaken your sentence. “She was very extremely tired after the really long trip” is not as strong as “She was exhausted after the long trip.”
How to Fix Awkward and Wordy Sentences
The first step is to remove words that add no real meaning. Take the sentence, “The reason why he left is because he was unhappy.” This can be trimmed to “He left because he was unhappy,” which is shorter and clearer.
Next, try replacing long phrases with shorter alternatives. Instead of writing “At this point in time, we can start,” you can simply say, “Now we can start.” Words like “if,” “because,” and “now” are often better choices than wordy phrases like “in the event that,” “due to the fact that,” or “at this point in time.”
Long, complicated sentences can often be split into two or more for clarity. For example, instead of writing, “He was tired after working all day, and he also had a headache because he hadn’t eaten, which made it hard for him to focus on his homework,” you can say, “He was tired after working all day and had a headache from not eating. This made it hard for him to focus on his homework.”
Choosing active voice is also helpful. Rather than saying, “The report was written by the student,” say “The student wrote the report.”
Finally, reading your sentences aloud can help you catch awkward or clumsy constructions. If it doesn’t sound smooth when spoken, it likely needs revision.
Practice Questions
Try rewriting the following sentences in a clearer and more concise way:
- It is important to note that many students have problems with grammar.
- She returned back home after the end of the program.
- In the event that you are late, you will miss the test.
Feel free to share your rewritten versions in the comments!
Related Lessons
If you found this lesson helpful, you may also want to explore:
- How to Build Clear and Effective Sentences in English Writing
- Combining Sentences: Coordination and Subordination Explained
- Parallel Structure in English Sentences: Meaning and Examples
Wrapping Up
If you cut out unnecessary words, fix awkward phrases, choose active voice, and read your work aloud, you’ll quickly see a difference in your writing style. With practice, your sentences will become stronger, more natural, and more effective.
