Certainly! Here are some editing tips that Simon's editor can give him to help remedy the issue of starting many sentences with the phrase "it is":
1. Rewrite such sentences to make them more active and engaging:
Encourage Simon to rephrase sentences that start with "it is" to make them more dynamic and lively. For example, instead of saying "It is important to study," he could write "Studying is crucial."
2. Use contractions to prevent the writing from sounding too formal:
Suggest that Simon incorporates contractions to make his sentences sound more natural and less formal. For instance, changing "It is going to be a long day" to "It's going to be a long day" adds a conversational tone.
3. Cut out as many prepositional phrases as possible from such sentences:
Advise Simon to trim down unnecessary prepositional phrases in his sentences to make them clearer and more concise. For instance, transforming "It is under the table" to "It is beneath the table" eliminates the need for the prepositional phrase "under."
By implementing these editing tips, Simon can enhance the flow, engagement, and clarity of his writing while avoiding repetitive sentence structures starting with "it is."