Examples of flabby phrases
Flabby phrase Flabby phrase in context Absolutely essential.
A new mast is absolutely essential. Careful scrutiny.
Completely engulfed. Depreciate in value. During the course. Emergency situation. Filled to capacity. First and foremost.
Foreign imports.
General public. Hollow tube.
Integrate with each other. Joint collaboration.
Knowledgeable expert. Major breakthrough.
New innovation. Now pending. Past experience.
Postpone until later. Serious danger. Still remains.
Surrounded on all sides. Two equal halves.
The lawyer read the document with careful scrutiny. Flames completely engulfed the house. Assets depreciate in value as each year passes. The forecast will change during the course of the day. We have an emergency situation at the yard. The water tank was filled to capacity.
He remains first and foremost a small craft marine surveyor. It is thought foreign imports hurt our country’s economy.
The portable toilets are for the general public. He slid down the hollow tube at the water park. The two systems must integrate with each other. The joint collaboration between governments failed. She’s a knowledgeable expert in her field.
It was a new innovation to social media. Our request is now pending.
My past experiences are what made me who I am today.
You should postpone your appointment until later. You’re in serious danger.
Even after all the bombing raids, the building still remains.
They were surrounded on all sides by enemies. Cut the fruit in two equal halves.
68 | The Report • March 2020 • Issue 91 Better to say... Better to say a new mast is essential.
Better to say the lawyer scrutinized the document. Better to say flames engulfed the house.
Better to say assets depreciate as each year passes. Better to say the forecast will change during the day. Better to say we have an emergency at the yard. Better to say the water tank was filled.
Better to say he remains foremost a small craft marine surveyor.
Better to say it is thought that imports hurt our country’s economy.
Better to say the portable toilets are for the public. Better to say he slid down the tube at the water park. Better to say the two systems must integrate.
Better to say the collaboration between governments failed. Better to say she’s an expert in her field.
The invention was a major breakthrough in nuclear technology. Better to say the invention was a breakthrough in nuclear technology.
Better to say it was an innovation to social media. Better to say our request is pending.
Better to say my experiences are what made me who I am today.
Better to say you should postpone your appointment. Better to say you’re in danger.
Better to say even after all the bombing raids, the building remains.
Better to say they were surrounded by enemies. Better to say cut the fruit in halves.
It is important to master how to eliminate flabby expressions and phrases in a report, because doing so creates clarity. Flabby expressions are the extra words that prevent the writer’s content from being clear and concise. Sometimes it only takes one word. These handful of examples demonstrate the technique.
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