How Do I Cut Repetition Without Flattening My Tone? 

Repetition is rarely a “bad writing” problem. It’s usually a sign you’re thinking on the page, circling the idea until it feels safe. The goal isn’t to strip your writing bare; it’s to keep the strongest line and remove the echoes around it.

First, identify the kind of repetition 

Repetition tends to show up in a few predictable ways:

Idea repetition

You explain the same point twice in different words.

Sentence-shape repetition 

Lots of sentences begin the same way or follow the same rhythm.

Filler repetition 

Repeated softeners like: just, really, quite, a bit, in order to, actually, perhaps.

Example repetition 

Two examples that do the same job, when one would land better.

A simple method that preserves voice 

Try this quick “keep one, cut two” pass:

1. Underline the strongest sentence in the paragraph
   The one that carries the meaning cleanly, in your natural voice.

2. Cut anything that repeats it
   If two sentences do one job, keep the best one.

3. Combine when needed
   Sometimes the answer isn’t deletion; it’s merging two half-sentences into one good sentence.

4. Read aloud once
   Your ear will catch redundancy faster than your eyes.

How to tighten without turning vanilla 

If you’ve ever cut repetition and thought, “Well…now it’s technically fine, but it’s lost its warmth,” use these safeguards:

• Keep one vivid phrase per paragraph: a small line of personality, a human note

• Vary sentence length: a long sentence can feel generous; a short one can land like a bell

• Don’t delete emphasis; move it. Keep the emphasis once, in the best spot

Where repetition hides most often 

If you’re short on time, check these hotspots first:

• intros to chapters (throat-clearing)

• conclusions (re-stating everything)

• any paragraph beginning with “In other words…” or “What I mean is…”

A gentle next step

Course 1: Editing Foundations helps you spot common first-draft habits (including repetition) and tighten your writing without sanding off your voice.