as working at this job,
I found a nest full of partridge eggs. [37 words.]

Right: That day, while shocking wheat behind the binder, my
usual job in harvest, I found a nest full of partridge eggs.
[21 words.]

Ponderous scientific terms for simple ideas: Since, according
to the physicists, the per cent of efficiency of a machine is
equal to the amount of energy put in, divided by the amount of
useful work performed, it naturally follows that in all human
activities, unnecessary friction, since it lowers the amount of
nervous energy, is going to lower the per cent of efficiency.
While we may never reach an astonishing degree of efficiency by
economizing nervous energy, nevertheless, if we consistently
and perseveringly try to spare ourselves all unnecessary labor
and exertion, we shall have an abundant supply of energy to
direct into channels of usefulness. [100 words.]

Right: If we economize our strength, we can make our actions
more efficient and useful. [14 words.]

Inflated writing: She was supreme in beauty among the daughters
of Eve whom his ravished eyes had hitherto beheld. [17 words.]

Right: She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. [10
words.]

Note.--A special form of wordiness is tautology--the useless repetition
of an idea in different words.

Gross tautology: He had an entire monopoly of the whole fruit
trade. [This is like saying "black blackbird."]

Right: He had a monopoly of the fruit trade.

Tautological expressions:

this here
where at
return back
ascend up
repeat again
biography of his life
good benefits
fellow playmates
Hallowe'en evening
important essentials
indorse on the back
connect up
meet up with
combined together
perfectly all right
utter absence of
quite round
absolutely annihilated
still continue to
absolutely new creation
necessary requisite
total effect of all this

Exercise:

1. The people who act the parts in a play want the people who
witness the performance to applaud them.

2. There is an oily grass which is found on the prairie, and
which is called mesquite grass, and it covers the prairie.

3. You wish to call the operator. You take the receiver from
the hook. By taking the