原因三：It is、There be句式
例：It is difficult to find ancient documents concerning mediation.
改：Ancient documents on mediation are hardly available.
例：There is little information in ancient documents about non-governmental mediation…
改：Ancient documents contain little information about nongovernmental mediation…
当然，并不是说 It is 和 There be 句式完全不能用，一些特殊情况下会有意使用此类句式，达到某种表达效果（比如引出主题，强调 it is 或 there be 之后的内容等）。但至少提醒我们，使用 It is 和 There be 句式需慎重，斟酌是否必要、有没有更好的表达方式。
原因四 • 被动语态
被动句式一般不够简洁，也不如主动句“活泼”，滥用被动语态容易导致啰嗦、表达无力。
例：A religious furor difficult to imagine today was caused by the publication of Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species.
改：The publication of Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species caused a religious furor difficult to imagine today.
例：A perceived spiritual impoverishment is associated by society with the huge success of science.
改：Society associates a perceived spiritual impoverishment with the huge success of science.
同样，被动语态也并非绝对禁用，有时为了语句重心等表达需要，有必要使用被动语态。关键是不能毫无选择地滥用。
以上就是英文表达啰嗦的几大原因。有没有发现，更有力的句子，往往更简洁？“反之亦然”虽然不能说绝对成立，但简洁的内容的确更便于阅读，更容易清楚传达信息。简明表达，应当是译者不懈追求的目标。
参考资料：
Politics and the English Language, George Orwell
余光中《翻译乃大道》
