Very helpful advice! I’ve gone through and implemented a lot of your changes and I’m automatically noticing how much cleaner my sentences look and sound. Thanks!
Overall a good list...but I disagree with a couple of them. Particularly #1. People do say variations of yes and no, all the time, usually in the flow of conversation - yeah, yep, nah, nope, etc. - that lead into the rest of the sentence or explain their point. I don't think I've ever read a book where yes/no words haven't been used. Not that these words should be relied upon or overly used, but I don't think they should be cut altogether. Also I think 'vague' words, if used in the right places, can also be really important, especially if you're viewing a scene from a character's perspective and they are experiencing something unknown. If they don't know who a person is, it wouldn't make sense to use their name at that point, and actually something more open, like 'someone', would be more appropriate. Saying 'something's wrong' can be perfectly acceptable if the character can't describe or explain what they're experiencing/feeling, or put their finger on it. They do still play a role if used in the right context.
I've removed suddenly from my work, but I like when it's used by authors. It's like a warning that something significant is about to happen. For me, it's jarring when the unexpected action is written without suddenly or unexpectedly.
I write drama and whenever I get to a place that is dramatic, I start my sentence with (suddenly). I'm going to now have to go back and look at those. The one thing that confuses me is what is the big deal about "Passive Sentences." No one has really convinced me that they are a bad thing, yet everyone says they should be avoided. :)
Passive voice usually requires specific words in its construction (was/is) so if you use it a lot your writing will be filled with those words. Repetition, barring certain instances where it is used for emphasis, makes prose boring to read. This is to say nothing of the fact that you are adding extra words that don't have to be there. Brevity is the soul of wit. There is also the distance it creates between the action and the actor. Saying something is happening to someone is not as interesting as saying someone is doing something. There is obviously a use for it in the English language but that doesn't mean there aren't superior sentence constructions for most instances.
I have a question about the use of filter words. Are these discouraged in third-person-limited perspectives? The world of such a story is experienced through the "lense" of one main character. Why prohibit them? The best example, of course, is Harry Potter. These stories are full of filter words--it lets the reader see (hear, taste, smell, feel) the world through his consciousness. Thanks for any comments. This is something I'm struggling with.
Simple sentences can be read faster and by more age groups. Minimalistic use of excessive wording allows the reader to fill in the blanks with imagination. If the text is written with care and beauty, it will be more pleasant to the eye and the mind. A minimalistic simple text written beautifully enables the reader to appreciate it as a masterpiece with more ease. Scripts are better when as simple and minimalistic as possible as it allows the reader to read the data, information, and understand the concept faster. We can still use all these words, but sparingly and therefore to their true intended effect.
"shrugged"... *ehem* Patrick *ehem* Rothfuss *ehem* Though he writes it while making you think of 77 kinds of shrugs. A testament to his genius. I mean how do the Adem even shrug?
I do not really get the "up/down" category. Maybe it is because I am not a native speaker but standing up is the action of lifting yourself up after sitting isn´t it? Standing is just standing around in general. Same with sitting/sitting down being separate actions?
It's about the context as well. If you say someone is standing up from the chair they were sitting on, you can easily delete "up" and the reader will fill in the blank because it's such a common action. So yes don't delete every instance of "up" associated with standing, but just where it's enough of a common action that we don't need to specify it. Hope this makes sense 😊
@@IasminaEdina Yes it does make sense, i think my knowledge of english just isn´t proper enough? How would a sentence where someone stands up look like without the up? He stood from the chair? With sitting it works fine deleting "down": He sat on a chair close to him.
That last group you mentioned ( look, glance ,nod) is the worst. It's more than a bad habit. Such words are cliché, lazy writing and largely unnecessary. Nice guitar back there. Gibson 335?
Check out my full playlist on writing tips: ua-cam.com/play/PLvsslqTgKsUni4vBrL_tySIhJCd044NZf.html
"Just"
I just can't seem to stop using it!
When I clicked on this video, the first word that came to mind was “just.”
when you brought up "suddenly", i immediately opened my document to search for it and im so glad i didnt find any.
You got a lot of concentration on what it should be in the script!!!!!!
I am going to watch this video at least twice, before do anything about my writing. Greetings from Brazil.
Very helpful advice! I’ve gone through and implemented a lot of your changes and I’m automatically noticing how much cleaner my sentences look and sound. Thanks!
You’re sooooooo pretty 😭
Overall a good list...but I disagree with a couple of them. Particularly #1. People do say variations of yes and no, all the time, usually in the flow of conversation - yeah, yep, nah, nope, etc. - that lead into the rest of the sentence or explain their point. I don't think I've ever read a book where yes/no words haven't been used. Not that these words should be relied upon or overly used, but I don't think they should be cut altogether.
