Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
Common Core State Standards, Grade 7, Language · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026
What L.7.3 Means in Plain English
Seventh graders cut sentences down to what they mean. “At this point in time” becomes now, “due to the fact that” becomes because, and “past history” loses past. They also swap vague words for exact ones, so “a really big amount of rain” becomes four inches of rain.
Sixth graders (L.6.3) vary sentence patterns and keep style and tone consistent. Seventh grade asks for the opposite of padding: every word earns its place, and repeated ideas go. Eighth grade (L.8.3) chooses active or passive voice and the conditional or subjunctive mood for a particular effect.
L.7.3 I Can Statements
I can spot words and phrases a sentence doesn’t need.
I can cut repeated ideas like “past history” and “free gift.”
I can replace vague words with precise ones.
L.7.3 Worked Example
One padded sentence from a lab report, cut in half and made more exact at the same time.
Prompt
Revise this sentence from a lab report so it is precise and concise. The data: in three weeks, the plants in the sunny window grew 14 centimeters, and the plants in the closet grew 6.
Not YetAt this point in time, it is my personal opinion that the plants that were in the sunny window grew really, really tall due to the fact that they got sunlight, and the plants in the closet were not as tall and were shorter.Empty phrases (at this point in time, it is my personal opinion that, due to the fact that) pad it out, really, really tall is vague when the student has measurements, and “not as tall and were shorter” says the same thing twice.
Meets the StandardThe plants in the sunny window grew 14 centimeters, more than twice as much as the closet plants, so sunlight helped them grow.The padding is gone, really, really tall becomes 14 centimeters, and the comparison is made once. The sentence is half as long and says more.
Moves to Use
Cut empty openers: at this point in time, it is my opinion that, the fact is.Shrink padded phrases: due to the fact that becomes because, in order to becomes to.Delete one half of a redundant pair: not as tall and shorter, past history, free gift.Replace vague intensifiers like really and very with an exact word or number.Check that every fact in the original survives the cut.
Common Mistakes with L.7.3
Padding to reach a word count
“In my personal opinion, I think that…” opening every paragraph
Try this: Set a word ceiling instead of a minimum for one assignment, and have students trim a paragraph by a third without losing facts.
Cutting the meaning along with the words
“Plants grew. Sunlight.” after a student trims too hard
Try this: Have students list the facts in the original sentence before they revise, then check off each one in the shorter version.
Missing the hidden repeats
“The final outcome was a big, enormous surprise.”
Try this: Post a wall of common redundant pairs (final outcome, past history, close proximity, each and every) and have students hunt for them in drafts.
Sentence Scramble GeneratorFree ToolScramble the concise version of a wordy sentence, so students rebuild the tight sentence and then compare it with the padded original.Concise sentencesGrade 7
Vocabulary Worksheet GeneratorFree ToolPractice on the precise words students need in place of vague ones, like trudged for walked slowly and crucial for really important.Precise verbsVague-word swaps