Down With That!
I have decided the word "that" is one of the most over-used words in the English language, at least the written form. Why do people feel the need to throw random thats into every piece they write? Even good writers make this mistake.On average, whether I am editing a story for my magazine or betaing a piece of fic for a friend, I find myself deleting the word that over and over again. Most of the time, it is just an extra word, requiring no other work to make the sentence read-able. To me, this is the true test: if it makes sense without that, don't use it.
Not to say there aren't appropriate times and places for that. It is an important little word, as innocuous as it may seem, and it does help bridge certain ideas. That is it's purpose.
See, it works there. But to say I feel that I dislike that because that is an overused word... NO! That sentence only needs to say: I dislike that because it is an overused word. Much more succinct. Much easier to read.
If I had a quarter for every that I edit out of written materials, I would be a very rich woman. I would probably be buried in quarters and thats.
posted by Toni @ 12:14 PM
Comments: 3
