Ladywriter 7,783 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 I found this interesting Words and phrases used too often: And also This is often redundant. And/or 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. 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? Etc. This word often suggests a kind of laziness. It might be better to provide one more example to suggest that you could've written more, but chose not to. He/she is a monstrous convention. 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 Avoid this ugly word whenever possible. I have got to must begin studying right away. I have got two pairs of sneakers. In terms of See if you can eliminate this phrase. Irregardless No one word will get you in trouble with the boss faster than this one. Lots or lots of In academic prose, avoid these colloquialisms when you can use many or much. Remember, when you do use these words, that lots of something countable are plural. Remember, too, that a lot of requires three words: "He spent a lot of money" (not alot of). Just Use only when you need it, as in just the right amount. Necessitate It's hard to imagine a situation that would necessitate the use of this word. Of Don't write should of, could of when you mean should have, could have. On account of Use because instead. Only Look out for placement. Don't write "He only kicked that ball ten yards" when you mean "He kicked that ball only ten yards." Plus Don't use this word as a conjunction. Use and instead. Point in time Forget it! At this time or at this point or now will do the job. Previous as in "our previous discussion." Use earlier or nothing at all. So as to Usually, a simple to will do. Suppose to, use to. The hard "d" sound in supposed to and used to disappears in pronunciation, but it shouldn't disappear in spelling. "We used to do that" or "We were supposed to do it this way." The reason why is because. Deja vu all over again! Thru This nonstandard spelling of through should not be used in academic prose. Try and Don't try and do something. Try to do something. Thusly Use thus or therefore instead. Utilize Don't use this word where use would suffice. (Same goes for utilization.) Very, really, quite (and other intensifiers) Like basically, these words seldom add anything useful. Try the sentence without them and see if it improves. I'm guilty of the justs and the quites heres a neat lil guide http://library.thinkquest.org/10679/english/eng_main.html Look at the flowers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
