These extras can distract from your main message and make your writing come off as less serious.

Keep in mind, the type of writing you do changes what words are appropriate, and what are considered extra.

For example, academic essays will have a more elevated writing style than most social media posts. However, there’s almost always something you can cut.

This article reviews basics of filler words: what they are, why they don’t work, and how to avoid them.

What are filler words?

Filler words are words in speech or written text that could be eliminated and are there to take up space.

In speech this sounds like:

• Um
• Uh
• Er
• Ah
• Like
• OK
• Yeah
• Right
• You know

Writers often use filler words when they are unsure of what they have to say or want to hit a certain word count.

Most of us don’t realize how often we use filler words. I’ve been writing for years and I’m certain there are many in this article! It’s a hard habit to break, especially when you have a lot of writing to do and not a lot of extra time.

Depending on your writing style, some filler words make sense to keep. But more often, you can self-edit to make your writing stronger. At first it may be difficult to identify what is style and what is filler, but if you aim to cut the fluff, you’ll be on the right track.

What’s the difference between filler words in writing and in speech?

For the most part, filler words are the same in both writing and speech. It’s more common to use filler words in creative writing and casual speech.

If you are creating a proposal or a formal presentation, you will want to make sure you focus on cutting unnecessary words so your piece looks and sounds professional.

Why avoid using extra words in your writing?

Filler words are bad because they confuse readers and dilute your writing. If you have too much filler people may think your writing is padded and not enjoy the reading experience.

In particular, if you are doing any kind of persuasive writing, it’s important to avoid fluffy or flowery language because it can bury your message.

There is an argument for using filler words in creative writing or poetry, but for most types of writing, it communicates best when it’s clear, concise, and direct.

Examples of filler words

This is a brief overview of filler word examples. Keep in mind that each example below is not guaranteed to be a filler word—it depends on the sentence itself and what is being said. This is especially true for character dialogue.

One way to test if a word is filler is if you can remove it and the sentence still holds the same meaning.

Filler Words

• Really
• Very
• Highly
• Just
• Like
• As you know
• However
• Finally
• In conclusion
• You know
• You see
• Right
• In my opinion
• I guess
• I mean
• Seriously
• Literally
• Totally
• However
• As mentioned

Filler words take up space and make sentences wordy.

4 ways to improve your writing

Here are four ways to avoid using filler words to improve your writing.

1. Start with a brain dump

Before you worry too much about filler words, start by freewriting until everything in your head is on the page.

Write, then edit. (You can’t edit a blank page!)

Your first draft should be judgement-free so you can let your ideas flow. That way you have something to work with when it is time to edit.

2. Cut every sentence in half

This is a guideline rather than a rule. Sometimes cutting won’t make sense.

Pushing yourself to remove unnecessary words is a good and challenging practice. You might be surprised at how clear your writing becomes when you remove what’s extra.

3. Decide what’s filler and what’s essential

Some words like “in addition” or “however” can be important transition words. Every sentence is unique and sometimes what’s filler in one is essential in the other. If you’re not sure, try reading your sentence aloud with and without the word in question. Your ears will know what’s best!

4. Use an editing tool

Using writing and editing tools such as Hemingway app can help you decide how to cut your writing without losing its essence.

There are a lot of tools available, out there, but that one is a popular one for writers since it edits work based on the short sentence style of Ernest Hemingway.

While often associated with persuasive speeches, the art of rhetoric extends far beyond the podium, weaving its magic through every type of writing, including fiction. Using rhetorical techniques can make any kind of writing compelling, turning simple messages into memorable narratives. 

Keep reading to explore rhetorical devices, from what it is to the ways you can utilize it in your writing to captivate readers

What is Rhetoric?

What is rhetoric exactly? It’s is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of certain techniques known as rhetorical devices. 

Elements of Rhetoric

To employ rhetoric, you need to understand the elements needed to make it function effectively. Those elements are as follows: 

Credibility

Establishing the writer’s or speaker’s credibility and authority is crucial when it comes to convincing an audience of anything. This can be done by demonstrating expertise or shared values with the audience. In fiction, this could also apply to the main character. More often than not, we need to be able to trust our narrator and believe they have some sort of authority to lead us through their journey. 

Emotion

Humans are emotional beings. Appealing to your reader’s emotions will help you connect with them and that connection will make it easier to persuade, convince, or lead. Utilizing this element involves creating an emotional response through anecdotes, descriptive language, and the rhetorical devices we will talk about shortly.

Logic

Simply put, things need to make sense to a reader or listener if they are going to listen long enough to be persuaded. Making a logical argument for your stance, or regarding the rules of your world, or your character’s actions will make your story more believable. This entails providing clear reasons, evidence, and logical structure to support the argument (or premise) you are presenting. 

Depending on the type of writing you’re doing, you’ll rely on some of these elements more than others. In non-fiction, logic and credibility are going to be at the forefront of your writing and you’ll want to use rhetoric or a rhetorical device to drive home your knowledge and reliability. You can also use rhetoric to make complicated subjects easier to understand for readers. 

However, in fiction, emotion is going to play a leading role. While credibility and logic will be important, the rules of your world will need to make sense and readers will need to know which characters to trust. When writing fiction you’ll want to make your readers feel.

Rhetoric or rhetorical devices can help you do this by helping readers understand a situation more deeply or relate to a character or situation they have no previous understanding of or experience with. 

How can you do this? By using rhetorical devices.

Let’s take a look at some different rhetorical devices, the tools you can use you can apply rhetoric to your writing, and how they might help in different types of writing. 

What are Rhetorical Devices?

