B-log

from my archives:

40 PROBLEM WORDS AND PHRASES

• And also - This is often redundant.
• And/or - Outside of the legal world, most of the time this construction is used, it is neither necessary nor logical. Try using one word or the other.
• As to whether - The single word whether will suffice. 
• Basically, essentially, totally - These words seldom add anything useful to a sentence. Try the sentence without them and, almost always, you will see the sentence improve.
• Being that/being as - These words are a non-standard substitute for because. [Being that] Because I was the youngest child, I always wore hand-me-downs.
• Considered to be - Eliminate the to be and, unless it’s important who’s doing the considering, try to eliminate the entire phrase.
• Due to the fact that - Using this phrase is a sure sign that your sentence is in trouble. Did you mean because? Due to is acceptable after a linking verb (The team’s failure was due to illness among the stars.); otherwise, avoid it.
• Each and every - One or the other, but not both.
• Equally as - Something can be equally important or as important as, but not equally as important.
  Etc. - This word often suggests a kind of laziness. It might be better to provide one more example to suggest that you could have written more, but chose not to.
• He/she is a convention created to avoid gender bias in writing, but it doesn’t work very well and it becomes downright obtrusive if it appears often. Use he or she or pluralize (where appropriate) so you can avoid the problem of the gender-specific pronoun altogether.
• Firstly, secondly, thirdly, etc. Number things with first, second, third, etc. and not with these adverbial forms.
• Got - Many writers regard “got” as an ugly word, and they have a point. If you can avoid it in writing, do so. I have [got to] must begin studying right away. I have [got] two pairs of sneakers.
• Had ought/hadn’t ought. Eliminate the auxiliary had. You hadn’t ought not to pester your sister that way. Ugh, hillbilly language.
• Interesting - One of the least interesting words in English, the word you use to describe an ugly baby. If you show us why something is interesting, you’re doing your job.
• In terms of - See if you can eliminate this phrase. It’s usually wordy, redundant, or simply not needed.
• Irregardless - No one word will get you in trouble with the boss faster than this one.
• Kind of or sort of. These are OK in informal situations, but in formal academic prose, substitute somewhat, rather or slightly. We were [kind of] rather pleased with the results.
• Literally - This word might be confused with literarily, a seldom used adverb relating to authors or scholars and their various professions. Usually, though, if you say it’s “literally a jungle out there,” you probably mean figuratively, but you’re probably better off without either word.
• Lots/ lots of - In academic prose, avoid these colloquialisms when you can use many or much. Remember, when you do use these words, that lots of something countable are plural. Remember, too, that a lot of requires three words: “He spent a lot of money” (not alot of).
• Just - Use only when you need it, as in just the right amount.
• Nature - See if you can get rid of this word. Movies of a violent nature are probably just violent movies. Avoid wordiness and awkward phrasing wherever possible.
• Necessitate - It’s hard to imagine a situation that would necessitate the use of this word.
• Of - Don’t write would of, should of, could of when you mean would have, should have, could have.
• On account of - Use because instead.
• Only - Look out for placement. Don’t write “He only kicked that ball ten yards” when you mean “He kicked that ball only ten yards.” It’s called a misplaced modifier and has kept red pencils down to the nub for years:-)
• Orientate - The new students become oriented, not orientated. The same thing applies to administrate — we administer a project.
• Per - Use according to instead. We did it per your instructions? Naah. (This word is used frequently in legal language and in technical specifications, where it seems to be necessary and acceptable.)
• Plus - Don’t use this word as a conjunction. Use and instead.
• Point in time - Redundant: forget it! At this time or at this point or now will do the job.
• Previous as in “our previous discussion.” Use earlier or nothing at all.
• So as to - Usually, a simple to will do.
• Suppose to, use to. The hard “d” sound in supposed to and used to disappears in pronunciation, but it shouldn’t disappear in spelling. “We used to do that” or “We were supposed to do it this way.”
• The reason why is because. Deja vu all over again! Redundant, awkward, and incorrect.
• Thru - This nonstandard spelling of through should not be used in academic prose. Same goes for nite. Use night.
• ‘Til - Don’t use this word instead of until or till, even in bad poetry.
• Try and - Don’t try and do something. Try to do something.
• Thusly - Use thus or therefore instead.
• Utilize - Don’t use this word where use would suffice. (Same goes for utilization.)
• Very, really, quite (and other intensifiers) - Like basically, these words seldom add anything useful. Try the sentence without them and see if it improves.

Now, go and write better.

In writing, do not use 12 p.m. or 12 a.m. or 12 noon or 12 midnight.

Use noon or midnight to refer to these times.

And, when you use the appreviation p.m. or a.m., always use the periods: p.m.; a.m.

Thus, it is not:

11am - 12pm

but rather:

11 a.m. - Noon

Now go, and write better.

