Some very good advice from
http://m.entrepreneur.com/article/229369 . My problem is that I am one of those people who speak from my heart and writes just like I talk. Not always a bad thing. I think when you write as you talk, it not only gives your writing a more personal touch, but also allows people to see the "real" you. Now, if you are your thesis, yes, you may decide it's best to follow this advice.
As Mark Twain famously wrote, "I didn't have time to write a short
letter, so I wrote a long one instead." His point? Strong writing is
lean writing.
When you want to make your writing more powerful, cut out words you don't need--such as the 10 included in this post:
1. Just: The word "just" is a filler word that
weakens your writing. Removing it rarely affects meaning, but rather,
the deletion tightens a sentence.
2. Really: Using the word "really" is an example of
writing the way you talk. It's a verbal emphasis that doesn't translate
perfectly into text. In conversation, people use the word frequently,
but in written content it's unnecessary. Think about the difference
between saying a rock is "hard" and "really hard," for example. What
does the word add? Better to cut it out to make your message stronger.
3. Very: Everything that applies to "really" applies to "very." It's a weak word. Cut it.
4. Perhaps/maybe: Do you want your audience to think
you're uncertain about what you're saying? When you use words like
"maybe" and "perhaps," uncertainty is exactly what you're communicating.
5. Quite: When someone uses "quite," he or she
either means "a bit" or "completely" or "almost."
Sometimes the word
adds meaning; sometimes it's fluff. Learn to tell the difference--but,
when in doubt, cut it out.
6. Amazing: The meaning of "amazing" is
causing great wonder or surprise--but
some writers use the word so often that the meaning gets lost. How can
something be amazing if everything is? Ditch this diluted word.
7. Literally: When something is true in a literal
sense, you don't have to add the word "literally." The only reason it
makes sense to use the word is when it clarifies meaning (i.e., to
explain you aren't joking when it seems you are).
8. Stuff: Unless you are aiming at informality,
don't use the word "stuff." It's casual, it's generic, and it usually
stands in for something better.
9. Things: Writers use the word "things" to avoid
using a clearer, more specific word that would communicate more meaning.
Be specific. Don't tell us about the "10 things," tell us about the "10
books" or "10 strategies." Specificity makes for better writing.
10. Got: Think of all the ways we use the vague word
"got" in conversation: "I've got to go," "I got a ball," or "I got up
this morning." Though it's fine for conversation, in writing, "got"
misses valuable opportunities. Rather than writing a lazy word, look for
clearer, more descriptive language: "I promised I'd leave by 9," "I
picked up a ball," or "I woke up today," for example.
Whether you've been writing for a few days or for many years, you'll
benefit from evaluating the words you use. Cut the filler to make your
writing stronger.
