规则17 删去多余的词[rule-17]

有力的写作是简洁的。一个句子不应包含多余的词，一个段落不应包含多余的句子，正如一幅画不应有多余的线条，一台机器不应有多余的零件。这并不要求写作者把所有句子都写短，或者回避一切细节、只提纲挈领地处理主题，而是要求每一个词都发挥作用。

许多常用表达违反了这条原理。

• 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 that — this subject
• Her story is a strange one. — Her story is strange.
• the reason why is that — because

the fact that是一个尤其使人衰弱的表达。凡出现它的句子，都应当把它改掉。

• 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

另见第四章中case、character、nature等词。

Who is、which was之类常常是多余的。

• 误：His cousin, who is a member of the same firm
• 正：His cousin, a member of the same firm

• 误：Trafalgar, which was Nelson's last battle
• 正：Trafalgar, Nelson's last battle

由于主动语态比被动语态更简洁，肯定陈述比否定陈述更简洁，规则14和规则15下的许多例子也说明了本条规则。

陷入啰嗦的一个常见方式，是把一个复杂的想法一步一步地用一连串句子表达出来，而这些句子本可以合并成一句而效果更好。

• 误：Macbeth was very ambitious. This led him to wish to become king of Scotland. The witches told him that this wish of his would come true. The king of Scotland at this time was Duncan. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth murdered Duncan. He was thus enabled to succeed Duncan as king. (51 words)
• 正：Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth achieved his ambition and realized the prediction of the witches by murdering Duncan and becoming king of Scotland in his place. (26 words)