Monday 4 June 2012

Redundant Extra Inessential Words

I don't know how these redundant, extra, inessential words creep into my first drafts. 


They must do it when I'm not looking, the unnecessary that, so, or just. They crawl into place and settle into my sentences. I am aware I overuse them yet there they are when I complete my first draft, smiling up at me, saying ha, can't get rid of me!


Only I can. I can cut them as I edit. 


Some words are redundant because they aren't taking an active part in the sentence. They can be lost and the meaning stays the same. Tautology. Overworked modifiers, especially weak intensifiers.


Some are redundant through my own overuse. I use 'know' a lot. My characters are always 'knowing' something. I should be a) using another word or b) showing rather than telling their knowledge.


Here are my personal Top 10 Redundant words:


1.That
2.As
3.Back
4.Know
5.Like
6.Over
7.So
8.Down
9.Just
10.Really


Honourable mentions to:
11.Some/Something
12.Much
13.Very
14.Because


Please say I am not the only one? Any additions to my list above?

18 comments:

  1. I'm currently in University, and this is the biggest complaint of my profs. I'm really good with unessential words. But that's what edits are for, right? ;-)

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    1. I agree entirely, it's exactly what edits are for.Get the draft out the first time is what I say!

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. I'd like to add 'went', 'sighed' and 'such' to the list please. I haven't finished a first draft yet but even after just a cursory glance over my early chapters I can see all of the list above (and more) waiting to be culled!

    I think Microsoft Word would make a killing if it created a 'machete' tool so that when you go through and edit any of your 10 redundant words a violent slashing sound effect/graphic is activated. It wouldn't make editing quicker but it would certainly make it feel a bit more satisfying!

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    1. Very good additions! Microsoft word should definitely add that feature ;)

      I have'it was' construction to add, along with: otherwise, actually, well, generally, then

      and my characters often say: I saw this I saw that!

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  3. I find myself saying just, that, definitely and seriously an awful lot when I write reviews and such. LOL

    Thank you for stopping by my post yesterday! :)

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    1. Thank you for stopping by here - am now following you so will be able to keep you with your blog!

      Definitely and Seriously are culprits of mine too! *adds to list*

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  4. Hey I didn't know where to respond to your BEA post. I following you now too cause I'm always interested in other people's writing process. I'm not even to edits yet but I'll be on the look out for those extra words.

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    1. Hello - am joining in commenting on BEA but am so new to blogging I didn't sign myself up to be a featured blog. I am enjoying reading people's blogs and am following you. I love talking about writing and seeing how people are going!

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  5. I'm a HUGE over-user of words! I'm always seeing myself using words over and over again, in my reviews, especially. But I totally agree about the editing thing! That's why editing is there right? Or rather, in my case, a read-through. ;)

    -Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life

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    1. It is absolutely what editing is for :) Thank you so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  6. YAY I'm glad you posted this list--I'm going to be doing an entire edit of my ms dedicated to reducing the word count.

    Still is also a bad one; adverbs usually deserve death; more than one adjective for the same noun is a red flag; "started/ing to" or "began/beginning to" are problem phrases for me--they're almost always unnecessary; any use of the "was/were ___ing" form of a verb should be changed to simple past; dialogue tags are often unnecessary; and in general saying the same thing twice in different words is a problem, at least for me (it sounds simple, but can really slip past you!)...yeah...I've been gearing myself up for this haha.

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    1. What excellent additions! The 'was _ing' is a culprit of mine, I do have to look out for that! And more than one adjective for same noun - I am now going to go check for this! Thank you so much for commenting and visiting :)

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  7. A lot of those words sneak into my work too, especially the dreaded "that" monster. Searching for these kinds of words is one of the first things I do during the editing process. I also run a search for "ly" to make sure I'm not tossing adverbs about unnecessarily. ;)

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    1. A 'Ly' search is an excellent idea, I am going to do that. Glad to hear I am not the only one they sneak in for. Thank you so much for commenting and stopping by!

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  8. You are definitely not alone in this. I'm an abuser of "that" among others. I'm trying to cut back on their use, but sometimes I go through withdrawals and they find their way in. :)

    By the way, thanks for the add!

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    1. Mine creep in even though I think I've left them out! I don't know how they get there ;)

      Glad I am not the only 'that' abuser.

      Thanks for commenting, and no problem on the add lovely to connect with you.

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  9. I just love just. I'm so addicted to that word. And that. I really love that. Oh, and also I quite like really. And...and...yeah, me too. Filler words are what editing is for.

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    1. Just is a very addictive word. Almost as bad as 'SO' for me, I love that too.

      Absolutely what editing is for ;) Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete

Please comment, I'd love to know what you think! :)