I have a laundry list of words people use too often in their writing. Simply removing these words will make your writing more impactful, increase sales potential and keep readers Riveted to your writing. One word that can be overused is that.
You would be surprised how many times a writer uses the word that. Often, you can remove the word that, and it won’t change the sentence’s meaning. Here are some examples from editing I worked on this past week:
Before: With over 40 years of experience, Company X is a battle-tested brand management team that is ready to tackle the next generation.
After: With over 40 years of experience, Company X is a battle-tested brand management team ready to tackle the next generation.
In the above example, I also removed the verb is, making the sentence more action-forward.
Before: The average CPM in the US is between $6-8 USD. YouTube will also take 45% of the ad revenue, meaning that you take home 55% of this total.
After: The average CPM in the US is between $6-8 USD. YouTube will also take 45% of the ad revenue, meaning you take home 55% of this total.
Before: It is well-recognized that social networking sites significantly affect perceived social norms and beauty standards, especially the thin-ideal body image among young women (Cohen, 2019; Grabe, 2008). However, representations of women in traditional media and new media are slimmer than the actual woman population. Researchers revealed that thin-ideal females displayed in media are usually 15% below the average body weight of females, resulting in an unrealistic standard of beauty (Bruns & Carter, 2015; Johnson et al., 1989). Thus, most theorists indicated that the ultra-thin body portrayed in mainstream media has contributed to negative body image (Garner et al., 1980; Kelly et al., 1986; Hawkins et al., 2004; Tiggemann & Miller, 2010).
After: It is well-recognized social networking sites significantly affect perceived social norms and beauty standards, especially the thin-ideal body image among young women (Cohen, 2019; Grabe, 2008). However, representations of women in traditional media and new media are slimmer than the actual woman population. Researchers revealed thin-ideal females displayed in media are usually 15% below the average body weight of females, resulting in an unrealistic standard of beauty (Bruns & Carter, 2015; Johnson et al., 1989). Thus, most theorists indicated the ultra-thin body portrayed in mainstream media has contributed to negative body image (Garner et al., 1980; Kelly et al., 1986; Hawkins et al., 2004; Tiggemann & Miller, 2010).
Of course, there are rules preventing you from getting rid of all usage of the word that. Here are the basics you need to know:
1. Restrictive v. Nonrestrictive
Think back to when you learned the difference between independent and dependent clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence but is embedded in a sentence with more than one part. A dependent clause is a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone as a sentence. The same principle applies to restrictive and nonrestrictive. A restrictive clause means a sentence cannot separate the clause without the other part of the sentence. In the case of a restrictive clause, the word that should be used. Here is more about these clauses from Dictionary.com:
A ,restrictive clause contains information that limits the meaning of a noun and is necessary in a sentence. For example, in the sentence Any book that you like must be good, the clause that you like is restrictive because it identifies which book: the one that you like.
Take a look at the meaning of the sentence if the clause is removed: any book must be good. Without the clause, the meaning of the sentence is altered, and therefore, the clause is needed.
Note that in restrictive clauses, sometimes that can be omitted. Any book you like must be good is also often used, especially in informal settings.
If the information in the sentence is not essential, and therefore nonrestrictive, you can replace the word that with which. For example, These jeans, which I don’t really like anyway, can be given away.
2. Who v. Which or That
When crafting sentences, be careful when you choose to use the word that—the word who refers to people, and that and which refer to things.
3. Writer’s Voice
And finally, if a writer has an appropriate reason for using the word that, you should proceed with caution when removing the word. For example, I hardly edit dialogue because it sounds more natural using the word that in conversation. You do not want to remove the word that if it would change the meaning or tone of the writing.
Summary
The word that is often overused and writing can often be improved simply by removing it. Take a look at the past emails you’ve written, and you will be surprised how many times you use the word that.
What if I took the sentences above and added the word that? “Take a look at the past emails you’ve written, and you will be surprised how many times that you use the word that.”
This blog post will be the first in a series of quick tips to help improve your writing. Remember, communication is how we live and work. Your writing may seem insignificant; however, a lifetime of emails and texts will eventually build a good or bad impression.
Please get in touch with me if you are looking for help to improve your communication style, no matter how big or small the project is. Whether it is a few simple adjustments to an email or an important report, I can make a difference. I would love to show you how your communication will improve and impact your career or manuscript sales.
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