Is Being a Perfectionist Really a Good Thing?

Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.

—Anne Lamott

“I’m such a perfectionist!”

People sometimes utter that phrase with pride, wearing the title as a badge of honor, but I’ve never understood why anyone would think perfectionism is something to be pleased about. I’ve cried myself to sleep over a mistake, and I remember my embarrassing gaffes for years after everyone else involved has forgotten them. I’ve left two novels languishing, each over halfway complete, because my own writing is never good enough to satisfy me and I’m sure no one else will find it readable, either.

I’ve always found Holly Hunter’s character, Jane, in the 1980s classic Broadcast News infinitely relatable. She’s hard-driving, smart, and an absolute perfectionist, which makes her life as a Washington bureau network news producer challenging. On one hand, she’s insanely talented. On the other, she’s stressed to her breaking point and a pain to work with. In my favorite scene, Jane battles her boss over which colleague should anchor a breaking news story. She insists her choice is the only viable option. When her boss snarks that it must be nice to be the one who always thinks she knows best, Jane whispers, “No. It’s awful.”

I can say this with authority: there’s a difference between striving for excellence and perfectionism. One is an asset, the other’s a handicap.

What is perfectionism?

We all know people with higher-than-normal standards, people who like to be right, people who are ultra-competitive and need to win. But are they all perfectionists? We tend to lump many different personality types and behaviors under the perfectionism label, but clinical perfectionism is a different beast. According to Merriam-Webster, the medical definition is:

A disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable; especially : the setting of unrealistically demanding goals accompanied by a disposition to regard failure to achieve them as unacceptable and a sign of personal worthlessness.

Perhaps the key words in that definition are “unrealistically demanding.” Having high standards is fine. Striving for quality is admirable. But expecting nothing short of a flawless performance or outcome every time is a recipe for unhappiness. When failure to meet one’s own impossibly high standards results in a feeling of “personal worthlessness,” it’s clear why being a true perfectionist is as awful as Jane said.

Are you a perfectionist?

You might be, but whether or not it’s a problem seems to be both a matter of opinion and degrees. Mental health professionals can’t quite seem to agree on terms. Some believe that perfectionistic traits can be motivational, helping a person reach for excellence. Others argue that any level of perfectionism is problematic. At best, a tendency toward high standards can mean that a person will regularly produce quality work. At worst, expecting nothing short of perfection from yourself can have painful psychological side effects. Perfectionism might be a problem if:

• You can’t take criticism. Perfectionists tend to react negatively to criticism because they equate criticism with failure and failure with worthlessness. They often internalize their feelings by beating themselves up, or they might externalize them by becoming defensive and lashing out at their critics, regardless of whether the criticism is real or perceived.
• You’re critical of others. Although perfectionists can’t take criticism, they can dish it out. They not only hold themselves to impossible standards, they often have unreasonably high expectations for others, which can make them demanding and critical. They may also avoid delegating tasks because they fear no one else is capable of getting it right.
• You procrastinate. Some people put off important tasks until the last minute because they’re distracted by more fun activities. But when you so desperately want a project to be perfect that you can’t make yourself get started (or keep going), you’re procrastinating perfectionist style.
• You expect yourself to be instantly good at things. Perfectionists tend to expect a high level of competency from themselves right off the bat. When they struggle to learn a new skill, they prefer giving up to working harder.
• You’re motivated by fear of failure rather than a desire for success. High achievers tend to reach toward their goals because they’re driven by a desire to succeed. Perfectionists push themselves because they fear how others will perceive them if they’re anything less than the best.
• It’s your way or the highway. Perfectionists tend to like things a certain way—their way. They’re the ones reorganizing the dishwasher after someone else has loaded it, or scolding a colleague for using the wrong font in a document.
• You equate success with happiness. Perfectionists believe they can only be happy when they achieve perfection. But, because they’re rarely perfect, they’re rarely happy. Their constant worries about failing to meet their own impossible standards can lead to health problems such as depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. There’s even some evidence to show that perfectionists can have shorter lifespans.

Try to impress yourself, not anyone else

Experts have identified two types of perfectionism, a good kind and a bad kind. Those who try their best and expect themselves and others to do well, but who treat failures as learning opportunities rather than indicators of inferiority, are the good kind of perfectionists—achievers with high standards of excellence.

There’s nothing wrong with aiming high, but shooting for perfection should cause you to feel inspired, not anxious. In fact, research suggests that people who are motivated by a desire to please or impress others perform worse than those who simply set ambitious goals for themselves. If you drive yourself hard mainly because you’re worried others will see you as less-than-perfect, consider discarding impossibly high expectations and working toward getting good enough. Your quirks, and even your little mistakes, infuse your work with personality, so leave perfect precision to machines and remember that to err is human.

