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Wordiness MENUEXIT Can you spot the tired language in the following sentence? PREVIOUS Tired Language Continue… Tired language is dull, unimaginative, and monotonous. Late in the 4th quarter, the quarterback added insult to injury by passing for two back-to-back touchdowns.
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WordinessTired Language
MENU EXIT
Continue…
Tired language is dull, unimaginative, and monotonous.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Can you spot the tired language in the following sentence?
Late in the 4th quarter, the quarterback added insult to injury by passing for two back-to-back touchdowns.
PREVIOUS
Click to see the tired language
Tired Language
Tired language is dull, unimaginative, and monotonous.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Can you spot the tired language in the following sentence?
PREVIOUS
Tired Language
Continue…
Tired language is dull, unimaginative, and monotonous.
Late in the 4th quarter, the quarterback added insult to injury by passing for two back-to-back touchdowns.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
How could you revise this sentence using more vivid language?
Late in the 4th quarter, the quarterback added insult to injury by passing for two back-to-back touchdowns.
PREVIOUS
Tired Language
Click to see a revision
Tired language is dull, unimaginative, and monotonous.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Late in the 4th quarter, the quarterback added insult to injury by passing for two back-to-back touchdowns.
ORIGINAL
REVISED
Late in the 4th quarter, the quarterback stunned the opposition by passing for two back-to-back touchdowns.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Next
Tired language is dull, unimaginative, and monotonous.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Which word is an example of tired language in this sentence?
The teacher looked mad when I was late for class again.
PREVIOUS
Tired Language
Click to see the tired language
Wordiness
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Which word is an example of tired language in this sentence?
The teacher looked mad when I was late for class again.
PREVIOUS
Tired Language
Continue…
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
How could you revise this sentence to get rid of the tired word?
The teacher looked mad when I was late for class again.
PREVIOUS
Tired Language
Click to see a revision
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
The teacher looked mad when I was late for class again.ORIGINAL
REVISED
The teacher looked exasperated and impatient when I was late for class again.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Next
Wordiness
Use the following strategies to revise tired language. Click on the strategy you want to explore.
MENU EXIT
MENU
Tired Language
•Replace Clichés•Use Precise Nouns•Find Vivid Verbs•Replace Empty Modifiers
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Clichés A cliché is an overused, worn-out expression.
Tired Language
Continue…
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Clichés Tired Language
Here are examples of some familiar clichés. You have probably heard these expressions before.
•happy as a lark•easier said than done•call it quits•reinvent the wheel
Next
A cliché is an overused, worn-out expression.
PREVIOUS
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Clichés Tired Language
Use these strategies to avoid clichés:
• Find a fresh image for what you want to say.• Connect with feeling. For example, how does boredom feel?
Is it endless, dull, weary?• Use ordinary language. If you can't think of a fresh image,
then choose clear, everyday words instead of a worn-out expression.
Next
PREVIOUS
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Clichés What is the cliché in this sentence?
The politician gave a sigh of relief when the debate finally ended.
Click to see the cliché
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Clichés What is the cliché in this sentence?
The politician gave a sigh of relief when the debate finally ended.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Continue…
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Clichés How could you avoid the cliché in this sentence?
The politician gave a sigh of relief when the debate finally ended.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Click to see a revision
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
The politician gave a sigh of relief when the debate finally ended.
ORIGINAL
REVISED
The politician loosened his tie and relaxed his shoulders when the debate finally ended.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Replace Clichés The revised sentence describes the politician’s actions. These details show rather than tell how he felt when the debate ended.
Menu
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Use Precise NounsTired Language
Use nouns that give specific information. Replace common nouns with the names of specific places, people, or things.
Common Noun
dog
drink
game
book
Specific Noun
poodle
coffee, lemonade
chess, baseball
dictionary, almanac
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Use Precise NounsTired Language
Use nouns that give specific information. Replace common nouns with the names of specific places, people, or things.
Common Noun
dog
drink
game
book
Specific Noun
poodle
coffee, lemonade
chess, baseball
dictionary, almanac
Next
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Use Precise NounsWhat are the non-specific nouns in this sentence?
The man spotted the car by the side of the road.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Click to see the non-specific nouns
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Use Precise NounsWhat are the non-specific nouns in this sentence?
