When you catch an adjective, kill it!

"I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words, and brief sentences. That is the way to write English – it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; and don't let the fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in.

"When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them – then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when close together. They give strength when they are wide apart."

Mark Twain, in a letter to a 12-year-old boy.

Some of my least favourite adjectives:

• Key
• Considerable
• Substantial
• Significant
• Vital

And my least favourite adverbs:

• Very
• Recently

Published 05 March 2007 14:30 by Phil Turner

Filed under: Writing

Comments

• 

  Leo Bottary said:

  Thanks for sharing these very key writing tips.  They should help our writing considerably, given their vital, significant and substantial importance.  Of course, recently I shared another one of my least favorite adjectives - unique.  It's a very, very worthless word.  Thanks!
  March 5, 2007 15:52
• 

  MountainRunner said:

  No time for blogging today, so a bunch of links to worthwhile reads: Mark Grimsley with GWOT Gems (I'm still laughing) Tom with an MST3K clip (a truly classic show) Mary Dudziak channels HNN and reminds us of previous Congress...
  March 5, 2007 17:57
• 

  Felix Enescu said:

  See also this excelent article of  George Orwell : http://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_polit
  March 6, 2007 08:32
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  Ralph Charlton said:

  When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them – then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when close together. They give strength when they are wide apart.For further information go to <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOyE6aQ6qKE">kill</a>
  March 8, 2007 11:27