Eliminating Throwaway Sentences: Improve Your Academic Writing and Boost Your Grades

What can I do to avoid wasting time on throwaway sentences?

Well, this comes with practice, many able writers still include unintentional throwaway sentences in their first draft. So all good writers proofread their writing and ruthlessly edit any unnecessary lines or words. 

This process is often hard for students who want to see their word count go up, not down, but you will get better marks for handing in shorter papers, but with higher quality language.

To avoid using throwaway sentences in the future, focus on the topic, the main argument of your paper, or the keywords in the question. Always make sure that every sentence adds to the overall message and actually answers the question you have been asked/assigned. 

This can be done as you are writing. When you are writing your next assignment, try thinking: 

“What have we been doing in class recently?" 

"What specifically does the teacher want me to show understanding of here?" 

"How does this help the reader understand my Research Question?"

Can you spot the throwaway sentences?

Below is a passage from an essay on The impacts of tourism on rural communities. It includes examples of throwaway sentences. Try to find two sentences that the writer could delete without affecting their argument. 

What are the two throwaway sentences here?

Tourism has become an important economic activity for many rural communities. However, the impact of tourism is not always positive. While tourism can bring in new income and create jobs, it can also have negative impacts on the environment, local culture, and social fabric of rural communities.

One of the negative impacts of tourism is the overdevelopment of infrastructure. Many rural communities are not equipped to handle large numbers of tourists, and the construction of hotels, resorts, and other tourist facilities can have a negative impact on the natural environment. In addition, tourism can lead to the loss of traditional practices and cultural heritage. While tourism can help preserve cultural heritage, it can also lead to the commercialization of local traditions and the loss of authenticity.

Unfortunately, many tourists are not aware of these negative impacts, and they often engage in behaviour that can harm the local environment and culture. For example, some tourists may litter or damage natural areas, or they may disrespect local customs and traditions. It's important for tourists to be aware of these issues and to act responsibly when visiting rural communities.

In the above passage, the throwaway sentences are:

"While tourism can bring in new income and create jobs," and "It's important for tourists to be aware of these issues and to act responsibly when visiting rural communities." 

These are throwaway sentences because they are general statements that don't provide any specific details or insights. 

To improve this passage, the writer could provide specific examples of how tourism has impacted rural communities or offer suggestions for how tourists can act responsibly. As long as these points are relevant to the essay's title of course!

So, if you have heard your teacher use the phrase "Throwaway Sentences" or they have given you some formative feedback using the phrase, now you know what to look out for, how to improve your writing, and get top marks in the future!

New blog pages that offer unrivalled free-to-use content are being added each week, so make sure you join our mailing list or follow us on social media (facebook and instagram) to keep up-to-date with new developments on the ABEL site.

If you are interested in personalised, individual attention — and you want specialised help related to your work or studies — click here to find your perfect consultant. 

Alternatively, if you have specific questions about the company or you have a specific request, please contact us here, or at: info@abel-consultants.com or on 0034 673395438.