# Phrases to Remove

## Throat-Clearing Openers

Remove these announcement phrases. State the content directly.

- "Here's the thing:"
- "The uncomfortable truth is"
- "It turns out"
- "The real [X] is"
- "Let me be clear"
- "The truth is,"
- "I'll say it again:"
- "I'm going to be honest"
- "Can we talk about"

## Emphasis Crutches

These add no meaning. Delete them.

- "Full stop." / "Period."
- "Let that sink in."
- "This matters because"
- "Make no mistake"
- "Here's why that matters"

## Business Jargon

Replace with plain language.

| Avoid | Use instead |
|-------|-------------|
| Navigate (challenges) | Handle, address |
| Unpack (analysis) | Explain, examine |
| Lean into | Accept, embrace |
| Landscape (context) | Situation, field |
| Game-changer | Significant, important |
| Double down | Commit, increase |
| Deep dive | Analysis, examination |
| Take a step back | Reconsider |
| Moving forward | Next, from now |
| Circle back | Return to, revisit |
| On the same page | Aligned, agreed |

## Filler Adverbs

Cut or replace:

- "At its core"
- "In today's [X]"
- "It's worth noting"
- "Interestingly,"
- "Importantly,"
- "Crucially,"
- "At the end of the day"
- "When it comes to"
- "In a world where"
- "The reality is"

## Meta-Commentary

Remove self-referential asides:

- "Hint:"
- "Plot twist:" / "Spoiler:"
- "You already know this, but"
- "But that's another post"
- "X is a feature, not a bug"
- "Dressed up as"
