Shutting down the Department of Slacker Phrases

A recent article on the website called Grammarly comes out gunning against what is seen as superfluous words and phrases, which  they call filler phrases.

Let's look at a few of these.

At all times : Watch out for flabby phrases at all times.

OK, let's agree that this particular example doesn't really need the additional "at all times" qualification in exactly that way.  But saying Watch out for flabby phrases doesn't get across the urgency of Always watch out for flabby phrases, which the grammatical prophet, or grammatical personal trainer would prefer.

Each and every: Look for filler words in your writing each and every day daily.

(And root them out, please.)  I can see the use of each and every being annoying when it isn't needed.  (I was going to say actually needed, but I had gotten a bit intimidated already by the Flabby Police.)

As yet: We don’t know as yet whether we’ll succeed.

Now, this one really needs to be put in the trash.  There are some people who talk this way: "At this point in time, the outcome of the plan under consideration is not known, but ..." but the word yet is available, and it does have a use.  Some things are not known, and other things are not known yet.  What's the problem?

In order: Eliminate excess verbiage in order to clean up your writing.

Hmm.  There are some places where I simply have to use in order to.  Compare these sentences:
It was necessary to use the words "in order to" in order to draw attention to their possible usefulness.  Compare with:
It was not necessary to use the words "in order to" to draw attention to their uselessness.
I don't know; it doesn't quite work without them.

Basically, essentially: These words basically don’t add value. They’re essentially useless.

Oh, I don't know.  They're pacing words.  They alter the rhythm of a sentence in order to (there we go again) to throw emphasis on something different from how it would sound without the word "essentially".

Totally, completely, absolutely, literally, actually

Well, yeah.  These add color; they're useful in dialog; you have to be careful with literally, because most times you don't mean anything literally unless it's obviously literally intended.

Very, really, quite, rather, extremely: These very common words are really not useful. They’re rather dull.

Oh yeah?  So you see no difference between "I'm upset," and "I'm very upset"?  This article has been written by someone who writes non-fiction, obviously.  Just the facts, Ma'am.

That: This is a word that you should only use when you need it for clarity.

Fine.

Up, down: We don’t care whether you stand up or sit down to write, just write cleanly!

Sit down, fall down . . . well, these are common phrases, and when people write like they speak, why not?  Falling down is understood; I mean, you can't fall up.  My wife keeps saying "Fall down", and I can't make her stop.

In the process of: We’re in the process of learning to remove wordiness.

WTF?

As a matter of fact: As a matter of fact, Your skills have improved.

I use this phrase to mean you might be interested to know (whatever) ... Which actually means: I expect you couldn't care less, but let me place on record that (whatever).

All of: All of Your readers will enjoy reading cleaner copy.

Some of your readers may enjoy the cleaner copy, but if you charge by the word, all your readers will appreciate the economy of verbiage.  (All of is a deplorable low-class Americanism, which you must forgive me for having it in for.)

As being: You’ll be known as being a proficient writer!

That one went right past me.  I guess some people use this phrase inappropriately.

Being that: Being that Because you’re the best writer in your class, you’re sure to get good grades.

I think this phrase being that is used in the sense of "Seeing as how," or "because".

During the course of: During the course of the writing lesson, we learned some new tricks!

Well, when did you learn these tricks?  All at once, the minute the lesson started, or ... as the lesson went on?  We've got to beware of these quick-fix gurus who have cures to make writing punchier and racier.  It might work for sports writing, but it sure makes one's expression a lot less exact.

For all intents and purposes, For the most part: For all intents and purposes, Our writing has improved.

"Algernon was designated as Monty's chauffeur, but he was, for all intent and purposes, a nursemaid."  How you gonna fix that to convey the meaning we want?

Point in time: You don’t need to use filler words at this point in time now.

Let me endorse this phrase for elimination with all enthusiasm.  This is also one of those pacing words, but, damn, it's the stupidest word of that sort.

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