"Extra" words

Omit needless words
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short,
or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that he make every word tell.

Many expressions in common use violate this principle:

  the question as to whether

    whether (the question whether)

  there is no doubt but that

    no doubt (doubtless)

  used for fuel purposes

    used for fuel

  he is a man who

    he

  in a hasty manner

    hastily

  this is a subject which

    this subject

  His story is a strange one.

    His story is strange.

In especial the expression the fact that should be revised out of every sentence in which it occurs.

  owing to the fact that

    since (because)

  in spite of the fact that

    though (although)

  call your attention to the fact that

    remind you (notify you)

  I was unaware of the fact that

    I was unaware that (did not know)

  the fact that he had not succeeded

    his failure

  the fact that I had arrived

    my arrival

Who is, which was, and the like are often superfluous.

  His brother, who is a member of the same firm

    His brother, a member of the same firm

  Trafalgar, which was Nelson's last battle

    Trafalgar, Nelson's last battle