In the art of storytelling, every word should serve a purpose, like a brushstroke on a canvas. Unnecessary words not only clutter your narrative but can also dilute its impact. As writers, our mission is to convey powerful stories with precision and clarity. To help you on your journey toward leaner, more engaging prose, let’s explore 20 words that often sneak into our writing but can be gracefully excised without sacrificing meaning or depth. 1. That: This word is often superfluous. For instance, “She said that she would come” can be simplified to “She said she would come.” 2. Really: It often adds little meaning and it is lazy writing.…