Words to Search and Destroy

These words are sometimes redundant, indicators sentences should be reworded because they are passive, or are indicative of telling rather than showing. Obviously not every one of these words or phrases should be deleted, but doing a search on them and rewriting the sentences to be tighter can be a highly effective editing device.

about --- after --- against --- all --- already

always --- as --- as far as --- as of yet

as per --- at least --- because --- before --- began

began to take (took) --- begun --- by --- cause --- continued

could feel (felt) --- could hear (heard) --- could see (saw) --- down

embarrass --- even --- ever --- feel --- felt --- finally --- gaze --- glanced

hate --- hear --- heard --- just --- keeping (kept) --- knew

know --- like (as if) --- looked --- love --- made --- matter --- much

now --- of --- of course --- order --- out --- process --- really

relaxed --- said --- saw --- seen --- smell --- so --- some --- still

that --- the fact --- to --- to the touch --- touch --- then

try, trying, tried --- up --- upon --- very --- was --- was able to get (got)

was afraid (feared) --- was doing --- was dreaming (dreamt)

was getting (got) --- was going (would) --- was holding (held)

was standing (stood) --- was staring (stared) --- watched

were --- when --- while --- would

Double Check You've Used the Correct Word

its, it's

lay, lie, lain, laid

there, their, they're

two, too, to

who's, whose, whom

you're, your

that, which

Other editing tips:

Numbers from 1-99 spelled out, whole numbers spelled

Gray is correct for color; grey is not

Use his or her if we are talking about a body part

am, pm s/b a.m. p.m.