words to avoid using in an essay

10 Words to Avoid When Writing by David BowmanWriting is a combination of art and craft. The art comes from lots of reading, talking, thinking, dreaming, and writing. The craft is primarily technique. Some techniques are complex, but a few are very simple and will instantly strengthen your writing. In many cases, however, strengthening writing simply means avoiding those things that weaken it. We have identified 10 words that nearly always weaken writing. In no particular order, they are as follows. 1. Really: Avoiding this word is a really great idea. Reason: A really great idea is the same as a great idea. If you need to emphasize something, such as the greatness of an idea, use a single word that means what you are trying to say, e.g., Avoiding this word is an excellent idea. 2. You: Sometimes, you feel like writing is too hard. Reason: I never feel this way, so this statement is not true. The writer probably means I or some writers, e.g., Sometimes, I feel like writing is too hard. You should only be used when you are actually writing to, and about, the reader, not when making general statements. 3. Feel: I feel the government should stop people from writing poorly. Reason: Which emotion is being felt ? What is the writer touching and, therefore, feeling? Usually, the writer means believe or think. Feel is also used by authors to describe a character's emotions, as in He felt despondent. Instead, the writer should show the emotions through the character's words and actions. 4. Think: I think the government should stop people from writing poorly. Reason: If you write an opinion, the reader understands that you also think it. Just say what it is you think, e.g., The government should stop people from writing poorly. 5. As: As you write this word, poke out your eyes. It's weak as it can cause confusion. Reason: A person usually cannot do two actions simultaneously.
Full Name Comment goes here. 12 hours ago   Delete Reply Spam Block Are you sure you want to Yes No Your message goes here Kevin Zahner , Classroom Ninja at Holliston High School Slides 4 and 24 are particularly helpful because they address the issue of clarity. Much of the writing my AP World History students scribble on the page is too vague and fails to substantiate their response to a question. Joseph M. Williams wrote a few good resources on style. ;) 1 year ago    Reply  Are you sure you want to  Yes  No Your message goes here Lacey Wootton This is terrible! I'm a college-composition professor, and this slideshow reveals to me why I have to 'un-teach' so much of what my freshman students come in with. Please, please, please--go to a credible, reliable, accurate source when learning about academic writing--or just read some actual academic/scholarly essays to see what those writers do (such as use 'I' or 'we,' or use contractions). And note that the problem with intensifiers isn't vagueness; at least be accurate when explaining these arbitrary and ridiculous 'rules'! 2 years ago    Reply  Are you sure you want to  Yes  No Your message goes here King Paul at Xith Corp 1 month ago Rebecca Hamilton 3 months ago debby233 3 months ago Harvey Mai , Operating Chef at Mai's Banh Mi Express 3 months ago Hebatallah Refaei 5 months ago Show More No Downloads Views Total views 49,927 On SlideShare From Embeds Number of Embeds Actions Shares Downloads 183 Comments Likes Embeds 0 No embeds No notes for slide.
Avoid problems created by these words or phrases: And also This is often redundant. And/or Outside of the legal world, most of the time this construction is used, it is neither necessary nor logical. Try using one word or the other. As to whether The single word whether will suffice. Basically, essentially, totally These words seldom add anything useful to a sentence. Try the sentence without them and, almost always, you will see the sentence improve. Being that or being as These words are a non-standard substitute for because. Being that Because I was the youngest child, I always wore hand-me-downs. Considered to be Eliminate the to be and, unless it's important who's doing the considering, try to eliminate the entire phrase. Due to the fact that Using this phrase is a sure sign that your sentence is in trouble. Did you mean because? Due to is acceptable after a linking verb (The team's failure was due to illness among the stars.); otherwise, avoid it. Each and every One or the other, but not both. Equally as Something can be equally important or as important as, but not equally as important. Etc. This abbreviation often suggests a kind of laziness. It might be better to provide one more example, thereby suggesting that you could have written more, but chose not to. He/she is a convention created to avoid gender bias in writing, but it doesn't work very well and it becomes downright obtrusive if it appears often. Use he or she or pluralize (where appropriate) so you can avoid the problem of the gender-specific pronoun altogether. Firstly, secondly, thirdly, etc. Number things with first, second, third, etc. and not with these adverbial forms. Got Many writers regard got as an ugly word, and they have a point. If you can avoid it in writing, do so. I have got to must begin studying right away. I have got two pairs of sneakers. Had ought or hadn't ought. Eliminate the.
1. Inconsistent tense When writing about events in a novel, you must first make the decision whether to use the present or past tense. Generally speaking, either is acceptable, but once you make the choice, you need to be consistent. Incorrect Correct John decides to go to bed, but then he drank too much coffee and could not fall asleep. He watches television for half an hour, then he finally felt sleepy. John decided to go to bed, but then he drank too much coffee and could not fall asleep. He watched television for half an hour, then he finally felt sleepy. 2. Plot summaries instead of analysis Although it is often necessary to recount some of the plot to make your point, your paper should not be solely a plot summary. I know what happens in the book, and I assume you do, too. After recounting the relevant part of the plot, make an analytical statement about that passage; show me you have thought about the book. Incorrect Correct Michiko placed the money she earned prostituting herself into the empty box which was meant for her husband's ashes. She held the box tightly as a tear ran down her cheek. Michiko's act of placing the money she earned prostituting herself in her late husband's ash-box demonstrates how her recent corruption had replaced a previous life of happiness. 3. Quoting instead of paraphrasing As a rule, you should only quote when either the original author said what he/she said so well that you could simply not say it better OR you are quoting a passage from fiction to convey the tone of the story. Quotations should be introduced by you; do not insert someone else's words in your essay as if they are merely a continuation of your own words. See the handout on Plagiarism for examples of correct paraphrasing. 4. Incomplete sentences Every complete thought needs a subject and a verb. This may seem straight forward, but you might be surprised at the.