No Buts About It

Chances are, you write more than you think you do. When you add up the emails and the reports and the proposals, you are probably publishing thousands of words a month. You run spell check, of course, and now you will know a one-word trick to make your writing more persuasive.

But

Yes, that’s it. Reread your document one more time, and everywhere you have used the word, “but,” delete it or replace it. "But" is frequently misused and literally means, “to the contrary.” So basically, every time you insert your but into the sentence, you are negating the point you have just tried to make.

Delete first, and if you must, substitute the word “and” or “although” or “despite.”

Here are two examples:

before

The sale begins on Monday, but we will start the promotion on Friday.

after

The sale begins on Monday, and we will start the promotion on Friday.

(Starting the promotion on Friday is part of the plan, not despite the launch date.)

before

Profits are down for the month of January, but we have a plan to generate new revenue sources in February.

after

We have a plan to generate new revenue sources in February that will lift them above January levels.

(Delete “but,” and begin with the second half of the original sentence. Much more positive. It sounds intentional, not like a panicked reaction.)

The more you train yourself to watch out for those buts, the more you will avoid them.

It is difficult to see all the nuances in your own writing. When you need a little guidance, don't hesitate to email me at askmaggie@takemaggieswordforit.com.

Happy writing!

Maggie