(Mostly) Useless Words

S. L. Saboviec · May 10, 2013

I've looked through the stickies and searched the forums, but I can't find what I'm looking for. Is there a list of (mostly) useless words to weed out of your writing? Allen Guthrie's Infamous Writing Tips was helpful, but I'm looking for a list, so I can do a "find" in my MS. A link to a website is welcome.

Here are the ones I have so far:

start to / started to
begin to / began to / begun to
continue to / continued to
going to
really
very
a number of
some of
have to / had to = must
was -ing (Replace with the verb, as in "I was running" becomes "I ran")
-ly words

Torgo · May 10, 2013

I've recntly bgun to strip the lttr '' out of my writing ntirly. It's almost nvr rquird and should b wddd out.

Gilroy Cullen · May 10, 2013

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235492

You might want to check this thread, as it has a similar feel on what you're looking for.

Though be careful what you automatically weed out.

Bufty · May 10, 2013

The best way to find a useless word is to read what you have written and take out what you think is an unnecessary or useless word. The words you quote are more vague than useless.

If the ammended sentence doesn't read right unless you put the word back in then that word would not seem to qualify as a useless word- no?

On the other hand....

What may be a useless word in one manuscript may be brilliantly effective in another.

Let the brain decide- not some arbitrary list.

S. L. Saboviec · May 10, 2013

Thanks, I'll check out the thread.

I agree about not stripping out words willy-nilly. I've left at least one instance of all the words on my list. I find it interesting how much I used "going to" to mean "will." (i.e. "I'm going to sneeze" instead of "I will sneeze.") I left in "going to" when I meant "I'm going to the store." Of course, context is everything--it might be appropriate in dialogue--so I'm examining every instance.

Bufty · May 10, 2013

Nothing wrong with 'I'm going to sneeze'.

'I will sneeze' doesn't mean the same thing at all and that comparison has nothing to do with useless words.

Don't get hung up on lists of words- concentrate more upon saying what you mean with clarity.

Samantha Lane said:
Thanks, I'll check out the thread.

I agree about not stripping out words willy-nilly. I've left at least one instance of all the words on my list. I find it interesting how much I used "going to" to mean "will." (i.e. "I'm going to sneeze" instead of "I will sneeze.") I left in "going to" when I meant "I'm going to the store." Of course, context is everything--it might be appropriate in dialogue--so I'm examining every instance.

Susan Coffin · May 10, 2013

Samantha,

Even though people create lists, there really is no list of words to be avoided or "weeded out" of your work. Each sentence should be considered carefully, and if "started to" or "really" belong, then they belong.

The point is to use certain types of words in moderation because they weaken writing.

Chase · May 10, 2013

Torgo said:
I've recntly bgun to strip the lttr '' out of my writing ntirly. It's almost nvr rquird and should b wddd out.

It's rcntly not recntly. It's xtras lik this that mak your novls too long.

Down is a word in need of weeding from these real-life edits:

The CSI narrowed ~~down~~ the list of suspects.

She sat ~~down~~ next to him.

He knelt ~~down~~.

They slowed ~~down~~ their approach.

She descended ~~down~~ the ladder.

"I bow ~~down~~ to you," he said. (Okay, we can have him sound stupid in dialog.)

Susan Coffin · May 10, 2013

Samantha Lane said:
"I'm going to sneeze" instead of "I will sneeze.".

I think you are overdoing it. We usually say we are going to sneeze when we feel it coming on, but I will sneeze sounds plain awkward and like some kind of prediction.

pezerp59 · May 10, 2013

I suppose any word that could be removed without altering the story line might be considered useless.

SomethingOrOther · May 10, 2013

It's really, really important not to remove rhythm and voice from the equation.

"I'm going to sneeze," for example, has an idiomatic, humanized flavor that "I will sneeze" completely lacks (in the same context).* Imagine someone saying, "Hold on, hold on, I will sneeze." They'd sound like a robot.

If you try to shrink every single phrase you can, you're going to screw with rhythm and voice a lot. Not worth it. Bufty and Susan are right.

*I'm temporarily ignoring the fact that they don't mean the same thing, just for example's sake.

pezerp59 said:
I suppose any word that could be removed without altering the story line might be considered useless.

Untrue. Voice and rhythm are part of what makes fiction enjoyable — not just the "story line."

seun · May 10, 2013

There's no such thing as a useless word when it comes to writing fiction. There are words or phrasing better suited to a sentence than others, but that doesn't make the other one useless.

tko · May 10, 2013

here ya go

I think the words you called out are fine.

Simpler is usually better, but not at the expense of meaning or clarity.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/572/

The two words I look out for are that and it. 80% of "that" usages can be removed from my writing. I use MS word to turn all "thats" red and bold, then review case by case.

"It" can usually be replaced with something specific

http://jobourne.blogspot.com/2008/05/technical-topics-100-best-of-worst-part.html

Not – Lester pulled back on the arrow and shot it deep into the woods. But -- Lester pulled back on the arrow and shot the black shaft deep into the woods.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2010/02/re-write-wednesday-spit-shine.html

[FONT=&quot]Words to Avoid: These words I can almost always cut without losing anything from the sentence. Often there's another word that makes them redundant.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]That[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Then[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Almost[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]About[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Begin[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Start[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Decided[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Planned[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Very[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Sat[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Truly[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Rather[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Fairly[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Really[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Somewhat[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Up[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Down[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Over[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Together[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Behind[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Out[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In order[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Around[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Only[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Just[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Even[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]

Words to Rethink. These are words that often show up in told prose.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]As[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]While[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Since[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Although[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Though[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Through[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Because[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]When[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Before[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Until[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]
Word That Often Spell Trouble. These are words that keep readers out of the moment or aren't as active as they ought to be. Adverbs, passive verbs, passive writing.