The man spotted the car by the side of the road.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Continue…
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Use Precise NounsHow would you revise this sentence to use precise nouns?
The man spotted the car by the side of the road.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Click to see a revision
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
The man spotted the car by the side of the road. ORIGINAL
REVISED
The police officer spotted the dark blue minivan in the breakdown lane.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Use Precise Nouns
Menu
How would you revise this sentence to use precise nouns?
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Find Vivid VerbsTired Language
Use verbs that convey a true sense of the action you want to describe.
Generic Verb
talk
give
drink
look
Specific Verb
chat, gossip, discuss
confer, bestow, grant
swallow, slurp, gulp
scrutinize, glimpse, peek
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Find Vivid VerbsTired Language
Use verbs that convey a true sense of the action you want to describe.
Generic Verb
talk
give
drink
look
Specific Verb
chat, gossip, discuss
confer, bestow, grant
swallow, slurp, gulp
scrutinize, glimpse, peek
Next
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Find Vivid VerbsWhat are the generic verbs in this sentence?
The car stopped after it turned the corner and hit the streetlight.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Click to see the generic verbs
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Find Vivid VerbsWhat are the generic verbs in this sentence?
The car stopped after it turned the corner and hit the streetlight.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Continue…
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Find Vivid VerbsWhat specific verbs could you use in this sentence instead of the generic verbs?
The car stopped after it turned the corner and hit the streetlight.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Click to see a revision
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
The car stopped after it turned the corner and hit the streetlight.
ORIGINAL
REVISED
The car screeched to a stop after it clipped the corner and sideswiped the streetlight.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Find Vivid Verbs
Menu
What specific verbs could you use in this sentence instead of the generic verbs?
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Empty ModifiersTired Language
Modifiers (adjectives and adverbs) can have many shades of meaning. Choose modifiers that convey exactly what you mean. You may also need to add details to make your meaning clear.
Generic Modifier
awful
pretty
interesting
fun
Specific Modifier
appalling, frightful, disgustingstunning, gorgeous, attractiveabsorbing, captivating, fascinating amusing, enjoyable, entertaining
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Empty ModifiersTired Language
Modifiers (adjectives and adverbs) can have many shades of meaning. Choose modifiers that convey exactly what you mean. You may also need to add details to make your meaning clear.
Generic Modifier
awful
pretty
interesting
fun
Specific Modifier
appalling, frightful, disgustingstunning, gorgeous, attractiveabsorbing, captivating, fascinating amusing, enjoyable, entertaining
Next
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Empty ModifiersWhat are the empty modifiers in this sentence?
The acrobat performed a nice somersault on the thin high wire to the applause of the watchful crowd.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Click to see the empty modifiers
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Empty ModifiersTired Language
PREVIOUS
Continue…
What are the empty modifiers in this sentence?
The acrobat performed a nice somersault on the thin high wire to the applause of the watchful crowd.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Replace Empty ModifiersWhat more specific modifiers could you use in this sentence?
The acrobat performed a nice somersault on the thin high wire to the applause of the watchful crowd.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Click to see a revision
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
The acrobat performed a nice somersault on the thin high wire to the applause of the watchful crowd.
ORIGINAL
REVISED
The acrobat performed a graceful somersault on the threadlike high wire to the applause of the captivated crowd.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Replace Empty Modifiers What more specific modifiers could you use in this sentence?
Next
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Tired Language
What is the empty modifier in this sentence?
My summer job was terrible.
Replace Empty Modifiers
Click to see the empty modifier
PREVIOUS
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
What is the empty modifier in this sentence?
My summer job was terrible.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Continue…
Replace Empty Modifiers
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
How could you revise this sentence to make it less tired and more descriptive?
My summer job was terrible.
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Click to see a revision
Replace Empty Modifiers
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
How could you revise this sentence to make it less tired and more descriptive?
My summer job was terrible.
Tired Language
Replace Empty Modifiers
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
My summer job was terrible.
Tired Language
colorful.
Replace Empty Modifiers
terrible.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Tired Language
Replace Empty Modifiers
My summer job was
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Tired Language
My summer job was
Replace Empty Modifiers
mind-numbingly tedious.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Tired Language
PREVIOUS
Menu
Replace Empty Modifiers
My summer job was mind-numbingly tedious.