J. Kelly Robison
The following is a list of colloquial expressions. The expressions are fine for speaking and even for very informal writing. However, the expressions should be avoided in the final drafts of academic and/or business writing because they are vague, too unspecific, or create a tone that is too informal or unconfident When you are editing or proofreading, check twice to be sure that you’ve avoided using the following.
Acrossed/Acrosst
Tim lives acrossed the street from me.
Use “across.”
All About
Stacey is all about guys with money.
Use a meaningful verb and replace the phrase entirely. Stacey likes/loves…
A Whole Lot
I don’t know a whole lot about Wall Street.
A whole lot is twice as much as a half a
(Delete “whole.” Or find another adverb.) lot, which is often an empty piece of land in the city.
Back in the Day
Just say when. In my grandfather’s era…
Being that
Being that Tonya was late…Because Tonya was late…
Being there for
My mother was always there for me. Use a specific verb, e.g. “ My mother always listened to my concerns. My mother always supported my decisions.”
But yet
We thought the idea was good, but yet it wasn’t. Just use one of the two conjunctions: but or yet. We thought the idea was good, but it wasn’t.
Cause/’Cause/Cuz
I bought the red dress cause I wanted to feel pretty. Use because instead.
(Cause is a completely different word than because [a noun not a conjunction].)
Change out
I need to change out the winter storm windows to screens. Use: “I need to change the…”
Go Ahead
I thought I would go ahead and call him. Delete. I thought I would call him.
(Note: Went ahead [which is go ahead in the past tense] should also be avoided.)
In a sense
In a sense I think she is wrong.Be confident! Avoid using entirely:
She is wrong.
Kinda
I actually kinda like writing.If you must use it, use “kind of.” (But you might as well stay confident and remove the phrase all together.)
Lots
I like a man who knows lots about baseball. Lots are plots of land.
If you must, use a lot (spelled as two words). But why not use a stronger adverb?
More
She is more talented.
Add, than + the comparison
(More indicates a comparison, so make one. E.g. She is more talented than Oscar.)
More so
I am more so a baseball fan than a football fan.
Remove “so.” Or avoid completely.
Out there
So many opportunities are out there for a smart person. Just say where!
(In the world? In society? In a certain culture? In a given profession?)
Somewhat
I think that the author was somewhat right.
Be confident! Remove the word.
(I agree with the author on some points and disagree with her on others.)
To Where
1) It was to where I didn’t understand what he meant. Use “to the point (that)”
Where…at
Where do you work at?
Remove at. Where do you work?
Would
He would smile at me every time I saw him.
He smiled at me every time I saw him.
The word would should only be used for the conditional tense--to express that certain conditions exist--to express uncertainty, or to make polite requests. For example:
We would have gone to the park, but it rained.
Would you consider that option?
Would of Includes should of/could of, etc.Always use would have or would’ve
(The same goes for should have/could’ve, etc.)
Try avoiding the following words, which are quite vague, and select more specific words.
Stuff—Avoid this imprecise word completely.
Thing(s) (in all of its forms: anything, something, nothing, everything, etc.)
Forms of “to get” (got, gotten, gets, has gotten) Get can mean earn, find, have, obtain, buy, purchase, catch, etc. E.g., I got a good grade. Use “earned,” or any other more specific verb, instead.
Forms of “to be” (been, am, are, is, was, were, being); use stronger verbs.
Note: “to be” must be used in certain grammatical formations. For example,
“The window needs replaced” should be “The window needs to be replaced.”
A lot (or lots, or a whole lot—see side 1). If you must use “a lot,” be sure to use spell it as two words. Ex., Every semester, a lot of students are tempted to cheat on exams. Delete the phrase and actually give more information. How many is “a lot”? Several? Hundreds? Thousands? 1,358?
It was/It is. Try to avoid these words when composing a sentence, and instead emphasize the actual subject of the sentence.
Weak: It was as if she were avoiding me.
Better: She seemed to be avoiding me.
Weak: It was twelve o’clock when the phone rang.
Better: The phone rang at twelve o’clock.
There is/There was/There are/There were. Try to avoid these words when composing sentences, and instead emphasize the actual subject of the sentence. For example:
Oy: There was something about her smile which attracted me.
Better:The playfulness of her smile attracted me. Or: Her smile attracted me.
Double Oy: There are a lot of things I admire about Rita.
Better: Rita possesses many qualities that I admire.