A rhetorical device is a technique used by writers or speakers to convey a message to the audience or to evoke a particular response or emotion. To engage the elements of rhetoric, you can use a rhetorical device. These devices can be used to enhance the meaning of a message, make it more memorable, or make an argument more persuasive. They are used in persuasive speeches, non-fiction, and fiction writing. 

Here are just a few of the rhetorical devices you could use (because there are a lot).

Rhetorical Question

Asking a question not for the sake of getting an answer, but to make a point or draw attention to a topic.

Examples: “Is the Pope Catholic?” or,  “Are you kidding me?” 

Alliteration

The repetition of the same initial sound in a series of words.

Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Example: “I have a dream” from Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech.

Hyperbole

Exaggerating for emphasis or effect. 

Example: “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

Metaphor

A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things, stating that one is the other.

Example:  “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players,” from Shakespeare.

Oxymoron

Combining two contradictory terms. 

Example: “deafening silence.”

Personification

Assigning human qualities or characteristics to non-human entities or abstract ideas. 

Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.” 

Example:  “She sings like an angel.” 

Famous Examples of Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical devices have been used throughout literary and oral history to paint pictures, pull an emotional response from an audience or prove a point.  

Oxymoron 

From Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

The juxtaposition of “sweet” and “sorrow” captures the complex emotions of love and longing. 

​Anaphora

From Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness….”

The repetitive “it was” at the beginning of each clause creates a rhythm and emphasizes the contrasts.

From Martin Luther King Jr’s I Have a Dream Speech: “So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania….” 

Alliteration

From Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes….” 

The repetition of the “F” sound is a rhythmic alliteration. 

These are just a small sample of the examples you can find across literature and of course rhetorical devices are used in movies and modern works as well, even articles, blogs or videos. 

Why Use Rhetoric in Your Writing?

Because rhetoric and rhetorical devices are so common and so effective, it can be hard to know when you’re even using them. This might leave you wondering why you should use them. This subtleness shows why we should use them. 

When an author compares the emotion of a character to an experience or emotion the reader can relate to, it pulls the reader into that emotion so effectively, they don’t even realize they’re being “convinced.” 

While the average reader might not understand what it feels like to send a loved one off on a quest from whence they may never return, they probably understand the ache that grows in your stomach when you send a child off to their first day of school or even a spouse to train for the military. And even though it’s not directly the same experience, they will start to feel that ache in the moment and may be able to relate more to the character than they did previously. 

That’s the power of a rhetorical device. So the next time you’re writing, give it a try. Use a rhetorical device to convince your readers they’re feeling an emotion or help them understand a stance you’re making.

We will be going over what metaphors are, taking a look at some metaphor examples, and going through some other tricks and tips in order to use them in the right way.

Metaphors can make your writing stronger and give readers something to visualize when they are reading. Imagine when you hear the phrase “couch potato” and while it logically does not make sense, you can also imagine what that is in your head.

Keep in mind, metaphors are not always something you are going to use in your writing. There is a time and a place to use them, but we will be going over when you should avoid using them, too.

Metaphor Examples

• What Is A Metaphor?
• Why Writers Should Learn To Use Metaphors
• When To Use Or Not Use Metaphors
• Metaphor Examples
• What Is An Extended Metaphor
• Need More Writing Help?

What Is A Metaphor?

While you might have a vague idea of what a metaphor is, you might not know exactly how to define what it is. Let’s cover the basics and then dive into more of an explanation.

According to the Dictionary:

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that involves making a direct comparison between two seemingly unrelated things to highlight a similarity between them. Unlike a simile, which uses “like” or “as” to make a comparison explicit, a metaphor uses the imagination to create comparisons.

Metaphors are often used to make descriptions more vivid, engaging, or expressive by drawing on the reader’s understanding of the compared items.

Metaphors are often used in literature, poetry, and everyday language to create imagery, enhance communication, and convey abstract ideas in a more relatable and understandable way.

Why Writers Should Learn To Use Metaphors

Metaphors can help make your writing memorable. It can help you express deeper emotions and spark the readers imagination while they read it.

It can make your writing stand out, be more creative, or be more memorable. As you can imagine, all of those are important reasons to use them in your writing if you want to become a full-time writer.

Even if you do not enter a creative writing field, you should still practice using them every now and then so you can improve your overall writing skills.

However, that does not mean writers should always use metaphors, as there are times and places to do so.

When To Use Or Not Use Metaphors

For the most part, you will want to use metaphors when you are doing any type of creative writing.

You might not want to use them as often in an academic or business context, depending on what you are writing.

If you are unsure, you will want to think about the person or audience you are writing for and decide if it is a good idea to include creative writing in it. You will also want to consider if the audience is native speakers to your language because sometimes metaphors will translate in a weird way that can be off-putting.

Here are some other times you might not want to use metaphors:

• Technical writing – Most technical writing needs to be straightforward and clear-cut, so it is not the time to be creative.
• Legal writing – For the same reasons above, you will want to avoid metaphors and creative language in legal writing.
• Sensitive topics – You never want to come across as trivializing or insensitive in these kinds of situations, so keep the metaphors at bay.
• Overused – You also do not want to overdo it with. metaphors in any creative writing.

Metaphor Examples

Now that we have covered the basics, we will dive into some more specific examples and then give a longer list of other ones you might have heard of.

Example #1: “Time is money.”

In this metaphor, time is compared to money, suggesting that just as money is valuable and should be spent wisely, so should one’s time.

Example #2: “Her smile was a ray of sunshine.”

This metaphor compares the brightness and warmth of a smile to the qualities of sunlight.

Example #3: “The world’s a stage.”

This metaphor implies that life is like a theatrical performance, with people playing different roles and putting on a show for others.

This one also comes from As You Like It by William Shakespeare, a great piece to dive into if you want to learn about extended metaphors, which we will cover below.

