No, sorry, don’t stop what you’re doing. By that, I meant the word that. Please, go on about your business; don’t mind me.
Well, okay, since you’re here, I’ll tell you: I hate that. It’s overused and distracting, a totally irksome term. People stick a that in everything. Why? It’s a word, not a mantra. And, here’s the totally irksome part, it’s unnecessary blather. We believe if that can logically follow a verb, it should, by God. Yeah? Think again.
Here, I’ll show you: I said that I was buying a monkey. It’s correct, but hideous. Now try it without that: I said I was buying a monkey. Equally correct and so much smoother, practically music to our ea — stop rolling your eyes.
You think this is just another tirade about grammar, don’t you? Ha, think again, smarty-pants. This is strictly a personal bias. That is one plug-ugly word, clattering and dissonant wherever it’s used. The stupid thing refuses to blend in. That, tha-a-a-t, that-that, sounds like honking. I don’t want to honk; who wants to honk?
We could consult the rules regarding the proper use of that: in restrictive clauses and subordinate clauses; when it’s the subject rather than the object of a clause. When which is more appropriate than that; when who is called for, instead. Blah, blah, blah, blah.
Grammarians make everything so complicated. I admire them for sticking to their guns in an ungracious world and all, but come on. Relative pronouns, subjunctive clauses? whoosh, right over my head. I go by instinct. If it sounds okay, that’s good enough for me. Oh, crap, there it is, the dreaded that. Pretty soon I’ll be tossing around gots instead of haves.
Anyway, the point is we can do without that most of the time. You don’t need to quit altogether, but try cutting back. Seriously, the world will be a better, more harmonious place.
That said, thank you for your cooperation.
Copyright © 2015 Publikworks
the whirly girl 
22 responses to “: stop that :”
That was well put. Sorry Well put
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved THAT tirade, now I’ll be writing all of my posts with 3% fewer useless words(ish). There’s also an epidemic of misused apostrophes (ex: I have several bagel’s) with no hope in sight of a cure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You won’t even miss them. Unless you have a really strict word count to meet or something.
I agree about apostrophes, I’m pretty bad at them myself. No, more like really bad at them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s an apostrophe catastrophe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
:o) And I’m the main cause. Yikes!
LikeLike
We all have a weak spot in our writing. That is mine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, good one. You brought a smile to my face, snoozing. Thanks, but it’s not really a weakness. Not at all, just a different style.
LikeLike
[…] hit the nail on the head with his call to action featured in the February 25th blog “Stop That” https://publikworks.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/stop-that/ He believes the word “that” is being foisted on the public is a grammatically senseless act. […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I’ll definitely cooperate. I use “that” too much I’m thinking. I’ll have to look over my prose and see if I am a major culprit. That said, oh how I hate that phrase.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it obnoxious?
If you’re content with your wording, Len, don’t worry about overdoing the ‘t’ word. If you were, you’d have noticed. You have a nice style.
LikeLike
Look out, it’s a Mad-thatter! Now wheres’ my rabbit hole?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re too funny, prairie chat. What a terrific comment!
LikeLike
I kid you not, the most often word sliced when I edit my posts is none other than “that” one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great minds, right? Sometimes I think I confuse things by deleting so many. Other times I worry I let too many slide. I can’t find a proper balance, Dave. Help.
LikeLike
I edit and edit and eventually, i just hit the publish button. Then I spy the extra thats and awkward sentences. I never edit once i publish something, i just promise myself to better next time…and then i dont.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I try to do all my editing offline, then upload to WP and hit publish. But as soon as it’s in WordPress it sucks and I practically rewrite the whole thing. Even after it’s published I continue to hack away. Oh, brother, what I wouldn’t give to be normal.
LikeLike
Humm… you ended with “that said…” I’m guessing you jest?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good guess, blue aventurine :o)
LikeLike
I recently noticed I’m a chronic thatter. I cringed when I first saw it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
But that’s the first step, Pollyanna. Congratulations! You’re on the road to recovery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That I am.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m pulling for you. Let me know how it goes.
LikeLiked by 1 person