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Prose Unnecessary or inaccurate words you catch yourself overusing

Quasimoto

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Aug 4, 2024
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"The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do."
—Thomas Jefferson

Through the years I have actively attempted to improve my verbal fluency and succinctness. I typically proof read everything I write, including the most casual banter, and try to make improvements.

The first three words that come to mind which I tend to overuse are the adverbs, "even", "just", and "like". I have mostly succeeded in minimizing the latter, but the first two annoyingly stick around.

Does anyone else analyze their informal speech?
 
I have tourettes, I don't know, how about how often I seem like I'm going to prison
 
Does anyone else analyze their informal speech?

All damn time.

Season 9 Wow GIF by The Office
 
I have issues with transitional phrases, and I frequently use “additionally” and “also”. Usually i have to finish writing before pulling up a list of transitional phrases to find appropriate replacements. I know there’s other words that show up too much in my writing that I will go back and change, but those aren’t coming to mind at this moment.
 
"at least"
at least that's the two words together that i have caught myself deleting the most when reading over stuff i write (not here, though)
 
I have issues with transitional phrases, and I frequently use “additionally” and “also”. Usually i have to finish writing before pulling up a list of transitional phrases to find appropriate replacements. I know there’s other words that show up too much in my writing that I will go back and change, but those aren’t coming to mind at this moment.
Hey man. Not at all related to the thread, but you use chloroform? If so, what's it like?
 
Essentially, basically, like, sorta, kinda, just; basically just a bunch of useless qualifiers, mostly I find that stuff in my writing though more than speech.

When it comes to speech I will 100% of the time go for the most unnecessary and obscure term possible in any sentence so people can see just how smart I think I am
 
Addressing strangers,clients,as honey,sweetheart,I say redicklus often, that being said,I know right,100 percent ,shit n stuff,shut your mouth
 
i don't know if i agree with jefferson if i understand the quote... i think sometimes using two similar words to describe something can make sure someone isn't confused about the definition of one word.

william s. burroughs talks about writing in his book The Adding Machine, and he says that words with multiple definitions are often not good to be used... i noticed reading a lot of writing from past centuries or even the early 1900's up until the 60's or so. a lot of the words have multiple definitions, and it's hard for me to really understand what's going on....... i really don't like a lot of william s. burrough's writing, but the adding machine has some cool thoughts in it. it's a bunch of essays from through out his career.
 
One more thing I do too often is that I will use "..." inappropriately instead of a simple comma, which is what I intend to use. I don't know why I do it, and it often makes my sentences seem unintentionally sarcastic or condescending.
 
One more thing I do too often is that I will use "..." inappropriately instead of a simple comma, which is what I intend to use. I don't know why I do it, and it often makes my sentences seem unintentionally sarcastic or condescending.
The semicolon is ace for that;
 
Do you think Mike Tyson knows what "impetuous" means? Do you think he ever did?
 
I'm betting he probably did. Thats the most impetuous mfer I've ever seen
 
The semicolon is ace for that;
I love the semicolon so much... it's probably my favorite punctuation!

See what I did there? :th1s: :cringe: Bad habits die hard.

Seriously, though, I love the semicolon. Maybe because I'm also a big poetry fan, and some of my favorite writers tend to use it, or even overuse it on occasion. It feels so versatile sometimes, yet is also very simple and elegant. It's like the comma's fancier more handsome, taller, and wiser brother. Now here I go with my wax poetry; it's just a ; brah.
 
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I love the semicolon so much... it's probably my favorite punctuation!

See what I did there? :th1s: :cringe: Bad habits die hard.

Seriously, though, I love the semicolon. Maybe because I'm also a big poetry fan, and some of my favorite writers tend to use it, or even overuse it on occasion. It feels so versatile sometimes, yet is also very simple and elegant. It's like the comma's fancier more handsome, taller, and wiser brother. Now here I go with my wax poetry; it's just a ; brah.
Ladies, you need to step outside and get yourself a man who looks at you like snafu looks at a semicolon
 
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