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

Shakespeare

Some other metaphor examples that are common in our language:

• Having a heart of gold
• Money is the root of all evil
• She is the bomb
• He’s is a couch potato
• Time is money
• Her voice was music to his ears
• The world is a melting pot of cultures
• Life is a rollercoaster with its ups and downs
• His words were a dagger in my heart
• She’s a shining star in our organization
• Love is a battlefield
• The classroom was a zoo after the teacher left
• The city is a concrete jungle
• My heart is a lonely hunter
• His anger was a volcanic eruption
• The book was a passport to another world
• The detective had a mind as sharp as a razor
• The news hit me like a ton of bricks
• Time is a thief in the night
• The idea planted a seed in her mind
• Her laughter was infectious
• The politician’s promises were empty words
• The car roared to life
• His smile was a beacon of hope
• Life is a highway
• He is an early bird

What Is An Extended Metaphor

While we have now extensively covered what a metaphor is, but you might be wondering what an extended metaphor is or how they work.

An extended metaphor is a metaphor introduced and then further developed throughout all or part of a literary work, especially a poem.

Dictionary.com definition of an extended metaphor

An extended metaphor is a literary device that occurs when a metaphor is prolonged and developed throughout a piece of writing or a speech, often spanning several sentences, paragraphs, or even an entire work.

Unlike a regular metaphor, which is a brief comparison, an extended metaphor is sustained and elaborated upon, allowing the writer to explore and explain a complex idea or theme in depth.

In an extended metaphor, the initial comparison is introduced, and then various facets or aspects of that comparison are explored further, often providing a deeper insight or understanding of the subject matter. This technique is frequently used in poetry, prose, and speeches to create a more profound and lasting impact on the reader or audience.

These are not something you will often start using when you are learning creative writing. It takes time to learn how to draw out the same meaning across a whole piece.

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The book editing checklist and guide below will help you make sure you have not only your metaphors but all of your other editing on point throughout your book.

Pesky typos and other simple errors are enough to turn off potential readers, so having them sprinkled throughout your book can be a huge problem. You will want to make sure you catch all of the errors before your book is published and this guide can help.

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In all of your writing techniques, you might have wondered what is irony?

Irony is a powerful literary device that adds depth and complexity to your writing. It occurs when there’s a gap between expectation and reality, often resulting in a humorous or thought-provoking twist.

In this article, we will summarize what irony is to help you understand the basics, how to use it in your writing, and a primer on the different types out there to pick from.

What Is Irony?

Irony is a literary and rhetorical device that conveys a disconnect or incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs. It often involves a subtle, often humorous, twist in meaning or situations.

Irony, in its broadest sense, is the juxtaposition of what on the surface appears to be the case and what is actually the case or to be expected; it is an important rhetorical device and literary technique. Irony can be categorized into different types, including verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony.

Wikipedia page on “Irony”

Irony serves various purposes in writing, from humor and satire to commentary on the human experience. It can sometimes be hard to fit into a box and is one of those things you understand when you start to read it.

When used in an advanced way, irony invites readers to think critically about the world and human nature, challenging them to look beyond the surface of words and actions to uncover deeper layers of meaning.

What Are Different Types Of Irony

When it comes to including irony in your writing, there are various forms you can use. You will need to know the differences if you plan to use it in your writing.

1. Verbal Irony: This occurs when a character says one thing but means another. Sarcasm is a common form of verbal irony, where the speaker intentionally says the opposite of what they mean to mock or criticize.
2. Dramatic Irony: This occurs when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in a story do not. This knowledge creates tension and often leads to unexpected outcomes.
3. Situational Irony: In this type, there’s a contrast between what’s expected to happen and what actually happens. It can be both amusing and thought-provoking. For example, a fire station burning down is a situationally ironic event.
4. Cosmic Irony: This is a broader concept where the universe itself seems to conspire against human desires and expectations. It suggests a sense of fate or destiny that’s often cruel or indifferent.

For the most part, you will use situational and verbal irony in your writing, but that gives you an overview of some other options, as well.

How to Use Irony In Your Writing

Remember that while irony can be a powerful tool, its effectiveness depends on context, tone, and the skill of the writer.

While irony can be hard to always define, there are a few tips you can keep in mind for you to use to start using irony in your writing.

1. Consider your audience

Before you try and use irony in your writing, you will want to think about if your audience is the right kind to appreciate irony.

For example, if you are writing for a business context, you will most likely not want to use irony because that is not the format for creative writing. What may be ironic to one group of readers might not be to another.

2. Start doing word play and get creative

Play with words or phrases that have double meanings. This can lead to humorous or thought-provoking results.

It will take a while in order to properly use irony in the right situation. Even advanced writers can have a hard time nailing it every time! To get a better grasp of how to use irony, read works by authors who excel at it.

3. Play with timing

The timing of your ironic statement can enhance its impact. Place it strategically in your writing to maximize its effect.

4. Keep consistent with your tone

Make sure that the ironic statement or situation is consistent with the tone and style of your overall piece. Sudden shifts in tone can be jarring for readers.

5. Edit ruthlessly

Irony can be subtle, so revise and edit your work to ensure that the irony is clear and effective. Ask others for feedback to gauge how well it comes across.

Tips for Using Situational Irony

For the most part, writers are going to mostly use situational and verbal irony in their writing.

If you plan to use situational irony in your writing, here are a few tips for this specific type of irony.

In situational irony, create situations where the outcome is different from what is expected. This can surprise and engage your readers.

Before you can create situational irony, you need to establish clear expectations or a baseline for what your readers anticipate will happen. Describe the situation, characters, or circumstances in a way that leads your audience to expect a particular outcome or resolution.

