A draft can avoid repeating a word while repeating the same thought five times. Varied vocabulary can conceal that pattern, and fluent transitions can make the absence of new information less obvious.
Name each paragraph’s job
I label paragraphs briefly: definition, example, comparison, reasoning or application. If three consecutive passages provide the same reason in different language, I consider combining them.
The purpose is not automatic shortening. The space may be better used for a missing explanation or genuinely helpful example. I would not add sentences merely to preserve the original length.
Examine the opening and ending
A final section sometimes retells the whole article without clarifying a decision. A shorter ending that identifies what the reader can do or reconsider may be stronger. Every piece does not need the same what really matters conclusion.
Similarly, an opening about a rapidly changing world can delay the actual subject. A concrete observation connected to the question often provides a more direct entrance.
Look across the publication
An individual article may be tidy while successive pieces repeat the same structure: broad introduction, three principles, fictional example and familiar ending. During draft selection, I consider neighbouring articles as well.
A comparison should compare; a process may need steps; an argument against a mistaken assumption can begin with that assumption. Structural variety is more than rearranging headings.
Ask what disappears if a paragraph is removed
If the answer is only emphasis, I question whether that emphasis is needed. Some repetition can teach: applying a central distinction to another example may add meaning. I do not remove recurrence mechanically.
The aim is for every section to create additional clarity. Length should follow the substance rather than become a space the text is required to fill.