Just Some Unpowerful Stuff

Ten Words to Cut From Your Writing is an article written by Shanna Mallon which I read on entrepreneur.com.  My life may never be the same.

Here are the offensive little beggars. You might want to jot them down one last time.

– just, really, very, perhaps, maybe, quite, a bit, completely, almost, amazing, literally, stuff, things and got.

The list is longer than ten because some of the words are redundant and grouped together.  Read the article and I promise it will all come clear.   Using them, and words like them, makes your writing weak.  Avoiding them makes your writing tight and powerful and strong.

My first thought was, oh really?  Got?  But I can describe my entire day using the word ‘got’.  Have you got a minute?  I got up, got dressed, got breakfast, got in my car, got to work, got bored, got through it, got home, got hungry, got tired, got to sleep by ten.  Do you suppose she’s got a point?

My second thought was perhaps that’s maybe a bit harsh, though.  Or you might even say almost completely upsetting and discouraging.   I mean that literally.   Especially for those of us who’ve got things to say that are just quite amazing.   You know the kind of stuff I mean.  Very good stuff.  Quite amazing really maybe very good things.

Huh.

My third thought (I know, amazing, three thoughts in one day) was that if I cut out all those words from this blog (or just this post)  half of my written work would disappear.  I’m not saying that’s a bad thing,  nevertheless I would not like to see that happen.  Because it was quite a bit of work.  And then I realized I use the word ‘that’ too much as well.

So I won’t do that.

Honestly I really don’t feel like taking this advice to heart even though I suspect it’s good and amazing stuff.  I believe powerful and strong is for cleaning products and body builders and electrical storms.  And of course strong and serious people with something brilliant to say.  I’m rarely serious.  So I’m excusing myself from paying attention to this list.

Although perhaps not completely.  I will maybe try really very hard to cut down on the use of these offensive little words.  Quite likely tomorrow.  Or one of these amazing days.

I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing

English: European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur). Shot taken in Israel עברית: תור מצוי, ישראל (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Daily Prompt: I Got Skills

If you could choose to be a master (or mistress) of any skill in the world, which skill would you pick?

I´d like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love, grow apple trees
And honey bees and snow white turtle doves.
I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.
I’d like to hold it in my arms and keep it company.

It’s the real thing what the world wants today.
That’s the way it will stay with the real thing.
It’s the real thing, won’t you hear what I say?
What the world needs today is the real thing.

I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand — standing hand in hand.
And hear that echo through the hills
For peace through all the land – it´s the real thing.

I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony – perfect harmony.
I saw on the peace that echo goes on and never goes away.

It’s the real thing what the world wants today.
That’s the way it will stay with the real thing.
It’s the real thing, won’t you hear what I say?
What the world needs today is the real thing.

It’s the real thing what the world wants today
That’s the way it will stay with the real thing…

I’d like to teach the world to sing (Photo credit: fatskier)