Less is more

Can You Please Get THAT Out of Your Medium Stories?

Seriously, it’s so offputting!

Anyone who has ever worked in editing can tell you [that] the word that is overused to the point of nausea. In fact, ace humor writer, @Gary Chapin, offers this stellar admonishment about using the word [that]. It’s a quick read.

When I taught writing, I never let a semester end without putting this gem in front of my students:

Punctuate this so [that] it makes perfect sense. that that is is that that is not is not is not that it it is

When you give up, Wikipedia has the answer for you, though they left out a word in their version.

The takeaway is [that] you can use the word [that] in almost every sentence, and many writers feel compelled to [do that]. But you shouldn’t [do that].