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

Top Ten Most Common Edits - 2

My #2 most common edit is "toward." The vast majority of my clients use "towards" instead of "toward," as in, "Walking towards the entrance..." I correct this every time because in the US, where we use what is commonly called American English, the preferred choice is "toward," as in single. "Towards" is more commonly used in UK English and Australian English, as noted on Grammarly . In the USA, it's best to say, "Walking toward the entrance...." So, while "towards" is acceptable in other countries, for the US and Canada, "toward" is a much better choice. Keep moving toward good grammar! Write well. Write often. Just write. ~Tricia

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