emacs delete word commands

(defun delete-word (word-count)
  "Equivalent to `kill-word'. Characters do not get sent to the kill-ring."
  (interactive "p")
  (delete-region (point) (progn (forward-word word-count) (point))))

(defun backward-delete-word (word-count)
  "Equivalent to `backward-kill-word'. Characters do not get sent to the kill-ring."
  (interactive "p")
  (delete-word (- word-count)))