Deadline word trimming: cut repetition before substance

When a draft exceeds a word limit close to a deadline, count the actual final text, then remove repeated phrases, filler transitions, and examples that duplicate the same point. Protect requirements, safety caveats, and information the reader needs to act. Recount after editing, including headings and captions if the destination includes them. Leave a small buffer for differences in hyphen and punctuation handling. A shorter draft should still answer the original question.