When to Cut “That” from a Sentence—and When to Keep It

Three Times to Remove That If It Won’t Cause Confusion

When that functions as conjunction between a verb and a complete sentence, you can usually delete it or reword your sentence to avoid it. Whether the deletion harms clarity depends on a few factors, the most important of which is whether the verb in the sentence can take nouns and full sentences as direct objects.

If you’re making a checklist, the three optional that uses are:

1. That when used with it as a delayed subject
2. That as a complementizer (relative conjunction) after a reporting verb
3. That as a defining relative pronoun when the noun being replaced is a direct object

Delete Category #1: Delayed Subject That (with It)

In spoken conversation, we sometimes delay information with a long opening clause starting with it, giving the speaker a chance to make sure you’re listening and emphasizing the adjective (feelings) around the information. But it isn’t a true subject driving any action in the sentence. So in writing, we should cut to the point. When you see a sentence that starts with it and has that in the middle, you can shrink it dramatically. Here’s how WordRake transforms these unnecessarily wordy sentences:

It’s important that Bob should reconsider the job offer.

It is important to keep in mind Remember that Bob likes pizza.

So it is certain that, based on the initial reactions of military personnel, the company could lose all its military business.

It is possible that Maybe an analysis of server weblogs will provide more information.

It is also possible that birds could Birds also might experience fatal collisions with other human-made objects in the Project Area.

Further, there is a possibility that the district court would might have to apply Argentine law to decide this case.

It is likely that the The transit configuration in the area would likely stay the same.

While scholars may have identified authorship, it was unlikely that they likely could not discern authorship based on writing style alone.

It was apparent to him that He thought he and Lopez did not have good on-air chemistry.

Why is it that should copyrights should last for a lifetime plus seventy years?

Based on our analysis, it is important that DOE and DOT should work closely so that the attainable energy savings do not go untapped.

They hadn’t meant to keep those things concealed; it was just that they just had other things to think about that night.

It was not Not until 1844 did that the sect obtained obtain religious liberty in England.

While the bishop did not fully brief the personal jurisdiction issue, it remains that the Complaint still does not allege any alleges no factual basis for Colorado to assert personal jurisdiction over the Defendant.

Delete Category #2: Relative Conjunction That after Reporting Verbs

When that starts a complete sentence after a verb, you can often omit it. This deletion is particularly helpful after reporting verbs, which are verbs that describe a speech act or a thought. Some common speech act verbs are say, tell, ask, request, order, complain, promise, exclaim, and reply. Some common verbs that reflect thoughts are think, realize, conclude, and wonder. Here’s how WordRake presents these editing opportunities:

I assume that this position will be filled quickly.

Now I realize that this is just another way that society ignores how our bodies change.

Mr. Fisher explained that he believed that anyone who saw the above image should expect dangerous conditions.

At your event, ensure that make sure someone is available to answer customer questions.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a copyright in these works.

So is it fair to say that you exhausted all avenues?

Some of the young people felt that they had a good grasp of priority spending.

Allison sent cards to respondents to remind them that they would be contacted again in April.

The Plaintiff himself told us that he required time to consider whether he would sign.

Category #2 Extra Credit: Cut the Reporting Clause

Omitting that will save you one word, but try to go further to improve brevity and assertiveness. Once you’ve identified a reporting verb, ask yourself whether you need it at all. Reporting verbs are often unnecessary in writing because the speech act is obvious to the reader. And when you combine a reporting verb with a first person pronoun as the subject (I or we), then your writing comes off as indirect, avoidant, or insecure—so cut the entire clause. Here’s how WordRake simplifies the process by showing you where you can delete these weak clauses:

Even under the “code is speech” part of the analysis, I think that the DMCA fails First Amendment scrutiny.

I believe that Bob is a good candidate.

The online community, I believe, reflects the values and procedures of the face-to-face community.

I have no doubt that we We can cure cancer, and my bet is it will happen here in Ottawa.

A lot of care has gone into this production, and I get the feeling that it’s still a work in progress.

I have a strong feeling that this This will be the year of viral marketing.

You can rest assured that we We are taking this matter seriously.

What time do you think that it would it be most convenient to drop off the paperwork?

If you have other test results, we ask that you please bring a copy with you.

We have heard you say that you You want secure, reliable solutions.

We saw that the The obstacles to degree attainment fell into three categories.

Though not severe, it seems that enough light hits can add up to cause concussion-like damage.