Build tension or anticipation by subtly foreshadowing events or developments that seem to align with these expectations.

Once you’ve set up the reader’s expectations, subvert them by delivering an outcome that is unexpected and contrary to what was anticipated. The surprise element is key to situational irony.

Make sure the twist is logical within the context of your story. It shouldn’t come completely out of left field but rather reveal a deeper layer of meaning or an ironic contrast with the established expectations of the storyline.

Tips for Using Verbal Irony

If you plan to use verbal irony in your writing, here are a few tips for this specific type of irony.

Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony that involves mocking or ridiculing. While it can be effective, it should be used carefully, as it can come across as mean-spirited or offensive.

Exaggeration and understatement are tools to create verbal irony. By downplaying or overstating a situation, you can convey the opposite of what is stated.

Use situational or character-based context to create a foundation for the irony. For example, if a character is known for their straightforwardness, their use of sarcasm or irony will stand out more.

Verbal irony should be clear to the reader without being overly explicit. The key is to strike a balance so that the audience grasps the irony without having it explained.

Use tone, context cues, or subtle hints to guide your readers toward the intended meaning. Be aware that if the irony is too subtle, it may be missed altogether.

For instance, if you’re writing a story where a character is always pessimistic, you can use verbal irony by having them say something like, “Oh, great, another sunny day,” when the character actually despises sunny weather. The irony lies in the contrast between the words spoken and the character’s true feelings, and the context helps readers understand the intended meaning.

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Shakespeare Birthplace Trust says he did this “often by combining words, changing nouns into verbs, adding prefixes or suffixes, and so on.”

Perhaps even more interesting is although these words and phrases were invented in the 16th century, many of them are still in use today! 

Keep reading as we explore 50 of our favorite phrases and words invented by Shakespeare and share a bit of the story behind them where we can. 

Words Invented by Shakespeare (with Some Origins) 

Considered the greatest playwright in English history, William Shakespeare was a prolific writer and left an incredible mark on literature and western culture.  Here are 25 words he is credited with inventing.

1. Addiction—Exemplified in Othello, the word “addiction” is used to describe the state of being dedicated or devoted to a thing, unlike the modern usage of the word relating to bad habits like smoking
2. Assassination—Found in Macbeth, the word “assassination” holds its same meaning by being a timed poisoning or utter destruction of something
3. Bedroom—This word still holds the same meaning as when it was added to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
4. Champion
5. Cold-Blooded—When first used, this word was used metaphorically whereas now it’s used as a reference to serial killers and vampires
6. Critic—Found in Love’s Labour Lost to mean someone who judges merit
7. Dwindle
8. Elbow
9. Fashionable—Cited in Troilus and Cressida, this 11-letter word has stood the test of time in various industries today
10. Generous
11. Gloomy
12. Hint
13. Inaudible—Shakespeare added the negation of “in” before a word where it had never been before
14. Lackluster
15. Lonely
16. Moonbeam
17. Multitudinous—There are two meanings that Shakespeare derived from this word. One describes a body of water and the other is related to common people
18. Obscene—Meaning “repulsive or disgusting,” this term was first found in Love’s Labour Lost
19. Puking
20. Perusal
21. Pious
22. Radiance
23. Reliance
24. Submerge
25. Swagger—This was way before Justin Bieber! Shakespeare meant “swagger” to mean “strutting with a defiant air” 

25 Common Phrases Shakespeare Invented

Here are a few phrases that first came William Shakespeare. See how many you recognize and use! 

1. All’s well that ends well
2. Break the ice
3. Eaten out of house and home
4. Fair play
5. Good riddance
6. Heart of gold
7. In a pickle
8. Laughing stock
9. Love is blind
10. Wild-goose chase
11. Vanish into thin air
12. Naked truth 
13. A piece of work 
14. Fight fire with fire
15. What’s done is done 
16. Wear your heart on your sleeve
17. Seen better days 
18. Set your teeth on edge 
19. Too much of a good thing 
20. The world is my oyster
21. A sorry sight 
22. Green-eyed monster
23. Heart of hearts
24. Dead as a doornail 
25. Bated breath 

Some of these phrases may have existed in speech before Shakespeare documented them in his work. However, his usage caused them to enter popular culture and influence our word choices, even today. 

Shakespeare’s Invented Words Showcases the Flexibility of the English Language

What’s so interesting about these terms being used today is that it demonstrates just how enduring our language is. Can you believe these 16th-century words and phrases still (basically) mean the same thing? It also shows us how flexible English can be. If we need a word, we can make one.

For example, as of February 2023, there were already 313 new entries and 130 new definitions added to the dictionary in 2023 such as:

• Digital nomad
• Rage farming
• Folx
• Petfluencer

Language is how we express our human experience, and the words and phrases we use will endure or flex based on what we need in any given moment. 

While many of the words invented by Shakespeare are more heavily used in England and the United Kingdom, English speakers around the world will be familiar with some, if not most, of our curated list! 

What is a Footnote? 

A footnote is an in-text citation found in the footer of the page.

You’ll know it’s a footnote when you see a superscript number (a small, raised number) next to a word or chart, which links to a short citation at the bottom of the page.  The footnote will contain additional context or information.

What is an Endnote?

An endnote is an in-text citation found at the end of the chapter or document. 

Similar to a footnote, an endnote gives the reader more information about a topic. However, their location at the end of a chapter allows for them to contain more content than a footnote as there is more space than at the bottom of the page. 

Endnotes vs Footnotes: Which to Use When

Endnotes and footnotes are citations, and they both provide additional information to readers without interrupting the flow of words.

In general, citations are required when writing an academic paper or research study. They’re also expected for essays, certain non-fiction books, and journal articles.

