SAT Prep - Writing

Wordy sentence constructions are not technically an Error, but they can be improved.  Thus, they are found often in the Improving Sentences section.  If the sentence is too wordy, then one of the answer choices will provide a less-wordy version that still preserves the clarity and meaning of the sentence.  The less redundant version is an improvement, and is the correct answer.  

Wordy sentences often contain one of two things:

• Passive Voice
  • Ex: "Getting to the other side was the reason the chicken crossed the road." 
  • This sentence is much wordier than it needs to be ("The chicken crossed the road to get to the other side.")
  • The sentence is also in the passive voice (the chicken is the subject of the sentence, crossing the road was the action)
• A form of the "to be" verb
  • Ex: "Caroline, being that she was from Spain, liked to eat Spanish food."
  • This sentence is much wordier than it needs to be ("Caroline liked to eat Spanish food because she was from Spain.")
  • The forms of the "to be" verb are am, is, are, was, were, has or have been, had been, will have been, being, and to be

If you see a sentence written in passive voice, or containing  an unnecessary "to be" verb, that sentence is a wordy sentence.  You should immediately look to the answer choices for a revision which makes the sentence more concise by eliminating the unnecessary linking (to be) verb or changing the sentence to active voice.

Wordy sentences don't all contain the "to be" verb or the passive voice (although most do).  Sometimes, wordy sentences simply use more words than necessary to say what needs to be said:

• Ex: There are many teachers on the school board who are planning to attend the meeting that is scheduled for next month.
  • This sentence could be rewritten "Many teachers on the school board are planning to attend the meeting next month." 
    • We have eliminated the "to be" verb (are) and also eliminated other unnecessary words to make the sentence more concise, without losing any of the meaning.