<p>This is when having an editor comes in handy. If your S has tried and can’t find any more words to trim, he could pass the essay to you (or a friend) and ask if they can find words that are unnecessary, or have any suggestions to rephrase a sentence or two to save words. Then it’s up to him to accept or reject the changes (or they may inspire him to rephrase something himself). It’s still his essay and still his voice.</p>