A writer's tool kit: overused words
September 22nd 2009 00:27
Consider the following two paragraphs:
There is a word, a very common word, which, carefully controlled in writing, and very often removed altogether from it, can make a very big difference to the quality of your prose.
There is a word, a common word, which, carefully controlled in writing, and often removed altogether from it, can make a big difference to the quality of your prose.
The message is clear. Writing teacher Brad Berens said, "There is never a reason to use the word 'very' in prose." I would rather say there is rarely reason to use it, but it is true that the vast majority of times, the word is redundant. If you are not convinced, try removing a few instances of "very" from a piece of your writing and then ask if the deletion has in any way changed the message.
There are many words, such as "really", which are similarly overused. George Orwell said, "If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out." Ezra Pound put it this way, "Great literature is simply language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree." That means any words that do not contribute meaning to a passage dilute its power.
Overuse of any word devalues its power as its effect is diminished by repeated exposure. A less fancy way of saying that is: people take less notice of something they see all the time. It becomes a commonplace. It's why clever phrases turn into clichés.
Less is best. Always.
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