Wordiness is a serious problelm in medical writing. Unnecessary words add clutter, slow down the reader, and annoy the reviewer. Many unnecessary words are so common, and so much a part of the medical vernacular, that they are not recognized as unnecessary.

Here are examples of unnecessary words and expressions. The original phrase is listed first, followed by the revised, simpler, form.

There have been many studies that showed an effect.
Many studies have shown an effect.
Note: Most often, “there are,” “there is,” “there may be,” etc., can/should be avoided.

Published in the literature
Published
If it’s published, it must be in the literature.

Previously published (ref.)
Published
“Published” is past tense, so “previously” is redundant.

Until now has not been reported
Has not been reported

It is well known that hepatitis C infection is a serious health problem.
Hepatitis C infection is a serious health problem.
If something is well known, saying it is well known is unnecessary.

A total of 200 patients were enrolled.
Two hundred patients were enrolled.

A study involving 200 subjects was conducted.
A study of 200 subjects was conducted.

To date, no good test of disease X exists.
No good test for disease X exists.

The therapy has some side effects.
The therapy has side effects.

It is worth mentioning that disease X is common.
Disease X is common.
If it is worth mentioning, just mention it.

Patients with disease X have many different symptoms.
Patients with disease X have many symptoms.

Disease X is associated with a poor prognosis.
Disease X has a poor prognosis.

Difficulty in making the specific diagnosis
Difficulty in making the diagnosis

May be confused with some other diseases
May be confused with other diseases

The lesion was successfully excised.
The lesion was excised.
Has a lesion ever been unsuccessfully excised?

As a general rule
As a rule

Currently, she is acting director.
She is acting director.

The majority of patients have pain.
Most patients have pain.

In the setting of Africa
In Africa

In the course of their illness
During their illness

When seen in the past
When seen
Seen is past tense, so “in the past” is redundant.

In general, disease x is prevalent.
Disease X is prevalent.

In addition, novel approaches also are discussed.
Novel approaches also are discussed.

In spite of the fact that the tumors were very large
Even though the tumors were very large.

The tumors were of large size.
The tumors were large.

Tumors of the size more than 5 cm
Tumors more than 5 cm

Close proximity to the facial nerve
Proximity to the facial nerve

The practice of nerve reconstruction
Nerve reconstruction

The patients improved clinically.
The patients improved.

The correct diagnosis was made.
The diagnosis was made.

The nerve was partially injured.
The nerve was injured.

The lesion was red-brown in color
The lesion was red-brown

Hoarseness of voice
Hoarseness

In cases when pain is intense
When pain is intense

The operation carries significant risk.
The operation carries risk
It can’t carry insignificant risk.

The surgeons made the decision to operate.
The surgeons decided to operate.