While this article is angled more for copywriters, the points are well worth thinking about as it pertains to fiction. There's advice out there about trimming out all instances of certain words (adverbs or dialog tags anyone?) but those words really depend on the context of the sentence and the goal of the writer.
"Necessary" words can be one that you technically don't need to make the sentence understandable.
What do you guys think? What "unnecessary" words do you find make your writing better?
Here’s How Brevity Can Crush Your Copy
We tell you the importance of tight editing all the time.
We tell you lean writing is powerful and effective.
We tell you it just plain works better.
Except when it doesn’t.
Consider these common terms:
- An “ATM machine” is an automatic teller machine machine.
- The “HIV virus” is the human immunodeficiency virus virus.
- A “PIN number” is a personal identification number number.
Read the full article here.
6 comments:
I think it's occasionally okay to use words like adverbs. It depends on the manuscript and why you are using them. And you don't want to trim too much or it doesn't feel like a fleshed out story. I love your list of redundant words. That has helped me a lot to cut unnecessary words.
Natalie: I agree. There are times when those no-no words are exactly the right word you need.
I need those words because if you get rid of all your bridge words, it becomes harder for the reader to relax during my book. I'm ULTRA concise. My sister constantly tells me it's work to read one of my stories until I go back in and add all the THATs, adverbs, "fillers," etc.
Megs: That's a good example of why you can't cut *everything*. Words are like the flavors :)
I like reading a good descriptive word, but it bugs me to see the same word used again a few pages later. Like, surreptitiously. Great word! Using it more than twice in the same book, it loses its effect. It's a constant struggle to find that blanace. I like adverbs too, but I think they are best used sparingly.
Stephsco: Totally. My husband read something recently and he kept scoffing. The author had a favorite word and was using it a lot.
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