Simplifying Your Writing, Episode 1: Because

The reason for this post, that is, insofar as this post is concerned, due to the fact that this post is being posted at all; that is, in light of the fact that it is being posted in the first place, this post is being posted on the grounds that it is a post.

Ugh. As the great E.B. White said so eloquently, "Avoid unnecessary words."

All of the following awful phrases can be replaced by just one word: Because (or in some instances why). Try it.

• for the reason that


• insofar as


• in as much as


• due to the fact that


• owing to the fact that


• in light of the fact that


• considering the fact that


• on the grounds that