Common Irritating Writing Practices Many Fall Victim To

There’s a fine line between a piece of writing that flows seamlessly and another that irks its readers with every sentence. Seasoned writers and beginners alike sometimes lapse into writing habits that can grind on a reader’s nerves without even realizing it. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most commonly encountered irritating writing practices that can disrupt the reading experience and subtract from the effectiveness of your text.

Confusing Possessives with Contractions

One of the glaring mistakes in written English involves mixing up possessives with contractions. While they may sound similar, confusing “your” with “you’re” or “it’s” with “its” can quickly detract from the credibility of your writing. For example, “Your going to love this” should be “You’re going to love this,” as the intended meaning is “you are.” Possessive pronouns such as “its,” “their,” and “our” do not have apostrophes, unlike contractions like “it’s” (it is), “they’re” (they are), and “we’re” (we are).

The Overuse and Underuse of Commas

Commas are essential in writing—they determine pacing, separate ideas, and prevent misreading. Still, their overuse creates choppy reading while their underuse can result in run-on sentences. Consider the difference between “Let’s eat, Grandma!” and “Let’s eat Grandma!” The first is an invitation to dine; the latter, shockingly, suggests cannibalism. Overloading sentences with commas, however, can be just as hazardous. Commas should be employed judiciously to clarify meaning without disrupting the flow of the prose.

The Overkill of Adverbs in Descriptions

Adverbs can add flavor to your writing, but like any potent spice, it’s all too easy to overdo it. Sentences laden with these modifier words can seem forced or lazy and often lead to turgid prose. Instead of saying, “He ran very quickly to the extraordinarily huge building,” choose stronger verbs and precise nouns: “He sprinted to the skyscraper.” A more direct approach typically allows for clearer and more vivid writing.

Passive Voice Overload: Losing the Action

While passive voice is not grammatically incorrect, it often leads to weaker sentences where the subject is obscured, and the action feels distant. Sentences dominated by passive voice lack the vigor that active voice provides. Consider the difference: “The ball was thrown by John” (passive) versus “John threw the ball” (active). Active voice results in more direct and engaging writing that readers find easier to follow.

The Tangle of Mixed Metaphors

Mixed metaphors can muddy your writing and confuse readers. They occur when disparate metaphors are combined, often resulting in nonsensical statements. This makes it vital to keep your metaphors consistent. For instance, saying, “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but let’s not count our chickens before the milk’s spilt,” combines elements that don’t logically fit together, creating a confusing image for the reader. Stick to one metaphor at a time to maintain clarity and prevent unintended humor.

Repetitive Phrases and Redundancy Issues

Repetition and redundancy can make prose dull and tedious. Phrases like “each and every,” “free gift,” or “future plans” are pleonastic—the meaning of one word implies the other. Even entire sentences can be unnecessarily repeated for emphasis, but often end up sounding redundant. Aim for concise and varied expression that gets the point across without overstating it.

 

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