Delete the weasel words

The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines weasel words as words that are “intentionally ambiguous [with a double meaning] or misleading, esp. as part of a sentence that deliberately avoids commitment.”

In Stewart Chaplin’s short story Stained Glass Political Platform, they were referred to as “words that suck the life out of the words next to them…”

Weasel words are words that weasel themselves into your writing. They are vague and passive. Eliminate weasel words and reduce word count by more than ten per cent.

How to identify weasel words

A variety of words and phrases fall under the category of weasel words.

1. Two adjectives in a row

For example:
She had a tiny little dog for a pet. [Revised] She had a little dog for a pet.
A dark shadowy figure approached. [Revised] A shadowy figure approached.

2. Pronoun redundancy

For example:
Rita was right and I lost the bet, since Rita and I spent the next month apartment hunting.
[Revised] Rita was right and I lost the bet, since we spent the next month apartment hunting.

3. Two prepositions in a row

For example:
The dog leaped up onto the sofa. [Revised] The dog leaped onto the sofa.
She showed up with him. [Revised] She arrived with him.

4. Unnecessary adverbs

In the post Editing with Adverbs read about alternatives to words such as really, quickly, always, truly, very, fairly and often.

For example:
It is already implied that they are involved. [Revised] It is implied that they are involved.
It is quite difficult to break an addiction. [Revised] It is difficult to break an addiction.

5. Reduce the use of that

In the post A Simple Explanation About Using “That” learn how ninety per cent of the time that can be left out of a sentence without changing the meaning.

For example:

Suffice it to say that there were errors in her essay. [Revised] Suffice it to say, there were errors in her essay.
The book that I just bought is a bestseller. [Revised] The book I just bought is a bestseller.

6. Redundant description

For example:

He crawled across the floor on his hands and knees. [Note] What else would you crawl on?
The meeting started at 10 a.m. in the morning. [Note] We know that a.m. infers morning.
The child shrugged her shoulders. [Note] What else would you shrug?
She smiled happily. [Note] Smiling indicates happiness.
They whispered quietly. [Note] Whispering is quiet.

The self-editing process

Weasel words divert the reader’s attention and convey more information than necessary. Recognize when you are attached to a phrase or passage you have written. Don’t be afraid to “kill your darlings”.

When you comb through your novel and cut unnecessary words, you will streamline the reading and sharpen your writing practice.

Stay tuned for more suggestions about how to cut your novel’s word count in upcoming posts.

What techniques work for you when you self-edit?
What are your weasel word pet peeves?

Image Credit: Davina Haisell, via Wordle.net

Confused about when to use farther or further?

Do you find yourself sticking your neck out over commonly confused words? Well, after you read this post you will have a better understanding of when — or why — you may choose to use farther or further in a sentence.

What is the difference between farther and further?

When you look up the word “farther” in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary you are referred to “further” for the detailed definition. For centuries, these two words have been used interchangeably.

However, popular use and The Associated Press Stylebook demonstrate that “farther” should be used when referring to tangible physical distance, and the more abstract “further” should be used when referring to metaphorical or figurative distance, and an extension of time or degree.

Examples of farther and further used in a sentence

Here are some examples of “farther” and “further” being used in a sentence:

The athlete ran farther than his coach expected, but his efforts further exhausted him.

That statement couldn’t be any further from the truth.

Our team will further investigate this mystery.

The planet Earth is farther away from the sun than Venus.

Confusion over farther versus further rule

We’ve created a rule, which in most cases seems simple enough. One way to remember when to use “farther” (to refer to physical distance) is to recognize that the word includes the word “far.” Yet, this rule does not always work because sometimes it’s difficult to know if you are speaking about physical distance.

For example: The student advanced further in her reading assignment than her classmates.

Figuratively speaking, you could use “further” to indicate an advancement in time or degree, while you might also understand this to mean that physically, in number of pages, she advanced “farther” in her reading assignment.