Also I think 'vague' words, if used in the right places, can also be really important, especially if you're viewing a scene from a character's perspective and they are experiencing something unknown. If they don't know who a person is, it wouldn't make sense to use their name at that point, and actually something more open, like 'someone', would be more appropriate. Saying 'something's wrong' can be perfectly acceptable if the character can't describe or explain what they're experiencing/feeling, or put their finger on it. They do still play a role if used in the right context.
Thank you for the very helpful video! My personal repetitive words: paradoxically and nevertheless.
Really useful. I hadn't thought about suddenly that way. I overuse the word 'really'
Thank you for this. It’s open my mind to some bad habits i’ve had.
I tried looking up your channel and kept wondering what happened but it's because you changed user name ToT I'm so glad I can watch you again lol
I've removed suddenly from my work, but I like when it's used by authors. It's like a warning that something significant is about to happen. For me, it's jarring when the unexpected action is written without suddenly or unexpectedly.
are adverbs bad, or are they very bad?
They're damn bad.
great tips! Thank you for sharing, I quite have words that I have to cut. Have a blessed day!
As always, very informative, thanks!
Is there a publication showing this subject in depth with examples? Please inform.
5:16
Fabio: "Stand down, fool!"
Jamal: "Am I a joke to you?"
I write drama and whenever I get to a place that is dramatic, I start my sentence with (suddenly). I'm going to now have to go back and look at those. The one thing that confuses me is what is the big deal about "Passive Sentences." No one has really convinced me that they are a bad thing, yet everyone says they should be avoided. :)
Passive voice usually requires specific words in its construction (was/is) so if you use it a lot your writing will be filled with those words. Repetition, barring certain instances where it is used for emphasis, makes prose boring to read. This is to say nothing of the fact that you are adding extra words that don't have to be there. Brevity is the soul of wit.
There is also the distance it creates between the action and the actor. Saying something is happening to someone is not as interesting as saying someone is doing something. There is obviously a use for it in the English language but that doesn't mean there aren't superior sentence constructions for most instances.
I have a question about the use of filter words. Are these discouraged in third-person-limited perspectives? The world of such a story is experienced through the "lense" of one main character. Why prohibit them? The best example, of course, is Harry Potter. These stories are full of filter words--it lets the reader see (hear, taste, smell, feel) the world through his consciousness. Thanks for any comments. This is something I'm struggling with.
Filter words are okay when the POV is 3rd person omniscient.
Simple sentences can be read faster and by more age groups. Minimalistic use of excessive wording allows the reader to fill in the blanks with imagination. If the text is written with care and beauty, it will be more pleasant to the eye and the mind. A minimalistic simple text written beautifully enables the reader to appreciate it as a masterpiece with more ease.
Scripts are better when as simple and minimalistic as possible as it allows the reader to read the data, information, and understand the concept faster. We can still use all these words, but sparingly and therefore to their true intended effect.
#Lesmina please make a video on the book concise guide to Today's religions.
Love from India.
"shrugged"... *ehem* Patrick *ehem* Rothfuss *ehem*
Though he writes it while making you think of 77 kinds of shrugs. A testament to his genius. I mean how do the Adem even shrug?
Thank you
I repeat "but", "however", "yet", "nevertheless", "though", "so"... There's something else, but I don't remember it right now LOL.
Adverbs are my bane.
I do not really get the "up/down" category. Maybe it is because I am not a native speaker but standing up is the action of lifting yourself up after sitting isn´t it? Standing is just standing around in general. Same with sitting/sitting down being separate actions?
It's about the context as well. If you say someone is standing up from the chair they were sitting on, you can easily delete "up" and the reader will fill in the blank because it's such a common action. So yes don't delete every instance of "up" associated with standing, but just where it's enough of a common action that we don't need to specify it. Hope this makes sense 😊
@@IasminaEdina Yes it does make sense, i think my knowledge of english just isn´t proper enough? How would a sentence where someone stands up look like without the up? He stood from the chair? With sitting it works fine deleting "down": He sat on a chair close to him.
Thanks
I hate "almost"
Why is it never referred to as a "WOmanuscript" , sorry couldn't help it.
That last group you mentioned ( look, glance ,nod) is the worst. It's more than a bad habit. Such words are cliché, lazy writing and largely unnecessary. Nice guitar back there. Gibson 335?
Iasmina, I can't fond your book on Amazon
Fam... Youre way too attractive