Some people have asked for the list of words that I check during my final edit, so here it is. I don’t eliminate all the words, but I do go through the manuscript and check the usage of each instance of these words to see if I can delete them or rewrite the sentence to get rid of them (particularly in the case of was, were, and had). The problem with some of these words, though otherwise acceptable, is that if you use too many of them, it gives your book a wishy-washy feel. Words like quite, rather, almost, mostly, somewhat, suppose, guess all blunt the edge of your prose. If you can eliminate them, do.
If you have any words to add to the list, feel free to suggest them. Though you do know, don’t you, I will never forgive you for adding to my woes? Foremost on my list of people to never forgive is Deborah J. Ledford, author of the soon-to-be-published novel Staccato. She’s the one who brought “was” to my attention, as well as the suggestion to eliminate colons and semi-colons in dialogue. (Seems to me I need to add “She’s the one who” to the following list. A bit wordy, that.)
I feel good about sharing this list from hell. Now I don’t have to suffer alone.
a little |
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can’t help but |
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was |
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just |
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up |
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were |
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solely |
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down |
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that |
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only |
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begin to |
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is all |
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simply |
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start to |
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though |
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merely |
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always |
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matter |
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particularly |
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never |
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completely |
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practically |
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almost |
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extremely |
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a bit |
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rather |
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totally |
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really |
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quite |
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thoroughly |
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kind of |
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very |
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absolutely |
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barely |
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somewhat |
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basically |
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real |
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end up |
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especially |
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hardly |
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off of |
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: (in dialogue) |
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at least |
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there was |
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; (in dialogue) |
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mostly |
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it is |
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because |
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felt |
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seemed |
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use to (s/b used to) |
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off of |
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ever |
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come up with |
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even |
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anyway |
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by the way |
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however |
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perhaps |
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at the very least |
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suddenly |
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in spite of |
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the fact that |
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although |
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all of a sudden |
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if nothing else |
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already |
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tried to |
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a matter of fact |
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you know |
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all the while |
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I guess |
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take a look |
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truly |
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suppose |
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fairly |
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besides |
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awhile |
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actually |
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had |
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it (clarify) |
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Bertram's Blog 