diff --git a/unstructured/partition/common/common.py b/unstructured/partition/common/common.py
index d18fc8c87b..4d10c78acc 100644
--- a/unstructured/partition/common/common.py
+++ b/unstructured/partition/common/common.py
@@ -338,7 +338,8 @@ def exactly_one(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
     Example:
         >>> exactly_one(filename=filename, file=file, text=text, url=url)
     """
-    if sum([(arg is not None and arg != "") for arg in kwargs.values()]) != 1:
+    # Use generator expression to avoid creating a temporary list, reducing memory use
+    if sum((arg is not None and arg != "") for arg in kwargs.values()) != 1:
         names = list(kwargs.keys())
         if len(names) > 1:
             message = f"Exactly one of {', '.join(names[:-1])} and {names[-1]} must be specified."
diff --git a/unstructured/staging/base.py b/unstructured/staging/base.py
index aab1b1647f..738b077fbe 100644
--- a/unstructured/staging/base.py
+++ b/unstructured/staging/base.py
@@ -462,21 +462,11 @@ def filter_element_types(
         include_element_types=include_element_types,
         exclude_element_types=exclude_element_types,
     )
-
-    filtered_elements: list[Element] = []
     if include_element_types:
-        for element in elements:
-            if type(element) in include_element_types:
-                filtered_elements.append(element)
-
-        return filtered_elements
+        return [element for element in elements if type(element) in include_element_types]
 
     elif exclude_element_types:
-        for element in elements:
-            if type(element) not in exclude_element_types:
-                filtered_elements.append(element)
-
-        return filtered_elements
+        return [element for element in elements if type(element) not in exclude_element_types]
 
     return list(elements)