Shorter is nearly always better. Short words are clearer than their wordy alternatives. When you have a number of wordy phrases in a letter, memo, email, etc., the document loses clarity. Short doesn't mean simple - it means that you've considered the language you are using carefully with your reader in mind.
WORDY PHRASES
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CONCISE
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now
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although
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is
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if
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soon
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because/since/as
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is
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can
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about
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REDUNDANT PHRASES
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CONCISE
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advance planning
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planning
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exactly identical
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identical
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forward progress
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progress
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joint cooperation
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cooperation
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necessary requirement
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requirement
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new breakthrough
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breakthrough
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postpone until later
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postpone
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