No longer knowing vs "without knowing...anymore."?

Question

I think this is a common problem I have. I always find myself debating whether I should write a sentence as *"no longer knowing"* or *"without knowing...anymore."*For example:> I looked at Faye's cat smile, and for a fleeting instant, I forgot> about everything. I forgot about buses, waiting lines, ticket> counters, miniature toilets, sleepless nights on a seat. The feeling of> exhaustion that never left my body. **The feeling of anxiety upon> arriving to a city that wasn't my own. And the even stronger feeling> of detachment upon reaching mine without knowing who I was anymore.** I> finally understood it at that moment. All this traveling had really> alienated me from myself. To the point I no longer recognized my own> skin, my own feelings, or my own thoughts. But thanks to Faye I could> finally find myself again—that part of me that almost got lost forever on the> highway.I could have written it like this:>The feeling of anxiety upon> arriving to a city that wasn't my own. And the even stronger feeling> of detachment upon reaching mine, **no longer knowing who I was.**Which one should I choose in cases like this? The shorter one? The one that sounds "better"? I think I've read the sentence so many times I no longer/don't know which one is the best choice (anymore).

Answer 1

I like her answer :) Shorter is better. As to which I personally prefer, I lean towards "...without knowing who I was anymore."

Answer 2

Academically speaking, shorter is better

I don't like "filler" words. Words that just take up space that have no meaning. Consider your audience. Who will read your document. I published an article once that was re-written by the editor who said the article had to read on the level of the reader. Don't use words that your reader will not understand.

Again, shorter sentences is better.