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| So Much of "That" |
Please Stop Using so Much of “That”Gillian Britt - August 2009 During a recent staff meeting at gBritt, Gillian brought up a blog post she found with ten words to avoid when writing. The words (and phrases) included “award-winning,” “pleased to,” “thrilled,” and “excited” – words that are overused and pretty much meaningless. We discussed other words we try to avoid when writing quick and effective copy – they included “really,” “a lot,” and versions of “to be.”One of my favorite words to avoid is “that.” People often unnecessarily use “that” when writing. However, “that” is often a filler word. It slows down the reader without adding anything to the information. Don’t believe me? Here’s a quick tip I learned in college to make your writing a bit livelier. Consider it a magic trick – called “The Disappearing That.” Below are a few sentences I’ve recently read on various websites and newsletters:
Now, take away the “that” and read it again. Does it still make sense? Yes. Does it move a little quicker? Yes. Next time you write, take a step back and check your “thats.” You may notice (that) you don’t need them at all. Happy Writing! |
