Ban These 15 Words From Your Writing

Ban These 15 Words From Yur WritingStreamlined writing is an automatic way to present yourself as polished and professional. The next time you write an important email, report, or even a quick note, check to see if you can delete any of the following before sendingyour writing will be better for it. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. ThatThat is a part of speech most people use without thinking. Its often totally unnecessary Here are 4 sentences using thatsee which ones are totally acceptable without it1. A) She said that she would be late.2. B) That puppy is the cutest thing ever.3. C) Did you hear about that explosion?4. D) You should plattl up the books that are on the floorChoices A and D can function perfectly well without that cluttering up their momentum. You should pick up the books on the floor and She said she would be late seem so light and airy nowAlso, stop using that to refer to people. The people that piled out of the car? No The people who piled out of the car. Because they are people, car or no car.2. WentSometimes went as in the past tense of go is the shortest distance between two points, but you also miss an opportunity to establish information about how whoever got whereverdid she race, fly, hurry, dawdle, drive, carom, or drift?3. HonestlyI have to do a find and replace in my essays for honestly all the timeit falls under the heading of what I call throat clearing with my students. I use it as a moment to pause and then convey earnestness, but the thing is, what it actually suggests is that you havent been honest this whole time.4. AbsolutelyThere is a time and a place for emphasis. But unless youre writing marketing or publicity copy, you probably dont need the EXTREME INSISTENCE of something being absolute.5. VeryWe use very to strengthen our intention, but it often winds up watering it down instead. Make your sentence stand on its own6. ReallySimilarly, really gives an illusion of intensifi cation without adding much meaning at all.7. AmazingThe New York Mets are amazing. They cause great surprise or sudden wonder because for a long time they have been terrible at playing baseball and finally this year, they are good at it. Outside of Citifield, though, amazing is so overexposed that nothing is really that impressive. Certainly not impressive enough to earn the name.8. AlwaysWhenever you work in absolutes (see absolutely) you are in a black or white zone. Theres no nuance in always, theres no space for growth or revision. Unless youre giving instructions or outlining procedure, give some wiggle room.9. NeverI refer you to the above.10. LiterallyThis is one of those words that started getting used for comedic effect and has taken over our lexicon. Did this actually happen? No? Is it a metaphor? Yes? Then why are we clinging to this mass illusion that so many things are actually happening?11. JustThis is something women get hyper-criticized for using, when the truth is i t weakens anyones writingto diminish their contribution by beginning with I was just going to say Use just when youre talking about fairness or impartiality, otherwise leave it in the drawer.12. MaybeAnother one that women get extra criticized for, despite the chilly reception we often get when we make firmstatements. If youre sure, sound sure13. StuffI had a student in one of my classes announce her fantasy story was taking place in the Kingdom of Stuff, on Stuff Island. Shes 8. We can forgive her. Are you 8?14. ThingsDitto Stuff15. IrregardlessPut this in a lockbox at the bottom of the sea along with supposably.It may take a while to (metaphorically) eliminatethese words from your brain, but adding in an extra mental filter when you edit should help you sharpen your writing and improve your persuasiveness immediately. Cut out the filler, the throat-clearing, the circling around, and youll find you come through on the page with more clarity and staying power.