Long-winded phrases should be avoided when you’re writing a story.
Why?
The answer is simple: It can be expressed in a shorter form without losing its meaning and it will improve the pace of the storyline/s.
Examples of Long-Winded Phrases and Their Shorter Alternatives:
A group of 15 people…
A large number of…
A multiple number of…
A number…
Apart from the fact that…
A plethora of…
Appeared on the scene…
As a consequence of…
At the time of…
At this moment…
Became aware of…
Because of the fact that…
Broke down and cried…
Due to the fact…
Each and every…
Face up to…
Few in number…
Fill up…
In addition to which…
In all probability…
In close proximity to…
In connection with…
In less than no time…
In spite of the fact that…
In the neighbourhood of…
In the recent past…
Large amount of…
Made an apology…
Of the opinion that…
On a temporary basis…
Provide a contribution…
There can be little doubt that…
With the exception of…
Worst-case scenario…
>> 15 people
>> Many
>> Many
>> Several or some
>> But, except
>> Many
>> Appeared or arrived
>> Because of
>> Now or at present
>> Now or at present
>> Learned or found out
>> Because
>> Cried, wept or sobbed
>> Because
>> Each
>> Face
>> Few
>> Fill
>> Besides
>> Probably
>> Near
>> About
>> Soon or quickly
>> Although or even though
>> Near or about
>> Recently
>> A lot, plenty of or much
>> Apologise or apologised
>> Think or believe
>> Temporary or Temporarily
>> Help
>> Clearly
>> Except
>> At worst
Kate Halena 
On my gosh, I’m so bad about using these longer versions – thanks for guidance!
I think we all are guilty of using the longer versions at some stage. It is good to keep an eye out for them.