1. Skip what’s obvious
❌ It is my opinion that…
✅ AI is both a risk and an opportunity.
→ The student is the author — every idea is already their opinion. No need to announce it.
2. Cut empty sentence openers
❌ There are many things that could be said about…
✅ AI changes how we work, learn, and think.
→ Get straight to the point. Long wind-ups are dead weight.
3. Prefer the active voice
❌ It can be argued that AI will be used in schools.
✅ Schools are already using AI.
✅ Teachers rely on AI to plan lessons.
→ Passive voice often hides who is acting — and weakens your sentence.
4. Avoid hedging and over-qualifying
❌ I believe that maybe AI might be useful in some ways.
✅ AI is already useful in many areas.
→ Be assertive. You’re not writing a philosophy paper. Be bold, not vague.
5. Don’t repeat yourself
❌ In conclusion, I have now shared my thoughts about AI and how I see it.
✅ AI is powerful — and we must learn to use it wisely.
→ Strong endings matter. Don’t “recap” your process — drive the message home.
🎒 TOOLKIT: USEFUL STRUCTURES & STRATEGIES
🔹 Strong Openers (avoid “It is my opinion that…”)
- AI will shape our future.
- One challenge with AI is…
- Some fear AI. Others see potential.
- We are only beginning to understand AI’s impact.
🔹 Sharp Replacements (trim and strengthen)
| Wordy | Concise |
| It is important to realize that | We must realize |
| In today’s world | Today |
| A topic that is often discussed | A common topic |
| There are many who believe | Many believe |
| Due to the fact that | Because |
| At this point in time | Now |
| In my opinion, I believe that | I believe |
🔹 Assertive Verbs (replace vague ones)
| Vague | Assertive |
| Is | Shapes, drives, affects |
| Has | Offers, causes, provides |
| Get | Gain, achieve, receive |
| Make | Create, produce, build |
| Do | Solve, perform, handle |
🔹 Ending Phrases with Power
- Let’s use AI — not let it use us.
- Like any tool, AI depends on the user.
- We need more thinking, not less — especially with machines doing the work.
🧠 “WORDY vs. WISE”
Can you rewrite your sentences using fewer characters while keeping (or strengthening) the meaning?
✍️ Original: It is my belief that schools should probably start considering using AI tools in their daily routines.
✂️ Rewrite: Schools should start using AI tools. (Character count: slashed in half)
✨ BONUS: AFFIRMATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO HESITATION
| Instead of… | Try… |
| I think that maybe… | Clearly… / Without a doubt… |
| It could be that… | AI already shows… |
| It might be possible that… | AI can… |
By trimming the fat, cutting hedging, and choosing active, specific verbs, students will sound more confident, mature, and fluent — and will score higher, even within the 1300-character cap.
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MAKE EVERY WORD COUNT
Cutting Wordiness in English Composition Writing
For Finnish Senior High School Students (10 years of English)
✨ WHY THIS MATTERS
You only have 1300 characters in the national English exam composition. Long, polite, or vague phrases waste space and weaken your message. Here’s how to write powerfully and clearly.
🔬 PRINCIPLES FOR CUTTING WORDINESS
1. Skip what’s obvious
❌ It is my opinion that…
✅ AI is both a risk and an opportunity.
(Your opinion is clear without saying it!)
2. Cut empty sentence openers
❌ There are many things that could be said about…
✅ AI changes how we work, learn, and think.
3. Prefer the active voice
❌ It can be argued that AI will be used in schools.
✅ Schools are already using AI.
4. Avoid hedging (maybe, possibly, I think…)
❌ I believe that maybe AI might be useful.
✅ AI is already useful.
5. Don’t repeat yourself
❌ In conclusion, I have now shared my thoughts…
✅ AI is powerful — and we must use it wisely.
📚 TOOLKIT FOR STRONGER WRITING
🔹 Strong Openers
- AI will shape our future.
- One challenge with AI is…
- Some fear AI. Others see potential.
- We are only beginning to understand AI’s impact.
🔹 Cut These / Say This Instead
| Wordy | Concise |
| It is important to realize that | We must realize |
| In today’s world | Today |
| A topic that is often discussed | A common topic |
| There are many who believe | Many believe |
| Due to the fact that | Because |
| At this point in time | Now |
| In my opinion, I believe that | I believe |
🔹 Strong Verbs Win
| Vague | Assertive |
| Is | Shapes, drives, affects |
| Has | Offers, causes, provides |
| Get | Gain, achieve, receive |
| Make | Create, produce, build |
| Do | Solve, perform, handle |
🔹 Ending With Power
- Let’s use AI — not let it use us.
- Like any tool, AI depends on the user.
- We need more thinking, not less — especially with machines doing the work.
🎯 “WORDY vs. WISE”
Task: Rewrite each wordy sentence in 1 line or less.
Example
✏️ Original: It is my belief that schools should probably start considering using AI tools.
✂️ Rewrite: Schools should start using AI tools.
✨ BONUS: BE AFFIRMATIVE
| Instead of… | Try… |
| I think that maybe… | Clearly… / Without a doubt… |
| It could be that… | AI already shows… |
| It might be possible that… | AI can… |
WRITE WITH PURPOSE. TRIM THE FAT. MAKE YOUR WORDS COUNT.
Maxx Perälä’s Treasure Trove of English Materials
