06.24.08
Writing Tip: Avoiding Word/Phrase Overuse
Most folks I know tend to have a handful of words or phrases that they use with alarming regularity. Recently, I’ve noticed the word “actually” showing up in my work with a bit more frequency than I really want to see it. Overusing a word or phrase treads the fine line between a stylistic hallmark and a meaningless filler-word, and it can be the sign of a stagnating vocabulary.
I decided to avoid using the word unless it was absolutely necessary. So, in order to facilitate the negative reinforcement of using the word, I set up TextExpander to automatically replace the word once it was typed with an extra space. There are easy ways around it– for example, TextExpander can be fooled if you don’t type the letters all at once (for example, starting with “actu”, typing the next word, then arrowing back to finish up with “ally”)– but it’s more work than just typing the word straight-up. That thought process leads me to think of something better to put in its place– or, more likely, to rephrase my thought so that I don’t use it.
The principle can be applied to any text replacement program available on any platform, but it does require that you know what words you’re seemingly overusing.
Ismail Saeed said,
06.24.08 at 10:04 am
You mean I can’t overuse h*t, l*sc*v*ous s*x? Aw shoot.
Some phrases might just be for the sake of realism. For example, characters that talk might have expressions they use often, and making sure they do so is making sure they continue to act like the character they are. This can run the gamut from Gandalf’s speech patterns or even Gollum’s speech patterns being what they are to the fact that Link and Zelda in the animated cartoon tend to say “thanks heaps” to each other sarcastically.
John said,
06.24.08 at 11:47 am
Yeah, speech is an exception to most rules. But, well, this should tell you everything you need to know about how overused the “a word” is on my blog alone.
There is no possible situation in which the phrase “h*t, l*sc*v*ous s*x” could be overused. In fact I daresay the phrase isn’t nearly as applicable to my daily life as it should be.
Ismail Saeed said,
06.24.08 at 12:43 pm
Okay, granted they don’t add much and can be cut for more concise writing (based on that link) but they weren’t really inexcusable until you said “It’s not really the case, actually” in some February 2007 blog post. THAT I blinked at.
You know, I first thought you were linking me to a concordance or something of your blog where actually would be the big fat word in the middle.
(As for that phrase - nor mine)
Grey said,
06.24.08 at 1:01 pm
Just don’t start using “in fact” all the time as a replacement. There are so few facts in the world…
Avenger said,
06.24.08 at 3:15 pm
Update yer durn blarghroll, yo. ;)