Say That, Don't Write That

That. It's nearly an enemy to an editor. When we talk, we use "that" as a transition word to help us keep our thoughts flowing while we talk. It gives us a chance to pause and think while we are speaking. "That" keeps a listener engaged because it lends anticipation to our speech, whether used in a conversation or a formal speech. It's true for any level of speech and perfectly acceptable.

The opposite is true when writing. "That" is by far the word I delete most often. It's totally unnecessary in most writings and should be eliminated 90% of the time. The remaining 10% tells you it shouldn't be completely eliminated from all writings.

Using it sparingly is key.

Here's a relevant example. In the sentence above, I said,

"The remaining 10% tells you it shouldn't be completely eliminated from all writings."

The vast majority of people would write,

"The remaining 10% tells you that it shouldn't be completely eliminated from all writings."

"That" in this sentence is totally unnecessary. It does not enhance the message of the sentence, it actually takes away from the message, causing a reader to pause. Causing a reader to pause while reading something you've written is not the desired outcome.

Stop that 90% of the time.

Write often.
Write well.
Just write.
~Tricia

Comments

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