Writers often use crutch words in their writing.
Words they think add to the story or words that have becomes a habit. Or maybe
they’re filler words to increase the total word count in their novel. In writing sometimes,
they can be words or phrases the writer has used for a particular reason or for
a particular novel. Then they end up overusing them. Crutch words can actually
make your writing weaker, not strengthen it.
To tighten a story and keep a better flow, writers need to edit out
those crutch words. You can use the edit on Word. Programs
like Grammarly and Autocrit can help you catch these words when you edit.
Not all crutch
words need to be eliminated. Search your writing, find the crutch word. Then
see how many times you use it. Look at the sentence. Is it needed? If it’s in
dialogue it might be appropriate. People do use crutch words in their dialogue. Does it improve the sentence? If it’s eliminated does it read better or
worse? If it doesn’t add anything or there’s a purpose to using it, then delete
it. Probably delete most of that word. Then move on to the next crutch word.
Here are
some of the more common crutch words. Often, they end in “ly”. Actually Honestly, Obviously, Like,
Basically, Literally, S, Well, Look, Awesome, Totally, Essentially. Really, Seriously,
Very, Just, Right, Fantastic, Great, Super. My two crutch words from this are
So and Just.
I’m aware of them and when I edit. I check everyone.
Once in a while "just" fits. It feels right. “So” I leave it. And there is my “So”.
Should I leave it or delete it?
Do you know your crutch words? What do you do about
them?
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