Get rid of THIS word in your writing

POSTAL ADDRESS (if you're kind enough to send me a letter or something!)

Tim Hickson
PO Box 69062
Lincoln, 7608
Canterbury, New Zealand

Script by meeeeeeeee
Video edited by Lalit Kumar

The artist who design my cover photo:

Stay nerdy!
Tim

[HelloFutureMe]

We often use 'that' to connect dependent and independent clauses, but that was a little difficult to explain in a 60 second video! And because English is weird, some verbs sound better with it, but it's not always easy to know which ones they are.

~ Tim

[Cheezbuckets]

“Get rid of this word.”
“That word?”
“Exactly.”

[TylerLarson]

I find myself *adding* it, especially in sentences that have to hold up legally. It removes the potential for ambiguity in a lot of cases, which is why I think we use it verbally so often. While the sentence technically means the same thing without it, there's often less cognitive load in reading the sentence when it's there.

[vid_dmn]

I quite like using 'that' in this way because it helps me understand and process the sentence quicker.

[combogalis]

This is one of those things I've always differed with other writers on. I actually prefer that sample sentence with "that" still in it. I think it's because I hear what I read verbally in my head, so when I read "Myumi thought Hoshiko" part of my mind stutters and has to stop to interpret whether or not she is literally thinking the word/name "Hoshiko." Another part of it is just that the cadence flows slightly smoother to me, though that might simply be a result of my first issue.

Even in times when they are unnecessary, I don't think an extra "that" here and there really hurts the quality of a work. It's a good rule of thumb, but a blanket ban is excessive, (though I get you're probably overstating it for youtube).

[lucasm.]

“Actually” is another word that can be removed at pretty much any time without taking away any context or meaning.

[euanthompson]

"We use that a lot when we talk"
"What?"
"That"

I feel a comedy sketch coming on

[thatstarwarsnerd]

You never realise that you actually just use lots of filler words, and that that just means that that piece of writing becomes just that much more bloated

[deep_and_profound_topics]

i frequently use “that” to change the flow of a sentence. i think (that) it’s very useful.

[TheBriguy]

I actually feel (that) most people often neglect using 'that' in everyday language. People tend to say things more simply when talking casually, and it's just (that) when you're making a point to be grammatically correct when writing (that) you end up using it more than you really need to.

[pichael]

Same goes for "Just" - You don't need it as much as you think!

[learning]

Thank you.
It's always a good reminder to edit our work down.
Also, very cool shirt.

[spaghetti]

I like seeing Tim making little short videos! I love his long style videos but it is fun to see him trying new things!

[jesperkarlsson]

The primary use for that is in "That's the way aha aha I like it aha aha" and pro tip, it makes any written work better when included

[SethKasso]

Very true. Removing useless instances of "that" has helped my writing flow better.

[aetherseeker]

This'll be useful for further improving my writing!

[Handington]

YES! Exactly! Thank you! I've spent so much time trying to make sentences flow better. Rewriting all afternoon is very relatable.

[bowenhorne]

See I got used to using “that” and a variety of other such words trying to stretch my word count writing in school, now it’s hard to break that habit.

[stephenwaldron]

I think it is easier to explain when we _can_ get rid of "that" in a sentence, but n.b. these are my observations, so someone could correct me if I get anything wrong.

As mentioned, "that" is used to connect a main clause to a subordinate clause, whether connected to verbs or nouns. Some examples:

*•* The girl *_that_* stood there on the wooden bridge was somewhat short and thin.

*•* I thought *_that_* she would be taken aloft by the spring winds that blew through her matted hair.

The general rule of thumb is that "that" is unnecessary when the next word is the subject of the subordinate clause:

*•* The girl _-that-__ I_ saw standing there on the wooden bridge was somewhat short and thin.

- I thought _-that-__ she_ would be taken aloft by the spring winds that blew through her matted hair.

However, it is better and sometimes expected that you keep the "that" in these cases:

1) when the sentence is really complicated so much so that omitting "that" may make it confusing, and

2) when the rhythm of the sentence makes it difficult to naturally place stress on the word starting the subordinate clause, for example when that verb phrase is made of multiple words,

*•* It has been known *_that_* she stands there on green spring mornings.

[helloemma]

Wow!!!


Thank you so much for this advice. I started doing this a day or two ago to see what it was like or if it helped, and it was a huge game changer. Again, thank you, this was really helpful to me, because I'm definitely someone who writes in her speaking voice.