Powerful Prose

People often emphasize the nouns rather than the verbs and the adjectives when they write.
  Example: In most cases, copies are very difficult or impossible to obtain, and of deteriorating quality.

Such sentences are unnecessarily long and frequently less meaningful than they need be.
  Revision: The few extant copies are deteriorating.

How to write powerful sentences:

1. Replace weak verbs (such as do, make, put, help, is, being) with stronger ones. The appropriate strong verb is usually present as a noun or noun phrase in the sentence:
is a benefit -- benefits
making sure that he will -- ensure
is helping to run -- assist
ensure that waste is minimal -- minimize waste
this is not acceptable -- this is unacceptable
2. Use infinitive verb forms (to + verb) rarely.
   is going to work -- will work
3. Remove unnecessary "of" phrases.
   the implementation of -- implementing
4. Begin every sentence with a concrete (person or thing) subject
   remove all instances of "there are" and "there is", especially at the beginning of sentences

Instructions:

Cut and past text into the space below and hit the submit button. The style checker prints the content back to the screen below the box, color coded. Edit and resubmit. When it comes back with nothing highlighted, what you have should be more effective than what you had.

orange -- nominal You've used a noun phrase instead of an adjective or verb. Rephrase the main idea using a verb or adjective: in all likelyhood likely. View a list of nominal expressions.

green -- wordy You've used unnecessary words: at this time currently. View a list of verbosities.

darkred -- redundant You've said the same thing twice. Delete the adjective: common similarities. View a list redundancies.

blue -- cliché You've used an overly common metaphor, simile, or allusion. Find another way to say the same thing: sour grapes bitter. View a list of Clichés.

red -- prepositional phrase; You've begun a sentence with a prepositional phrase; begin with a noun instead: To the library I am going I'm going to the library. View a list of prepositional phrases.

purple -- vague word You've used a word that is too general. Specify. Some people say . . . Jocasta said in her last interview . . . View a list of vague words.