Which citation you go with often depends on the style you’re writing to so take a moment to check the style requirements and become familiar with their prefered citation method.

If you aren’t using many citations and they’re short, then footnotes are fine. If you have longer citations and require additional space, then endnotes may serve you better.

In general, the use of footnotes in most academic writing is now considered a bit outdated and has been replaced by endnotes, which are much easier to place in your paper, even with the advent of word processing programs. However, some disciplines, such as law and history, still predominantly utilize footnotes.

USC Libraries Research Guides

The format you use depends on what you’re writing (books, articles, essays, etc. have different requirements) and what style you’re using. However, citations contain similar elements: 

• A superscript number within the body of text, which corresponding number contains additional information
• A page number or reference, which tells you the source of the information within the text 

Here’s an example of a citation: 

^1. Carolyn Kay, Art and the German Bourgeoisie: Alfred Lichtwark and Modern Painting in Hamburg, 1886-1914 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002), 100.

Novels that Use Citations

Many non-fiction works use citation, but did you know some fiction work use them too? In these cases, authors utilize footnotes or endnotes to introduce readers to a new world with additional commentary. Citations can also add understanding to a character or a subject, making the story even more interesting. 

Here’s a few examples of novels that utilize citations: 

The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker (2020)

This short novel uses footnotes to tell the unspoken thoughts of a man on his lunch break. The author adds footnotes to give us an insight into the narrator’s mind, drawing out his frustrations, thoughts, and expressions. 

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (2013)

The satirical novel that made us fall in love and laugh at the same time also used excessive footnotes, which acted as witty interjections. Being a novel centered on the money-powered families of East Asia, the footnotes offer a mix of gossip and affirmations for the reader to refer to throughout. 

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004)

In this novel, footnotes are used to determine which characters get to take up the majority of the body text, and which ones simply reside at the bottom of the page. This is one way authors can use footnotes to place importance (or lack of) on certain characters or objects.

Summary: Endnotes vs Footnotes

Endnotes and footnotes serve to add information and context for readers to help deepen their understanding on a topic. While footnotes are shorter and sit within the page footer, endnotes are typically longer and are found at the end of a chapter or section.  When it comes to endnotes vs footnotes, which do you prefer?

In this article, we’ll review what accusative case is as well as when you should use it and when you shouldn’t. Examples are included especially for visual learners. 

What is Accusative Case?

Accusative case is used to indicate direct receivers of an action. If you were to label the following sentence, ask yourself which word is receiving the action: I wrote a novel. 

I is the subject. Wrote is the verb. A novel is the direct object, or the part of the sentence receiving the action.

A tip for finding direct objects is to ask “what?” after the verb. 

• I made scones for a snack
• She ran five miles
• He studied history.

Can you find the direct objects? Alright, now that our brief review is over, let’s discuss when to use the accusative case in your writing. 

When to Use Accusative Case

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction books, chances are high that you use the accusative case throughout your chapters. In fact, you are bound to include the following in your work-in-progress:

• Active voice
• Passive writing
• Fragments
• Run-on sentences 
• Accusative case 
• Various points of view 

Each of the above points is an important part of the English language. As students, we learned how to define each part. Now that we are writers, it’s crucial to learn how to apply these foundational principles to our writing.

When used with purpose, the various elements of the English language (such as the accusative case, can greatly influence your writing). So when should you use it? 

Let’s say that you want to specify what’s going on in a particular scene of your novel. Consider our tip—asking “what?”—when trying to find the accusative case. 

Now write your scene. After you finish your first draft, read through it once more. Can you answer the question with clarity? Could your readers? If the answer is yes, you’ve likely used the accusative case just as it’s intended to be! 

When Not to Use Accusative Case

What if you write thrillers or are sharing your memoir? Maybe you don’t want to directly answer the question. Perhaps you want to leave your readers hanging just enough so they turn the page to find out for themselves. 

If you find yourself in this situation, you should pay close attention to the accusative case in your writing. For instance, consider the following sentence: After so long, I truly hoped that… 

This sentence is a fragment and does not answer the “what” question. This style should be used sparingly, but it does have its place in modern writing. 

Now that you have a grasp of the accusative case and a few ideas on when to use it versus when not to use it, let’s get into some concrete examples. 

Examples of Accusative Case: Used and Cut Out

For these examples, we’ll look at some published works. The originals will be noted and the changes I make for sake of example will also be clear. 

We Were Liars

E. Lockhart’s New York Times bestseller includes the following on page one: “It doesn’t matter if one of us is desperately, desperately in love. So much in love that equally desperate measures must be taken. We are Sinclairs. No one is needy. No one is wrong. We live, at least in the summertime, on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts.” 

This first page includes great scene setting, backstory, and a fantastic set-up to the rest of the story. However, what if I changed it, cutting out:

• Some of the description 
• Some of the answers to “why” 
• Some of the scene-setting

With my edits in place, look at the following (my version):

“It doesn’t matter if one of us is desperately, well… We are Sinclairs. No one is needy. No one is wrong. We live, at least in the summertime, on a private island off the coast of—actually, nevermind where we live.” 

Notice how the tone changes, and the narrator takes on completely different characteristics. Suddenly, whoever is speaking seems a bit secretive, even untrustworthy. Pay attention to how you can cut the accusative case from your writing when you need a certain level of ambiguity. 

The One Thing

“After these experiences, I looked back at my success and failures and discovered an interesting pattern. Where I’d had huge success, I had narrowed my concentration to one thing, and where my success varied, my focus had too.” 

Gary Keller (with Jay Papasan) wrote this Wall Street Journal bestseller. One reason I believe the book did so well, and continues to sell today, is due to Keller’s straightforward answers. 

