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Thread: Reduce redundancy

  1. #1
    thantoni is offline Newbie
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    Default Reduce redundancy

    Can you please me help me to reduce the redundancy from this sentence:
    "The main reason that leads me to believe that I can make a decisive contribution "

  2. #2
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    Barb_D is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: Reduce redundancy

    It's not a sentence. What is that main reason?
    It's also not redundant; it's just wordy.

    Write the entire sentence and then we'll see. Maybe whatever that
    main reason is can be the subject of a more concise sentence.
    bhaisahab, riquecohen and 5jj like this.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

  3. #3
    thantoni is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: Reduce redundancy

    Hi Bard_D you are absolutely write on your comments. I am just writing a Cover Letter and I feel extremely uncomfortable with its structure.
    The full sentence is: "The main reason that leads me to believe that I can make a decisive contribution to this department is both my working experience in a relevant sector and my rich academic record".

  4. #4
    blackdragon is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: Reduce redundancy

    "The main reason that leads me to believe that I can make a decisive contribution" could be written:
    the main reason leading me to believe is (that) i can make a decisive contribution

  5. #5
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: Reduce redundancy

    Quote Originally Posted by thantoni View Post
    Hi Bard_D you are absolutely write on your comments. I am just writing a Cover Letter and I feel extremely uncomfortable with its structure.
    The full sentence is: "The main reason that leads me to believe that I can make a decisive contribution to this department is both my working experience in a relevant sector and my rich academic record".
    Haven't you given two reasons there?

    How about:

    I believe that I can make a decisive contribution to this department because...

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Reduce redundancy

    Quote Originally Posted by blackdragon View Post
    "The main reason that leads me to believe that I can make a decisive contribution" could be written:
    the main reason leading me to believe is (that) i can make a decisive contribution
    This is not possible.
    bhaisahab likes this.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  7. #7
    thantoni is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: Reduce redundancy

    Thank you Tdol. You are absolutly right.
    I have changed this sentence so many times that at the end I don't even remember what I wrote.

  8. #8
    Rover_KE is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: Reduce redundancy

    Quote Originally Posted by blackdragon View Post
    "The main reason that leads me to believe that I can make a decisive contribution" could be written:
    "The main reason leading me to believe is (that) I can make a decisive contribution."
    It's still wrong – even with my corrections.

    Please read this extract from the forum's Posting Guidelines, blackdragon:

    You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post.

    Rover

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    Default Re: Reduce redundancy

    not a teacher

    I prefer the following adjectives:

    decisive contribution - positive contribution.
    rich academic record - good/strong academic record

    How about making it simple:
    With my experience (which is relevant to the position) and good academic record, I believe I can make a positive contribution to the department.
    Rover_KE likes this.

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