Forum / that

  • 2161777446_a91102ea45.thumb
    Matt Dennison
    Jan 10, 06:30am

    I have recently found that that word, "that," is pretty useless and that it can be cut in most instances.

    (not that there's anything wrong with that)

    And then I realized that "then" ain't all that useful, either.

  • Author_photo.thumb
    James Lloyd Davis
    Jan 10, 09:33am

    That's so true, but then ...

  • 2161777446_a91102ea45.thumb
    Matt Dennison
    Jan 10, 09:45am

    Ha!

    (go to bed...)

  • Fictionaut.thumb
    W.F. Lantry
    Jan 10, 05:56pm

    Matt,

    I used to have my students count the 'that's they used in there first essay. Some of them durned near fell over when they realized how many they had.

    Then I had them circle every 'to be' verb... ;)

  • 2161777446_a91102ea45.thumb
    Matt Dennison
    Jan 10, 06:15pm

    The Thats

    (band name alert!)

  • Author_photo.thumb
    James Lloyd Davis
    Jan 10, 06:41pm

    Actually, in 1972, and for a reason I cannot quite recall, I began to purge "that"s from of my writing. Maybe Mrs. Thomas, who taught English Composition 101 was the reason. I like think so. I would have done anything she told me.

    That's the truth, that is. God bless you, Mrs. Thomas. Wherever you are.

  • Author_photo.thumb
    James Lloyd Davis
    Jan 10, 06:42pm

    I threw in an extra "of" up 'dere. I am so ashamed.

  • 2161777446_a91102ea45.thumb
    Matt Dennison
    Jan 10, 06:54pm

    (But you left out a "to," so overall balance *is* maintained.)

    One thing that opened my eyes to the specifics of writing, of saying EXACTLY what you mean and not depending on your internal "*I* know what I mean, so..." (AND saying no more than what is necessary) was my freshman comp teacher (Sue Livingston, MSU) who marked through "down" in my phrase "he sat down" and wrote "He can't sit UP, can he?"

  • 2161777446_a91102ea45.thumb
    Matt Dennison
    Jan 10, 08:06pm

    (actually, her entire phrase was, "He can't sit UP, can he, you ignorant little dillweed!)

  • 2161777446_a91102ea45.thumb
    Matt Dennison
    Jan 10, 11:02pm

    [as I followed her out the building, across the parking lot and up to her car, saying, "But I SAY 'sit down,' why can't I write it?!"

    I think the back of my fingers still bear the imprint of that car door. Strong, strong lady...]

  • Gloriamindock200x274.thumb
    Gloria Mindock
    Jan 11, 06:47pm

    I love the word "that" but have learned to cut many of the useless little words out of my poetry. Sometimes though, I catch myself.

  • You must log in to reply to this thread.