- Joined
- Dec 6, 2016
- Messages
- 18
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi all, I was hoping I could ask for some opinions regarding some editing advice I received that confused me.
Recently, I worked with an editor whose main critique of my manuscript was that I used certain prepositions/adverbs—words such as "out," "down," "up," and "around"—too many times.
However…this confused me since these words are necessary in order to make the text grammatically correct and/or idiomatic.
I didn't believe I was using the words repetitively. For example, while the word “out” may appear three times on a page, it was always used with different verbs (“make out,” “burst out,” “kick out,” etc.). It didn’t make sense to me to simply remove or change "out," and as for changing the verb entirely, I wanted to use simple, colloquial verbs for the purpose of tone.
I also felt like removing directional words ("down"/"up") made actions vaguer (i.e. removing “up” from “ran up the stairs”).
I’m just wondering if this is a common editing complaint? I don’t want to sound like I believe I know better than an editor—however, as a person who also writes as their full-time day job, I have honestly never encountered the belief that this is a writing error before, so I’m curious.
Thank you!
Recently, I worked with an editor whose main critique of my manuscript was that I used certain prepositions/adverbs—words such as "out," "down," "up," and "around"—too many times.
However…this confused me since these words are necessary in order to make the text grammatically correct and/or idiomatic.
I didn't believe I was using the words repetitively. For example, while the word “out” may appear three times on a page, it was always used with different verbs (“make out,” “burst out,” “kick out,” etc.). It didn’t make sense to me to simply remove or change "out," and as for changing the verb entirely, I wanted to use simple, colloquial verbs for the purpose of tone.
I also felt like removing directional words ("down"/"up") made actions vaguer (i.e. removing “up” from “ran up the stairs”).
I’m just wondering if this is a common editing complaint? I don’t want to sound like I believe I know better than an editor—however, as a person who also writes as their full-time day job, I have honestly never encountered the belief that this is a writing error before, so I’m curious.
Thank you!