“No one misuses farther for further, and you’re safe with further provided that you don’t apply it to distance. Several usage critics have even predicted that further will eventually absorb the meaning ‘more distant,’ driving farther into extinction.” (Claire Kehrwald Cook, Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing. Houghton Mifflin, 1985)

Regarding the title of this post, you may now recognize that depending on the context, either word would be the correct choice.

Depending on the context, how might you rephrase the title of this post?
Do you have a preference for either farther or further?
Can you think of another example where the rule may be ambiguous?

Image Credit: Desktop Nexus

Thoughts on writer’s block

Opinions about writer’s block vary. Some say writer’s block doesn’t exist while others suffer through it.

I’ve read about causes of writer’s block, such as fear of failure or perfectionism, and solutions such as taking a break or reading a book.

Before you claim to have writer’s block, consider what is going on for you. What are you resisting? Are you tired? Hungry, perhaps? Impatient? Afraid of success?

This label is a mental block to creative thinking. Instead of trapping yourself behind a label that becomes more prominent when you focus on it, be curious about what is happening instead of the writing that is not happening.

A mountain of attitude

Last January, I was anxious to move from my cozy apartment on Bowen Island to the island’s Cove, closer to amenities. Living on an island with rolling hills and steep terrain, without a vehicle can be challenging.

Weeks prior to moving, every time I hiked up that mountain with my mail or my groceries, I wondered how many more times?! I dragged myself along, laboriously and breathless, feeling like the mountain had grown and frustrated because what had once been an enjoyable hike had become an imposition. You could say that I was lugging more than my groceries on my back. Who knew a bad attitude could weigh so much.

Nonetheless, I was surprised by how quickly I scaled the incline, despite feeling weighed down. This didn’t add up, but it made me curious. On some level, I wanted it to be hard because it gave me something to push against.

The mud and the muck

When I delved into my curiosity I realized the tough climb had nothing to do with exertion and everything to do with attitude. Obviously, the hill hadn’t grown and after more than a year of this practice, I was fit for the climb. That’s how effective attitude is. I was feeling physically exhausted while under the influence of the heaviness of my mind.

When you’re a writer, the world you create in your mind often seems more real than the world you live in. The lines between fantasy and reality can muddy and suck you in. Despite the muddiness, a writer’s journey is all about breaking new ground and celebrating the breakthroughs.

As my friend Lorraine Ashdown, photographer and literary specialist says:

“The paths aren’t always clear but they are well worth trodding…even when there is mud and muck.”

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves?

Photo Credit: Davina Haisell

Which restaurant names use an apostrophe?

This quiz will test your attention to detail. You could also use this as a fact-checking exercise.

If you want to take on the fact-checking challenge, visit these restaurant’s websites to determine whether their name uses a registered trademark symbol (®) or a trademark symbol (™).*

A full list of the restaurant names will appear after you have completed the quiz. Correct answers will be indicated with a green check mark, while incorrect answers will be indicated with a red X.

Notes about registered trademarks

A trademark symbol means that a name has been filed for registration. Once the process is complete, the ™ symbol is replaced with an ® symbol.

Note that just because the logo on the website appears with a registered trademark symbol, that doesn’t mean that the name itself has been trademarked.

Names and logo designs are filed for registration separately and thus a name may not be trademarked at the same time as the logo design. As a result, on occasion you will encounter a logo that uses an ® symbol, while the company name is still using a ™ symbol, prior to its registration process being finalized.

Fact-checking is one of the services I offer in my proofreading business. If you decide to take on the fact-checking challenge you will see how time-consuming it can be, and why my clients choose to outsource their proofreading to me. But in the meantime, have some fun with this quiz!

Test yourself with the restaurant apostrophe quiz

Fact-checking

How did you do?
Did you try the fact-checking exercise?
Do you find yourself noticing street or window signs that use the apostrophe incorrectly?

Image Credit: Davina Haisell

*Additional fact-checking resources are the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These resources are recommended as websites are not always the most up-to-date reference.