These terms are redundant. And they’re also repetitively unnecessary:

• adequate enough (adequate) 
• filled to capacity (filled)
• all throughout (throughout) 
• green in color (green)
• another additional (another) 
• join together (join)
• assembled together (assembled) 
• large in size (large)
• attached hereto (attached) 
• maximum possible (maximum)
• brief in duration (brief) 
• mix together (mix)
• one specific (one)
• completely finished (finished) 
• period of time (period)
• continue to remain (remain) 
• physical size (size)
• desirable benefits (benefits) 
• specific example (example)
• eliminate altogether (eliminate) 
• throughout the whole (throughout)
• enclosed herewith or within (enclosed) 
• viable alternative (alternative)
• few in number (few) 
• many different types (many types) 
• 12 midnight (midnight) 
• 12 noon (noon) 
• 3 am in the morning (3 am) 
• absolutely spectacular/phenomenal (spectacular/phenomenal)
• a person who is honest (an honest person)
• a total of 14 birds (14 birds) 
• biography of her life (biography) 
• circle around (circle) 
• close proximity (proximity) 
• completely unanimous (unanimous) 
• consensus of opinion (consensus) 
• cooperate together (cooperate) 
• each and every (each) 
• enclosed herewith (enclosed) 
• end result (result) 
• exactly the same (the same) 
• final completion (completion) 
• frank and honest exchange (frank exchange or honest exchange) 
• free gift (gift) 
• he/she is a person who … (he/she) 
• important/basic essentials (essentials) 
• in spite of the fact that (although) 
• in the field of economics/law enforcement (in economics/law enforcement) 
• in the event that (if) 
• job functions (job or functions) 
• new innovations (innovations) 
• one and the same (the same) 
• particular interest (interest) 
• period of four days (four days) 
• personally, I think/feel (I think/feel) 
• personal opinion (opinion)
• puzzling in nature (puzzling) 
• refer back (refer) 
• repeat again (repeat) 
• return again ( return) 
• revert back (revert) 
• shorter/longer in length (shorter/longer) 
• small/large in size (small/large) 
• square/round/rectangular in shape (square/round/rectangular) 
• summarize briefly (summarize) 
• surrounded on all sides (surrounded) 
• surrounding circumstances (circumstances) 
• the future to come (the future) 
• there is no doubt but that (no doubt) 
• usual/habitual custom (custom) 
• we are in receipt of (we have received)

Now, go and write better.

(from the archives)

I spent several hours going through my library yesterday, pruning out books that will look great as part of the Half Price Books collection. While doing so, I whimsically decided to experience the History Channel’s show Pawn Stars, using On Demand. After watching 9 episodes, I feel qualified to apply to be a writer for the show.  Here’s my audition, which I wrote after realizing this was the script used for absolutely every single episode. Watch for yourself.

***

Rick: Today we had (Item X) come in. (Item X) was really cool. But it doesn’t make sense unless I can get (Item X) for the right price.

(Cut to Rick’s conversation with owner of Item X)

Rick: What have you got here?

Owner: It’s an (Item X).

Rick: Cool. (Here Rick either shares his knowledge of the history of Item X or says the following….I don’t even know what this item is worth to make an offer on it. But I got a buddy who I can call to come take a look at it.

(Cut back to Rick first-person)

Rick: this is a great (Item X), but it’s got to be a good offer. Because if in my business, if I’m not making money, I’m losing money.

(Cut to transaction for the expert’s analysis)

Expert: This is an (Item X). It’s worth $Z.

Rick: (Shaking hands with expert). Thanks for coming in.

Old Man (Rick’s Dad): Owner, what are you wanting to do today? Pawn, Sell, or borrow against it?

(Note: It is at this point that any child watching the program with their parent will ask either “What is pawn?” or “What is the difference between pawning it and selling?” It is also at this time that the parent will answer by saying either, “I don’t know,” or by lying and offer some rambling explanation that almost certainly is incorrect.)

Owner: I want to sell it. (They never want to pawn it. Viewers come to understand this over time)

Rick: What are you wanting for it?

Owner: I was thinking $Y (Y=Z-20%…(Remember, $Z was experts assessed value of (Item X))

Rick: Dollars?  (Laugh) We’re not even on the same page.  I was thinking $Y-50%.

Owner:  How about $Y-25%

Old Man: How about $Y-60%?

Owner: (Panic)

Rick: $Y-50% is the best I can do. I’ve got to (various extra labor such as framing, send to auction, refinish, etc) (Item X), so I’ll be lucky to make any money at $Y-50%.

Owner:  What about $Y-40%?

Rick: (Pained look. Pause) $Y-40%? Okay. You got a deal. (Rick then shakes hand of owner, using “I’m dominant with my hand-on-top” grip.)

(Cut to Rick, first-person)

Rick: I got (Item X) for $Y-40%. I’m really excited about that. (Item X) will go fast in my shop, and I’ll probably get $Y+75% for it.

(Note:  If Big Hoss receives a customer, the (Item X) will be a fake. He’ll offer to pay for it out of his paycheck, but Rick will chalk it up to a learning experience. Also, each week, Chumley may make a brief appearance to offer simplistic observations and be ridiculed as a moron by Old Man, who will, in turn, be teased for being an Old Man.)

***

Please mail my pay & royalty checks to my home address.