Rather than state that he had experiences, discovered a pattern, and then moving on, he shares his secret. He answers the question “what” with precise, researched, simple yet extraordinary results. Let’s break these few sentences down.

• “After (what?)
• these experiences, 
• I looked back at (what?)
• my success and failures 
• and discovered (what?)
• an interesting pattern. 
• Where I’d had (what?)
• huge success, 
• I had narrowed (what?)
• my concentration to (what?)
• one thing” 

Notice just how clear he is in two simple sentences. Six times he answers his readers’ potential questions with a straightforward answer. 

In today’s age of clickbait and need for views, followers, and likes, it’s easy to walk around the answer or to literally cut the accusative case from our answers. For nonfiction especially, it’s vital to provide your readers with the answers they opened your book looking for. 

One Parting Tip

Have you ever clicked a video on YouTube and had to wait for an ad that goes for several minutes? You have the Skip Ahead button, but their opening got you hooked. Oftentimes, these ads target a need of their ideal customer (likely you, a creative writer or freelance writer) and draw you into a narrative. 

By the end of the video, they’ve stated your need, or pain point, in a variety of ways but they never provided you with the answer. This is frequently because they want you to respond to their call to action at the end. For ads, this is the norm and acceptable.

In writing, this leaves readers hanging. As a writer, your call to action is to keep readers turning pages. As you tread the line between asking enough questions and providing the sufficient amount of answers, remember the accusative case.

If your readers can’t answer their questions at different points throughout your story, they will likely close your book. Yes, include setups and leave them hanging, but don’t forget to include payoffs too. And at the end of your book, fiction or nonfiction, include a resounding, satisfying, question-answering ending. 

This will leave your readers satisfied and eager for more—two factors important for writing success! 

As a new writer, I thought great writing came down to the idea and the adjectives used to describe that idea. Point-of-view, voice, and tense were not major factors in my writing. Thankfully, once I began training in creative writing I quickly learned that I had a lot to study. 

Passive voice misuse can set writers apart as novices or as experts who know how to wield writing rules with power. In this article, I define what passive voice misuse is, why it’s a no-no for new writers, and give four steps to fix passive voice misuse. Let’s get right into it! 

Defining Passive Voice Misuse 

While there is a time and place for this type of voice, passive voice misuse occurs when the subject should be performing the action. 

Passive voice is simply when the subject of a sentence is acted on by the verb. Can you spot the use of passive voice in the previous sentence? You can make a sentence active by focusing on the subject as the one doing the action. 

Passive: Passive voice is simply when the subject of a sentence is acted on by the verb.

Active: Passive voice is simply when the verb acts on the subject of a sentence.

In this active sentence, the verb is doing the action rather than the subject being acted upon. Many writers unconsciously use passive voice throughout their stories. 

Why Passive Voice Is A No-No

The reason writers frown on passive voice is due to its unnecessary wordiness and lack of clarity. For newer writers, writing to just “get the story down” is perfectly acceptable. However, passive voice easily creeps in. Several issues can result: 

• Protagonists feel reactive 
• Confusion overrides clarity
• The writing lacks strength 

It’s easy to write passively. It takes forethought to write in an active voice. So how do we fix this issue?  

4 Steps To Fix Your Voice

One of the best ways to combat passive voice is to simply change your mindset in writing. If the mindset shift doesn’t work, there are some concrete steps you can take to further help. Let’s start with a mindset shift.

Move Action Forward With Purpose

At the core of writing lies an advancement of the plot. Consider the classic example of the hero’s journey: The protagonist sets off on a journey (literal or figurative) with an endpoint, or goal, in mind.

Whether it’s Frodo Baggins taking literal steps toward Mordor or Peter Rabbit hopping out of the garden and toward home just in time, these beloved characters feature a proactive mindset. 

Personalize this mindset by focusing on the end of your story and proactively, rather than reactively, writing toward it. 

Simple lines such as the following take on an entirely new meaning. For instance:

Example 1: Professional figure skating was her dream. The Olympics was a real possibility if she put in the work. 

Example 2: She dreamed of professional figure skating, and if she put in the work, she could make it to the Olympics.

In the first example the reader passively takes in information. In the second, there is a sense of urgency. The protagonist is the one proactively dreaming. 

Create An Active Protagonist 

Your mindset also plays a role in how you describe your protagonist. Look through the following list and ask yourself how your protagonist would act or speak in the following situations: 

• Planning a beach day but waking up to rain
• Responding to a breakup 
• Getting rear-ended 
• Pursuing their dream job
• Spotting a lost child

In the first three examples, outside circumstances impact the protagonist: Rain, being broken up with, and someone hitting their car. The last two feature the protagonist as proactive, or with the possibility of being proactive. How you write them is imperative:

• “It’s raining. I’ll go study at a coffee shop” Or, “It’s raining. I’ll have to stay in today.”
• “He broke up with me. I’ll cancel my plans.” Or, “He broke up with me. I’ll go home and process.”
• “That child looks lost. I wonder if his parents are around.” Or, “That child looks lost. I’ll go see if I can help.”

Same situation, similar responses, but one features a passive protagonist and the other a proactive one. 

Cut Being Verbs

If the mindset shift isn’t quite doing it for you, try this concrete step: In point number two, look at the subtle difference in how I could write the opening sentence. In the sentence I used, I excluded being verbs. In the second example, I include being verbs.

Sentence 1: Your mindset also plays a role in how you describe your protagonist. 

Sentence 2: Your mindset can also be influenced by how you describe your protagonist. 

In the first sentence, the subject (mindset) leads the sentence actively (plays a role). In the second one, the subject is acted on by the verb. 

In the same way, if your protagonist must complete a task, how can you shift the focus from their response to circumstances to them impacting circumstances? Frodo makes the active choice to take the ring to Mordor, even though he appears to be the least equipped out of the nine. 

