Before I ever became an editor or even knew how to spot redundancy in writing, I was a bank teller. Just shy of 18, I landed a job at Bay Federal Credit Union in the beach town where I grew up. Every Monday, Florabunda delivered small bouquets of fresh flowers. The flowers—and my manager, Mary Ellen—were my favorite parts of that job. I also liked being the quickest teller in the lineup; I could clear a long Friday line faster than anyone.
Though pint-sized like me, Mary Ellen was a powerhouse. She always wore skirt suits—one in every color, all solid and monochrome—and she’d tell me, “Dress for the position you want, Nancy.” Another thing she’d tell me: “Stop saying these ones. It’s redundant. You only need to say these.”
Along with redundancy in writing, editors trim the extras—the “justs,” the “thats,” the “actuallys”—all the words that sneak in but don’t serve the sentence. The goal is always the same: Say what you mean in a way that’s clear, artful, and lean. That’s my favorite kind of writing—the kind that speaks powerfully in as few words as possible.
Mary Ellen probably never thought her grammar advice would stick with me, but here we are. Every time I catch myself about to say these ones, I can still hear her voice—and I edit myself, hoping she’d be proud. Consider finding your own redundancies and edit accordingly. Your writing will be better for it.