Tip From Tara: That's Enough!
I'm sick of that! I really am! Seriously, I am sick of that!
It's the most overused word in the English language. Authors, open your current WIP and do a search for that. You may find you have over 1,500 of them. I promise you can get rid of half of them and your readers won't miss a beat.
I've decided that I need to leave.
I told him that I love him and that I can't live without him.
He said that he was going to be late.
Each one of those sentences do just fine without the that.
I've decided I need to leave.
I told him I love him and can't live without him.
He said he was going to be late.
Can you see how tiresome the word would be if all those sentences were in a paragraph?
I've decided that I need to leave. I told him that I love him and that I can't live without him, and all he said back was that he was going to be late.
Four thats. And I see this all the time. I hate that. Really, that's enough already!
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Erin (Historical Fiction Reader)
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Jan 23, 2013 04:32AM
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In English English, these uses of that are necessary and natural. It seems that in American English, it is natural to omit them. Or should I say "In American English it seems..." To me, this doesn't read correctly. It seems alien.I guess [that] we are two races divided by a common language!
When I fly across the Atlantic, I find that the most over-used word is awesome!
Good point. One must allow for differences in UK and American English. Very true.
Awesome Tara!Actually, there are a lot of words in English English which Americans might consider to be intrusive. It is an interesting subject.
For example, where I might say that I was going to visit somebody, you would say you were going visit somebody. I would write to a friend, where you would write a friend. To me, the latter doesn't make any sense, unless I am writing a description of my friend.
We use TO when going somewhere, at least I do. I am going to the store. But on your second example, I would def say I'm writing a friend. Huh. You know, Canadian and Australians have their own version of English too? It's interesting to compare the differences.
Several races divided by a common language! It is fun and interesting to compare.
It is. I had a friend in Canada read a book I just finished penning and she didn't know what a wife-beater was. Sometimes we don't realize we're using a slang term. (It's a white tank top. Not sure how it picked up that name. LOL)
Gosh! To me that's a violent husband. One I newly discovered only 2 days ago: what I call a choc ice, you would call an Eskimo pie. To me, that's hilarious, but I suppose it is common language in USA. What do Canadians call it?
I have no idea, but I sure love Eskimo Pie! LOL I'll ask my friend. May have to show her a picture.
Me too. Not good for my diabetes, but the occoasional happy high never hurt anyone, right?!
