---
title: "prefer-concise-phrases"
description: "Flags padded phrases that a shorter word or nothing replaces."
sidebar:
  label: "prefer-concise-phrases"
  badge: "Hard"
search:
  tags: [rule, static, style]
---

| Property | Value |
| -------- | ----- |
| Kind | Hard rule |
| Engine | `phrase` |
| Tier | `static` |
| Severity | `suggestion` |
| Intent | `style` |
| Scope | `text` |

:::note
This is a style rule. It reports findings and participates in `--fix`, but never moves the [human-likeness score](/docs/concepts/scoring).
:::

## Why

Orwell's third rule: if it is possible to cut a word out, cut it out. These stock phrases carry no more meaning than the single word that replaces them.

## Examples

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Column>
    **Flagged**

    Due to the fact that the deadline passed, we filed in order to preserve the claim.
  </Column>
  <Column>
    **Better**

    Because the deadline passed, we filed to preserve the claim.
  </Column>
</Columns>

## Turning it off

```sh
lawlint --disable prefer-concise-phrases draft.md
```

Or durably, in `.lawlint/config.json` — see [Configuration](/docs/reference/configuration).