Of
Was, were (especially the was -ing forms)
Have, had
Here
There
-ly
Will be
To be
Thought
Felt
Heard
Saw
Smelled

Words That Often Indicate Weak Prose. Some words read just fine, but I've discovered if I tweak them a little, I can strengthen my story and turn a lot of "good" sentences into great sentences.

Look[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Need[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Want[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Here[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]There[/FONT]

Undercover · May 10, 2013

I overuse "just" There's just so many justs. I weed out a lot every time I rewrite, but I do keep some for voice.

S. L. Saboviec · May 10, 2013

You're right, that was a bad example because it was invented.

Here's a better one from my MS: "If you tell anyone what happened, I'm going to kill you." I changed it to, "If you tell anyone what happened, I'll kill you." Either works, but I like the "will" version because it's more direct.

Thanks for the list, tko.

I've already been through 2/3 of my MS line-by-line, and upon doing a "find," I still find some (mostly) useless words. Some I leave in for voice. Some I leave in because changing them would be awkward. Most I take out.

Bufty · May 10, 2013

Your quoted change has still got nothing to do with useless words. That was a simply matter of preference re character dialogue.

And there is no definition of a useless word beyond one that does nothing in the position it happens to be in at that particular time.

You do seem to be approaching this too rigidly. Forget about anything other than aiming for achieving flow and clarity, which you should feel as you read.

Samantha Lane said:
You're right, that was a bad example because it was invented.

Here's a better one from my MS: "If you tell anyone what happened, I'm going to kill you." I changed it to, "If you tell anyone what happened, I'll kill you." Either works, but I like the "will" version because it's more direct.

Thanks for the list, tko.

I've already been through 2/3 of my MS line-by-line, and upon doing a "find," I still find some (mostly) useless words. Some I leave in for voice. Some I leave in because changing them would be awkward. Most I take out.

ap123 · May 10, 2013

I'm going to second "that" and "just." When I edit, I find these two usually (not always) add nothing and often get in the way of flow.

S. L. Saboviec · May 10, 2013

Bufty said:
Forget about anything other than aiming for achieving flow and clarity, which you should feel as you read.

My original question is about clarity. Why use four words to dance around something when you can use one to be precise? I also understand that as I strive to be more clear, I need also to ensure it flows.

Perhaps my method is confusing--I'm not doing a "find and replace." I'm doing a "find" on certain words to see how often I use them, whether I can cut them without sacrificing flow, or whether I prefer another word. I also found a word frequency counter, and, as an example, like the people in the thread Gilroy linked, I use "eyes" too much.

Bufty · May 10, 2013

I know.

Good luck as you proceed.

JoeSmith · May 10, 2013

'that' and 'just' are the words I use too much in my writing.
I always have to do a search after each draft to get rid of the excess.

Buffysquirrel · May 10, 2013

Samantha Lane said:
was -ing (Replace with the verb, as in "I was running" becomes "I ran")

These are not always interchangeable.

"I was running when I saw the dog" means something different from "I ran when I saw the dog".

Most uses of that, just and almost can go. But sometimes I find I need 'just', or maybe I'm just clinging to it....

Cella · May 10, 2013

(Mostly) Useless Word

cray.

The Otter · May 10, 2013

Personally, I have an issue with characters overusing certain actions (averting their gazes, folding their hands, "freezing" when they're surprised by something, clearing their throats, etc). I know I tend to rely on that stuff too much in my writing, so I do a search for those and try to cut back, when I'm done. But as others have said, no word is inherently useless. It's all in the context, and fewer words isn't always better. Be careful not to make your writing too stilted or lose the voice/rhythm.

I think novice editors (not saying you're a novice editor, just making a general observation) automatically cross out certain words or types of words without really thinking about it, because they've heard those words are unnecessary. Adverbs, for instance. They've gotten a bad rap because they tend to be overused or used in situations where they're not necessary. Of course, that doesn't mean they're inherently bad. There are sentences where a particular adverb can completely change the meaning. I think a skilled editor takes a more nuanced approach and looks at context and style before deciding whether to cut something, and that holds true whether they're editing their own work or someone else's.

Roxxsmom · May 10, 2013

"That" is another word that can often be trimmed.

She thought that she wanted a cookie

She thought she wanted a cookie

And (taa daa)

She wanted a cookie.

But maybe the thought is important, because there can be a difference between thinking you want something and really wanting it. Like, say your protagonist is on a diet, and she's trying to convince herself she only "thinks" she wants a cookie.

But then, we also could have fun describing the smell of baking cookies and showing how they make her mouth water and stomach rumble. How her competing desires to eat cookies and eat healthy will come into conflict and create tension. This would lengthen the passage again, but it might possibly make the writing more evocative. Depending, of course, on the writer's purpose in communicating the character's desire for a cookie.

Pammie Simon · May 10, 2013

I overuse the word "like" because it's so ingrained in our every day language. Also using "pretty" as a modifier (IE: Charlie was always pretty quiet.)

(Mostly) Useless Words

practical experience, FTW

Formerly Phantom of Krankor.

Handsome servant of a redhead

Where have the last ten years gone?

practical experience, FTW

Where have the last ten years gone?

Tell it like it Is

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

Tell it like it Is

Inexorable

-

Horror Man

just thanks fore everything

I got it covered

practical experience, FTW

Where have the last ten years gone?

Twitching

practical experience, FTW

Where have the last ten years gone?

Cella

Friendly Neighborhood Mustelid

Raised by Wolves

Pammie