Advice: Things to Avoid

[RonBee]

Avoid:

• "begin to" and "began to"

Delete them everywhere you see them in your writing, and only put back those that are necessary. (It will be darned few.)

[RonBee]

Avoid:

• actually

Don't talk about what "actually" happened (unless you are contradicting something previously stated). Talk about what happened.

[RonBee]

Avoid:

• try

Don't try; do. :)

• A: Try to make the subject of the interview feel comfortable.
  B: Make the subject of the interview feel comfortable.

Which is better? :wink:

• A: Try to listen to what your teacher says.
  B: Listen to what your teacher says.

Which is better? :wink:

[Edited to correct a goof.]

[RonBee]

Re:

• "start to; started to"

See:

• "begin to; began to"

:wink:

[RonBee]

Avoid:

• really

Avoiding overusing really. Use it only for emphasis. Example:

• A: I can't believe it! Did he really do that?
  B: Yes, he really did.

Hopefully, the reader would not see any more reallys for a while after that.

:)

[RonBee]

very

When editing your writing, check for all occurrences of very. Delete all that are unnecessary. Example:

• The field was very wet. It was rain-soaked and unplayable.

In this particular example, you could keep the very or delete it. The main thing is to make sure the adjectives you use are truly descriptive and meaningful.

[RonBee]

would

Get out of the woulds. Examine the woulds and see if you can trim them. Discover which ones you can eliminate. Make a clearing in the woulds and let some sunshine in.

:wink:

[Susie Smith]

would

Get out of the woulds. Examine the woulds and see if you can trim them. Discover which ones you can eliminate. Make a clearing in the woulds and let some sunshine in.

:wink:

I love your bright pun.

:D :wink:

[RonBee]

Thanks. :D

I am planning to post this over at the Teenwriting Workshop. (My other forum.)

:)

[RonBee]

Avoid:

• the fact that

Wherever you see it take it out.

:)