The difference between comprise and compose

To help you understand when to use comprise and compose correctly in a sentence, let’s first look at their definitions.

To comprise means “to contain, to be made up of, to consist of or to include.” In essence, you would say that the whole comprises the parts.

To compose means “to make up or to constitute.” In this case, the parts compose the whole.

Comprise versus compose in a sentence

To determine when you should use comprise or compose, consider each of the following two options:

1. If the whole item is mentioned first, comprise is the correct word to use.

Example: The circle comprises eight monkeys OR The circle includes eight monkeys.

You would not write Eight monkeys comprise the circle because in order to use comprise the whole item must be mentioned first.

2. If the items that denote the whole are mentioned first, compose is the correct word to use because together, the items are composing or making up the whole.

Example: Eight monkeys compose the circle.

You would not write The circle is composed of eight monkeys because in order to use compose, the parts must be mentioned first.

You might be tempted to write The circle is comprised of eight monkeys. This is incorrect because comprised does not require the use of “is” or “of”; it stands alone. Since comprised also means “to contain”, it does not make sense to write is contained of.*

*According to the American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style, this usage is becoming more widely accepted. In 2005, 65% of those surveyed approved of writing is comprised of.

Tips to help you remember

Despite the increasing trend of acceptance for the use of is comprised of, if you’re ever in doubt, write your sentence according to the traditional rules.

1. The whole comprises the parts.

2. The parts compose the whole.

Here is another suggestion for remembering the difference:

1. Comprise: The whole rises first to appear before the parts.

2. Compose: The parts pose first to make up the whole.

If you have any other suggestions to help remember when to use comprise or compose in a sentence, please share in the comment section. The key is to find something that is easy for you to understand.

Image credit: Many thanks to Tina for giving permission to use this image.

Peace of mind on the job?

“Let’s face it: having to work closely with someone whose nasty ways make you feel like crap isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. Interacting with these people at work is something we all suck up and do, but many of us don’t know how to neutralize the toxic behaviour to the point where it’s easier to bear.”

We’ve all had to deal with bosses, co-workers or clients who have challenged our peace of mind while on the job. If you let it, it can interfere with your morale and your job performance.

Instead of feeling violated and powerless, or even questioning your own judgement, there is something you can do: become aware that this is a very real issue and there are ways to deal with this type of behaviour. You can be prepared. You don’t have to bury your head in the sand and take the abuse.

An awesome how-to guide for dealing with toxic people

The Narcissist at Work was written by Betsy Wuebker of Passing Thru, an entrepreneur with more than 30 years’ experience in corporate and small-business environments, and Becky Blanton, an award-winning photojournalist, author, ghostwriter and featured speaker at TED Global 2009. Her new novel is Bloodline: The October Abduction of Thomas Martin (March 2012).

Betsy and Becky have researched and compiled an extensive array of information to educate you on narcissistic behaviour. This is what this book will offer you:

1. How to identify narcissistic behaviour and understand what is behind the bullying.
2. Case studies in which people share personal accounts of their experience with a narcissist on the job.
3. Tips and strategies for both employees and independent contractors that will give them the confidence to stand their ground.
4. If you’re a freelancer, you will be introduced to systems and procedures that will allow you to identify potential problem clients and make informed decisions about who to take as clients.

It’s not about winning

Not only does this book teach you how to identify narcissistic behaviour and how to deal with it responsibly, but throughout the process its effect is to bring you more awareness and thus, encourage you to be more responsible for your own actions. The Narcissist at Work helps you realize that when you act responsibly and proactively, you are taking care of yourself and you are empowering colleagues and clients to be on their best behaviour.

You will attract more business and personal relationships that are aligned with everyone’s best interest when you choose to focus on what you are “for,” rather than what you are against. One of the most important things I came away with after reading this book is that this is not about winning. You can’t win with a narcissist and if you approach this with that mindset, you will only end up as one of their puppets.

The Narcissist at Work is available on Amazon.