Katherine Pickett, EditorMay 26

Someone must have told my client to eliminate "that" from her manuscript because she has diligently removed all instances.

It's true that "that" is often overused, but it does have a place in our language.

#Writers: Any rule that says to "never" use a certain word or part of speech will lead you down the wrong path.

Show threadJanne Moren
@KPED
Your statement is good advice. It's easy to forget how the rules of language are in service of clear communication, not the other way around. Anybody who says ""that" is forbidden" should be forced to write a page or two without it. They'll soon find out how difficult such a thing is without sounding stilted and unnatural.
May 28 at 2:17amWeb