Delete Category #3: Direct Object That

When that is a defining relative pronoun replacing a direct object, you can omit it. To break that down: a defining relative clause gives information necessary to define or identify a person or thing. A relative pronoun references a noun appearing earlier in the sentence, so that must refer to another noun. And when that refers to the object of the clause (the thing being acted upon), then you may omit it. If you’re not sure whether the relative pronoun is an object, check whether it is followed by another subject (the actor) and a verb; if it is, that is the object. So that as a relative pronoun can be omitted if it comes before another noun. This omission improves the flow of your writing while reducing word count. And if you’re really trying to cut words, try omitting the copula verb after it, too. Here’s how WordRake applies the that-as-direct-object advice to trim sentences:

It’s a tradition that nobody likes as much as they say they do.

The software helps anyone create an app that anyone can use.

The contractors may have marketing materials that they can share with the campaign.

Do you know of any action that was taken by anyone at the company to solve this problem?

Water samples that are exposed to air will absorb some acidic carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid.

The building was 610 feet tall, with a footprint that was 330 ft long and 140 ft wide.

In some areas, people that are 18 years of age to 23 years of age are eligible for military service.

A mortgage is a consumer credit transaction that is secured by the consumer’s house.

The age distribution of the population can strongly influence the overall percentage of the population that is not in the labor force.

The details of the case do not justify the enormous commitment of judicial time and resources that would inevitably be required if the case were to be tried here.

Category #3 Extra Credit—Part A: Delete Redundant Nouns

In the quest to make English function more like Latin, we’ve imported some constructions based on Latin syntax and the wordiness that comes along with it. But these wordy constructions are editing opportunities. Here, we have that as direct object and we have a redundant noun. Usually, we would delete that as a direct object, but we can make a more impactful edit (and retain nuance) by deleting the redundant noun instead. Here’s how WordRake applies that sophisticated editing advice:

The distinguishing feature of the subsector is the fact that most industries’ production processes are almost wholly dependent on worker skills.

The court should consider the fact that plaintiffs incurred the expense of obtaining financing although they could not be certain that the property would be sold to them.

The basis for this allegation is the notion that because license fees are a cost of production, they somehow determine the final price paid by consumers for DVD players.

Research from various social scientists emphasizes the idea that, when building emotional longevity in relationships, small intentional moments hold more weight than isolated extravagant gestures.

Category #3 Extra Credit—Part B: Reword Phrases for Effectiveness

When you’re editing to your reader’s experience, don’t stop with unnecessary word deletion. Try to transform any wordy sentences so they’re better overall. Here’s how WordRake goes beyond deleting that and creates a better sentence:

If I have any homework that absolutely has to be handed in that day, I will begin it two days before.

We have a Our policy that treats all employees equally.

I do not believe that the The most important architects of the intellectual property clause shared did not share our view on patents and copyrights.

You should be aware that know other pooled investment vehicles exist and may offer features that you desire.

The My proposals that I have outlined would require a substantial financial contribution by the state.

I agreed with the their notion that they’ve presented and I vote yes.

Holland, indignant over the way that how Great Britain had tried to exclude Dutch traders, joined the Bourbons against their common foe.

The farmer explained that the gentlemen that was doing the chicken coop work would be the one that would help her clean it out.

It was during During this time that, Plaintiff recalled using the product.

It is a This doctrine that gained traction after the war.

There is a A formal agreement among the three towns that has been signed by the mayors of each town.

There are a A variety of artificial airways that can be used to keep a pathway between the lungs and mouth/nose.

There is nothing that Nothing can hold back information and communication technology.

In this case, Here, the fact that the report was report’s being prepared by the Defendants’ “deputized” representatives made it even more untrustworthy.

Conclusion

It’s easy to generalize editing advice and wind up with poor results. As evidence: When you cut that indiscriminately, your chances of creating confusion are high. You must be precise. A strong understanding of grammar and syntax will help you make better editing decisions, but is it realistic to methodically interrogate every sentence to the degree shown here? Of course not! That’s where WordRake excels. Our linguists and subject matter experts incorporate this detailed knowledge and nuance into every editing algorithm available. Now you can have fast and reliable editing software and move on to the higher value editing work to improve your message and drive results. See for yourself. Try WordRake for free for 7 days.

About the Authors

Ivy B. Grey is the Chief Strategy & Growth Officer for WordRake. Before joining the team, she practiced bankruptcy law for ten years. In 2020, Ivy was recognized as an Influential Woman in Legal Tech by ILTA. She has also been recognized as a Fastcase 50 Honoree and included in the Women of Legal Tech list by the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center. Follow Ivy on Twitter @IvyBGrey or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Danielle Cosimo is a Language Usage Analyst for WordRake. Before joining the team, she was a translator and editor for non-native English speakers applying to degree programs in the United States and the UK. Danielle is formally trained in linguistics and has a certificate in computer programming. She is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. She applies her interdisciplinary knowledge to create WordRake’s editing algorithms.