Imagine Tolkien writing The Lord of the Rings passively. Instead of the iconic line, “I will take the ring. I will take the ring to Mordor!” We could read, “The ring will be carried by me. The ring will be carried by me to Mordor.” This is the difference between writing actively and passively.

Try Present Tense

If you’re willing to take action steps even further, I’ve found present tense as a shortcut to learning the power of active voice. In fact, I wrote an entire manuscript in present tense rather than past tense because I felt so stuck in my habit of passive voice misuse. 

Past tense: I was going home when I was followed by a black car.

Present tense: On my way home, I notice a black car following me. 

For some reason, this shift dramatically helped me.

Caveat: Know The Rules So You Know When To Break Them

Now that we discussed several cons to passive voice misuse and how to combat it, it’s crucial to remember that there is a time and place to break writing rules. 

Passive tense is not always, forevermore, and with no excuses, a no. For new writers, studying writing tips and how to write actively will aid their learning curve. However, writing passively is not always bad. 

Learning how to write in an active voice helps you avoid passive voice misuse while also teaching you when you can use it. 

Think of a painter: They know the brushes and what they are intended for, but sometimes they may choose a different brush, one that isn’t intended for a specific style, to help present their painting in a more nuanced way. 

The same is true for tense. Learn the rules, and then enjoy (occasionally) breaking them!

Mood words are a controversial part of today’s writing. Used well, they can take your prose to an entirely new level. Used poorly, they can put your writing in a time warp and negate your creative credibility. Sound confusing? That’s why, in this article, we break mood words down.

What exactly are they? Why do they matter? How can you use them as a positive force to better communicate to your readers? It’s crucial to first start with a definition so we are all on the same page.

Mood Words: What Are They And Why Do They Matter?

Mood words are words that describe the inner feeling of a character or the outer tone of a scene. For a more textbook answer, these type of words are simply called adjectives. If you pick up a classic work of literature, you will likely see long sentences complete with many adjectives.

For today’s writers, adjectives are a bit more out of style and strong nouns and verbs are stressed in importance. So how do you tread this line? Let’s dive in.

What They Are:

You can use mood words to describe a variety of topics: the weather, a character’s feeling, the tone you want to communicate in a particular scene, etc. Below is a short list of examples.

• Angry
• Bitter
• Confused
• Dedicated
• Energetic
• Flirty
• Gregarious 
• Healthy
• Ingenious 
• Jaded
• Kind
• Loving
• Mean
• Nervous
• Opinionated
• Polite
• Quiet
• Resourceful
• Silly
• Timely
• Unique 
• Volatile 
• Wise

Used in a sentence, these words can be interchanged to set an entirely different mood. For instance, look at the example below where I use mood words in two entirely different ways.

• The couple seemed flirty, even though they had just had an energetic fight.
• The wind came in short, flirty gusts, playing with her hair.

With these examples in mind, let’s discuss a bit more why they matter.

Why They Matter

Mood words can quickly set the tone in your writing, but you should use them sparingly. Gone are the days of sitting in a library for hours, reading a novel while waiting for tea. 

Today’s writing is all about grabbing readers’ attention and keeping their attention with short, punchy sentences.

While in previous centuries mood words were combined to detail the feelings of characters, today they’re used to quickly set the tone.  Writers don’t have any spare moments when it comes to keeping the reader’s attention.

At any moment, their reader could get a text, a phone call, or be jerked out of the fictional world with a social media notification. So how do you use mood words in today’s writing?

How Mood Words Level Up Your Writing

Because mood words are such a powerful way to communicate, let’s discuss six ways you can use them to take your writing to an entirely new level.

#1 – Quickly Set The Tone

With literally seconds to capture your readers, plunging them into the tone of the story is critical for your success. Look at how J.K. Rowling uses mood words to set the tone in her fifth Harry Potter book:

“October extinguished itself in a rush of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen iron.” 

She uses rush to personify October, dragging you into the chill of the tone in just a few words. Instead of dragging on the scene and describing every detail, the word rush quickly sets the tone and allows her to move on.

#2 – Speed Up The Scene

If you want to slow a scene down, similar to how videographers use slow motion, you can elongate your sentences: add words, describe details, and so forth. In the same way, if you want to speed up your scene, use short, punchy mood words and sentences. Consider the following:

Nervous, she dropped her notebook. Energetic wind blew her papers. 
“Can I help?” The voice was quiet. 
She looked around. No one. Confused, she stood frozen. 

While this example uses many mood words such as energetic and frozen to get the point across, quickly. Look at your own writing to see how you can use a word or two to speed up your scene.  

#3 – Leave Room For The Reader’s Imagination

Mood words act as succinct descriptors. A room can be chaotic, a person can be bitter, and an ocean can be volatile. Look at the following two examples:

#1: The waves crashed over the bow of the boat, sending spray over the occupants. They needed to reach land, but the waves continued to pound at the small fishing boat. 

#2: The occupants clung to the fishing boat, stranded in the midst of the volatile sea.

While it’s up to you, the writer, to choose how much description to use, never forget to leave room for what is often described as “the theater of the reader’s mind.” If you need to communicate a mood quickly and continue with the story, try using mood words to do so. 

#4 – Define Characters

Mood words are a greatly underestimated writing strategy to describe characters in just a word or two. For instance, think of how you could describe someone who is easily angered, has good moments and bad, and is larger than life: He was volatile, always waiting to erupt. 

What about a timid, soft spoken child who likes to blend into his surroundings? Try the following: He stood against the wall, anything but gregarious. 

And for one more example, what about a grandmotherly figure who has decades of wisdom and the personality to share it? What about this: She had a healthy wisdom that came out in quiet moments. 

