Useless Phrases that Killed Your Writing's Impact

Crowding your article with worthless phrases is poor writing. It detracts from the impact you want your words to carry. Good writing conveys authority. The examples that follow are shear padding. They burden your reader with unnecessary words, waste their time, and leave them feeling unfulfilled. Give your articles power by avoiding these useless phrases.

You get the point
This is an affirmation to the author not the reader. The real meaning is, "I don't think I made my point so I'll pretend that if the reader didn't get it, they are dumb. Then I won't be questioned." If you have resorted to this phrase, it is a signal that you should give serious attention to what preceded it.

Be Creative
For people like me who have not a single, creative bone in their body, seeing "Be creative" in the middle of a how-to article blows me out of the water. If I were creative, I wouldn't be reading your article. This is like the old cartoon of the math equation where one of the steps is "then a miricle happens." Give the reader the facts. At least give them a few ideas.

Here's the punch line
Phrases such as "Get it?" just kill a joke. Telegraphing the joke in an article abstract will stop most viewers before they even click to read. If you ever used "This is a comical look at" or "A humorous view of," you've fallen prey. If you have to tell the reader it's funny, it's not.

As a matter of fact
This is phrased better as "In fact" or simply "Factually." Sometimes it is better not to write as we speak. This is one of those times. By definition, facts stand on their own. They should be presented as statements without cursory language. Here are a few other members of this phrase family.

"On the grounds that." You are not a lawyer. This is not a trail. Use "because."
"In light of the fact that." This is matter-of-fact's second cousin once removed and should be.
"After all is said and done." Just complete the thought without the fluff.
"In conclusion." We can see that the article is ending. There is no need to telegraph your final paragraph. Wrap it up.