These Roaring Dinosaur Puns Will Help You Cope With Life

Besides being cool, dinosaurs are funny. Chuckling about these amusing extinct animals will help you cope with life. Check out these roaring dinosaur puns!

What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary?

Answer: A thesaurus.

No list of dinosaur puns would be complete without this one. It is one of the oldest jokes in the book!

Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl going to the bathroom?

Answer: (Because the P is silent!)

While you have a giggle about that, take a moment to reflect on the other silent P words in the English language. How many do you know? Hint: These words begin with ps, pn, and pt. We found a vocabulary list with thirteen silent P words. Note: Technically, pterodactyls aren’t dinosaurs. Here’s why.

What do you call it when a dinosaur has a car accident?

Answer: A tyrannosaurus wreck!

Seriously, tyrannosaurs are often the butt of jokes because of their short arms. Thankfully, modern technology can provide extensions for a steering wheel.

Incidentally, if you look up dinosaur in the thesaurus, you will find a list of words that mean “obsolete” and “outmoded”! So, whenever you think that you had a hard day at work, remember, the dinosaurs had it worse! This isn’t actually a pun, but it’s sadly amusing!

Who makes the best prehistoric reptile clothes?

Answer: A dino-sewer!

Pronunciation is key to this pun. If you pronounce sewer like the system that carries away waste products, the joke does not make sense. In this case, sewer is someone who sews. After the release of a popular dinosaur movie, there are memes about velociraptor training all over the Internet. They are certainly scary, but so are most dinosaurs! See if you can figure out this tricky pun about another ancient reptile:

What is the scariest type of dinosaur?

Answer: A Terror-dactyl. Hopefully, these dinosaur puns made you smile. Remember them the next time you have a hard day! Which puns would you add to the list?

Which Grammar Rules Are Dying?

We all make mistakes. Sometimes, we even embrace them.

Such is the case with language. The words you’re reading right now are the product of centuries of slang, corruption, amalgamation, and lazy habits. The writers of today gently nudge future evolutions of English by choosing which mistakes will be acceptable tomorrow. (For instance, where you use verbs like “stung” and “stunk,” experts believe future writers may instead opt for “stinged” and “stinked.”)

At Grammarly, we’ve helped our users catch and fix millions of mistakes, ensuring their prose reads as deliberate and professional. But sometimes, writers bend the rules. And we’re not here to sneer – we’re all about putting grammar snobbery to bed!

Still, it’s fascinating to think that the rules people tend to ignore might someday not be rules at all. Here are the corrections we’ve noticed our users reject most often – which may give us some hints about changing usage and what kinds of mistakes are becoming more acceptable.

1 Ellipses

The old-school utility of the ellipsis (plural: ellipses) comes when leaving something out. Say you wanted to quote the U.S. Constitution’s protection for free speech; it’s part of the First Amendment, which fully reads:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

That’s one hefty sentence. For the sake of brevity, you might use a couple of ellipses to winnow down the germane pieces thusly:

Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press . . .

That’s when the ellipsis is working as a buttoned-down professional, anyway. In less formal contexts, it can also show points where speakers pause or trail off, like so:

“So… What do you want to do?” “It might be fun to go to the movies…”

In text messaging, where some conversations are never-ending, it’s that last use where the ellipsis might be coming to reflect how such exchanges also tend to trail off rather than reach a clear-cut stopping point like “goodbye.”

Another potential factor driving an uptick in off-label ellipsis use might be a shifting interpretation of the staid and serious period – which in certain contexts may now be read as a flash of passive aggression.

2 Compound subjects

More than 10 percent of users faced with compound-subject problems ultimately rejected their suggested corrections – but wait, what does “compound subject” even mean?

A compound subject uses a conjunction to connect more than one noun phrase, as in “The hero and her golden retriever rescued three kittens.”

While the nouns in compound subjects aren’t typically separated by commas, they can be offset as such in cases where the second item is parenthetical: “The hero, and her sidekick, saved the kitties from a fire.”

Compound subjects can sometimes trigger subject-verb confusion. (If you find yourself tripped up by irregular verbs, know that compound subjects are always plural, as in “Onlookers and the cats’ owner were elated and grateful.”)

What this means for the evolution of language remains to be seen. But that Grammarly users often reject such corrections may suggest some inclination to sound conversationally natural, as in “The mayor says the girl’s courage and quick thinking is an inspiration.”

3 Hyphens

Hyphens tie words together. They most often come in handy when you have a compound modifier for a noun, like “rainy-day music” or “leopard-skin pill-box hat.”

But proper hyphenation can also feel deceptively complex. Hyphens are used to write out certain numbers (e.g., “twenty-three”) but they don’t apply to adverbs (“truly exciting”).

That Grammarly users don’t always opt to tweak their hyphenation (or lack thereof) may suggest a future where, sometimes, compound modifiers just feel clear enough on their own, without help from ancillary punctuation.

