- Prefer short words. E.g., write “use”, not “utilize” (unless you mean “utilize”).
- Prefer simple constructs. E.g., say “because”, “since”, or “as”, not “due to the fact that”.
- Prefer verbs to abstract nouns. Abstract nouns are longer and less lively (and also lead to lengthier and clumsier constructions).
- Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly. Does that adjective really need an adverb to qualify it?
- Read over to remove needless words.
- Read over again.