When I write, I don’t think. As a result, I have twenty words that make their way to the page when they don’t belong.
What are filler words? They’re words that slip into our sentences but are unnecessary, don’t enhance the sentence, and pad the numbers with junk.
Here is a list of my filler words as identified by my literary agent Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory. You’ll see my #1 is “that”. In one manuscript I used it over 900 times! Oh my. More than a bit annoying I’m sure.
- that
- just
- only
- really
- slightly
- almost
- seemed
- perhaps
- maybe
- simply
- somehow
- absolutely
- basically
- actually
- now
- sort of
- kind of
- a little
- very
- so
The key is to be aware of your filler words so you can delete them. Go to EDIT scroll down to FIND enter the filler word and push enter. The word will highlighted so you can review the manuscript and make changes.
Get rid of your filler words and this will make your writing more succinct and professional.
Thanks Faye. I will copy this. I’m sure I might have some of these in my writing.
Sent from my iPad
>
Hi Heather. Good idea. I keep the list close by when I’m editing. xo
I have that problem too, but I didn’t know that when I wrote my first book and the following short story. I still use them, but now, I try getting rid of them on the second draft, then I plug them on prowriting aid and pick out the ones I missed out… though sometimes I leave a few – sometimes the sentence just feels wrong without them!
I keep my thesaurus at hand for precisely such reasons.
Yes. I keep mind handy too. It’s the need to be aware of those darn filler words though. They sneak in at time. Thanks Denise. xo
Some of your words on on my list, but I managed to eliminate ‘that’ most of the time. Really & actually are the ones I have to watch for. Wow – soon we’re going to be perfect. Take care – you don’t want to become literary! Literary writing doesn’t sell.
Lol…I love it. I don’t think there’s any threat of me getting too literary. Makes me laugh at the thought. The elimination of the filler words does make the reading more smooth though for sure. Thanks Aggie. xo
Thanks for the heads up, Faye. Will edit and delete and save an editor from at least one headache! Kelly
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Sal Caruso > Date: May 16, 2020 at 9:43:56 AM PDT > Subject: Fw: Flying Old guy > > > > > —– Forwarded Message —– > From: Sal Caruso > Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2020, 09:37:55 a.m. PDT > Subject: Fwd: Flying Old guy > > > > ———- Forwarded message ——— > From: Jo Anne > Date: Sat, May 16, 2020 at 7:22 AM > Subject: Fwd: Flying Old guy > To: > > > Don’t underestimate these old guys. > > Sent from my iPhone > > Begin forwarded message: > >> Subject: Fwd: Fw: Flying Old guy >> >> >> >> >> ——– Forwarded Message ——– >> Subject: Fw: Flying Old guy >>