Mood words are a powerful way to describe a person, place, or even an idea, without going into long sentences of description. 

Establish The Humanity In Your Writing With Mood

Oftentimes, the best writing is the most relatable. What is more relatable than humanity itself? After all, regardless of our social status, jobs, who we know, or the goals we strive for, we are all human.

When you decide to use mood words you open yourself up to taking an even deeper look at the humanity of your characters and the sensory details of your scene. Combine mood words with personification and you take your writing to an entirely new level:

• The paint chipped away from the door, jaded by how many people had walked out. 
• The wind chapped her hands, as if bitter she refused to wear gloves. 
• Flowers pushed through the earth, showing a quiet disregard for the snow still on the ground. 

Now that you see how powerfully mood words can influence writing, spend the next few weeks noting where writers do so. What fiction or nonfiction books use mood words in the first chapter? Page? Paragraph?

Which authors use these types of descriptors to quickly portray the personality of their characters? 

If you take notes in your books, make a practice of circling in pencil every time you spot mood words (you can always erase it later).

And if you’re feeling really brave, try creating your own examples and leave one or two in the comments to inspire others. We’d love to see what you come up with!

Depending on what you choose to do during your writing career, you might or might not need to know how expository writing works.

This article will be your complete guide to expository writing so you can understand the basics and start writing your piece.

For the most part, if you do any nonfiction writing, you will need to know what expository writing is and will have to practice it every now and then. It is writing that is entirely based on outlining facts. There’s little creativity and persuasion.

You most likely did a lot of this type of writing throughout your school years, but you might end up doing it as a professional writer as well.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Expository Writing?

The point of expository writing is to be factual and educational. Expository writing is not meant to be persuasive writing or have any type of storytelling elements.

The goal is always to educate the reader and give them the facts so they can understand a topic.

It is the difference between reading an academic book and a novel. One is for entertainment and one is for education. Sure, some written pieces can have a cross between the two, but strictly expository writing is only focused on the facts.

Examples of expository writing include:

• News articles
• Instructions
• Academic textbooks
• Scientific reports
• Academic essays
• Magazine articles
• Encyclopedia articles
• Business writing
• Most kinds of assignments in school

When you are reading expository writing, you always know what the goal of the piece is and everything is presented in a way that makes sense.

Every expository writing piece has a goal in mind. While it never has the goal to be persuasive writing, it can have the goal of informing the reader, giving them a timeline of events, filling the reader in on an interesting story they should know, or something else.

Before you start writing, you will want to think about what you want the reader to walk away from your article now knowing about the subject you are writing about.

Expository writing is always objective and does not contain anyone’s opinion inside the piece.

What Is Not Expository Writing

There are some types of writing that might feel like expository writing but in fact are not.

Some might include advertisements, opinion pieces in a major magazine, blogs, social media posts, and more.

Expository writing is not under any of the other writing categories such as persuasive writing, narrative writing, or descriptive writing.

With every piece of writing, you need to figure out if it is trying to persuade you or not. If it is, it is not expository writing.

Expository writing should not be persuasive or trying to guide you toward a certain conclusions in any way. It simply lays out the facts as they are and then lets you draw your own conclusions along the way.

If you see the author include anything about themselves and their opinion, that is automatically a sign that it’s not expository writing.

Your Complete Guide to Expository Writing And Tips For Success

Let’s go over some ideas and tips for you to use to put our expository piece together.

#1 – Pull out your main points and facts

If you are creating an expository writing piece, you will want to gather your most important facts into one place.

From there, you need to put them in the logical order to work through for the reader to follow and understand.

The main goal for expository writing is to inform and educate the reader. With that in mind, you need to deeply think about how you can best do that and present the facts so they have all the information they need to create their own opinions.

#2 – Double check your facts

Just like with journalism, it is important to know that the fact you are using are accurate.

There is a lot of slanted news and “facts” out there that you can come across while doing research for your writing. The best thing you can do is to double-check every single fact and the source you are pulling it from to make sure it is accurate.

At the very least, deep dive into who did the research or compiled the facts that you are using in your piece. The last thing you want to do is to ruin your own reputation by citing facts that are not true.

If you creating a piece that has expository writing, you are going to spend more time on the research and the organizing stage than in the writing stage.

#3 – Decide how you are going to lay out your facts

Once you have everything together, it is time to start figuring out how you are going to present the facts.

While it is important that you outline your facts in a logical way, you can still present them in a variety of styles.

You will need to figure out what your goal is by writing your piece. That will help you find the style you want to present your facts in. You could compare and contrast various facts, show problems and solutions (like you would see in something such as a case study), provide a timeline of events, and so on.

Even if you are doing something technical like writing out business documentation, you should still have a goal in mind of why you are writing your piece in the first place.

Who are you writing to? What do you want them to know by the end of reading your piece?

#4 – Get feedback

While you might think all of your writing is clear cut and objective, there is still a high chance that you will still have a slight personal slant in your work.

Getting feedback from someone neutral on the topic can help a lot because they will help point out when you are being persuasive.

It can help to get the opinion of multiple people on your written piece, but at least one can help a ton. You want to make sure you keep your writing factual and on point.

#5 – Edit ruthlessly

One thing that makes expository writing interesting is that it often cuts out the fluff. It is only focused on the essential parts that matter and the rest gets cut off.

Before you turn in your final draft of your writing, you will want to make sure you go through it and cut out anything that can be cut.

With each sentence, you should be asking yourself, “Is this essential information? If this was not in the piece, would it change the overall information?”

Need Help With Your Next Article?

You do not want to miss out on the article writing template. It walks you through all of the steps you need to take to make your next article a success.