A writing crutch that many writers will lean on too often is adding the word in where it really doesn’t belong.
These verbose constructions can often be whittled down with no loss of clarity or meaning.
Here are some examples of where in can be dropped for cleaner, tighter writing. This applies for fiction, nonfiction and especially business writing.
1.
Please submit your report in advance of the meeting.
Please submit your report before the meeting.
2.
We received a check in the amount of $1,000.
We received a $1,000 check .
3.
We’re implementing this policy in an effort to streamline our process.
We’re implementing this policy to streamline our process.
4.
Do not use in excess of the recommended dosage.
Do not use more than the recommended dosage.
5.
Improvement will be noted in most cases.
Improvement will usually be noted.
6.
They have changed the procedure in order to reduce the necessary steps.
They have changed the procedure to reduce the necessary steps.
7.
She is attending the meeting in place of her vacationing supervisor.
She is attending the meeting for her vacationing supervisor.
8.
I am in possession of damning evidence.
I have damning evidence.
9.
They are in proximity to the epicenter.
They are close to the epicenter.
10.
We are in receipt of your letter.
We received your letter.
11.
I wasn’t sure what the question was in reference to (or regard to or in relation to).
I wasn’t sure what the question was about.
12.
In spite of the fact that the box was clearly labeled, he could not find it.
Although the box was clearly labeled, he could not find it.
13.
In terms of reducing costs, the strategy has been a failure.
The strategy has been a failure in reducing costs.
14.
We were speaking in the context of yesterday’s discussion.
We were speaking about yesterday’s discussion.
15.
In the course of the session, little progress was made.
During the session, little progress was made.
16.
In the event that no decision is made, the current procedure will remain in effect.
If no decision is made, the current procedure will remain in effect.
17.
He will return in the near future.
He will return soon.
18.
It took in the neighborhood of two weeks to complete.
It took about two weeks to complete.
19.
They are in the vicinity of the headquarters now.
They are near the headquarters now.
Inspired author. Provocative storyteller. 
“I have damning evidence” could be stated even more strongly as “I possess damning evidence.” Whenever possible use verbs that show action.
Thanks for some good writing advice. I did find it interesting that one of you clean-up suggestions, although somewhat shorter, did not remove the “in”:
– In terms of reducing costs, the strategy has been a failure.
– The strategy has been a failure in reducing costs.
How about this: “The strategy failed to reduce costs.”
Thanks, John.That’s a useful list for students to practise writing precisely. It will help them write shorter e-mails with greater clarity!
Good post. I find more often than not I add the word ‘that’ where it’s not needed. Thank goodness for copy editors, eh?
With dropping “in” from some of these sentences I found that there was danger of becoming less clear and even came close to creating an incomplete sentence. Changing the structure of these sentences also seemed to make them too casual, at least for me. Although, I am not a writer so excuse my ignorance but that is how I see it.
1,2 and 4 were the ones of most concern to me.
Thank you for posting a caution worth keeping in mind even when writing something simple.
B.