4 Lowercase i

Grammarly users frequently opt not to capitalize the first-person pronoun, I, instead going with the lowercase, as in “i think this is peachy.” And indeed, in casual venues like social media, it’s often fine – a stylishly unkempt affectation akin to shredded jeans or untamed hair, perhaps.

One of the main factors that steers which direction language drifts is whether a given convention is easily understood; confusing or unwieldy ones are quickly abandoned. But lowercase i isn’t complicated or difficult to parse, so while it’s most likely not a stellar choice when you’re drafting a cover letter, it’s probably not about to go away, either.

5 Oxford comma

A list of several items in a sentence puts the ever-industrious comma to work like so: “The author argues guns, germs, and steel all played parts in the conquest of the continent.” But that last comma, known as the Oxford comma or the serial comma, isn’t always crucial, as in this example: “The singer pleaded for his father to send help in the form of lawyers, guns and money.”

The case for the Oxford comma is that sometimes it’s essential for clarity, as in this sentence: “I’m fond of my dogs, Bertrand Russell and Ada Lovelace.” Unless you’ve selected truly erudite names to call your pets (in which case, bravo) you might want an Oxford comma to help clear that sentence up.

Still, we’ve found that Grammarly users frequently ignore suggestions to use the Oxford comma. One reason may simply be that it’s not always vital. Another may owe to its detractors; the Associated Press Stylebook, for instance, generally advises reporters and editors to skip the Oxford comma. All the same, it comes in quite handy from time to time, suggesting it’s most likely not about to disappear altogether.

6 Prepositions

In certain contexts, some prepositions just work better than others. Consider this: “Try your best out there – I believe at you.” Feels funky, doesn’t it?

Grammarly spotted some 26 million issues along these lines in users’ writing. And more than 6 percent of those who looked at potential remedies then decided “nah, I prefer it my way, thanks.”

As we ponder the ways English might change in subsequent generations, this might be worth keeping . . . in mind? Indeed, let’s stick with in, at least for now.

7 Question mark

Why do some people write perfectly reasonable questions that end with periods instead of question marks. And what does this portend about the evolution of English?

Well, as with the ellipsis, this convention may owe something to the ubiquity of text messaging. In texts, some questions aren’t really asking for any particular piece of information or response. For instance, consider “I have an urgent deadline, can we reschedule lunch.” In this example, I’m not posing a question at all; I’m informing you that I can’t make it to the cafe today, so we’ll have to meet another time.

And while, eventually, we will assuredly hash out a new lunch plan, there’s no question mark because right now I’m not eliciting your immediate input. It’s just not something I really want while facing a looming deadline.

As to this trend’s long-term ramifications for the question mark – well, who’s to say.

8 Subordinate clauses

Although this one might sound arcane, the challenge with subordinate clauses really just has to do with comma errors that can crop up in sentences like this one. Although the term “subordinating conjunction” may sound intimidating, it really just means words like the “although” at the beginning of this sentence here.

Subordinate clauses may sometimes make subject-verb agreement confusing, particularly when it comes to matters of singular and plural. If that’s you, don’t feel bad; we tallied almost 2 million instances where this came up. And if you were among the many thousands who shrugged and decided to stick with what you originally wrote, you may just be in the vanguard of a bold new linguistic convention.

Verb Tenses–Grammar Rules

Verbs come in three tenses: past, present, and future. The past is used to describe things that have already happened (e.g., earlier in the day, yesterday, last week, three years ago). The present tense is used to describe things that are happening right now, or things that are continuous. The future tense describes things that have yet to happen (e.g., later, tomorrow, next week, next year, three years from now).

The following table illustrates the proper use of verb tenses:

Simple Present	Simple Past	Simple Future
I read nearly every day.	Last night, I read an entire novel.	I will read as much as I can this year.
Present Continuous	Past Continuous	Future Continuous
I am reading Shakespeare at the moment.	I was reading Edgar Allan Poe last night.	I will be reading Nathaniel Hawthorne soon.
Present Perfect	Past Perfect	Future Perfect
I have read so many books I can’t keep count.	I had read at least 100 books by the time I was twelve.	I will have read at least 500 books by the end of the year.
Present Perfect Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous	Future Perfect Continuous
I have been reading since I was four years old.	I had been reading for at least a year before my sister learned to read.	I will have been reading for at least two hours before dinner tonight.

The Present Tenses

Simple Present

Present Perfect

Present Continuous

The Past Tenses

Simple Past

Past Perfect

Past Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous

The Future Tenses

Simple Future

Future Perfect

Future Continuous

Future Perfect Continuous

What’s the Difference Between Grammar Correction and Grammar Trolling?

Prescriptive English grammar seems to be one of those things that either impassions you or inspires some level of dread. Lovers of English grammar and usage are energized by mastering the rules of a messy and disorganized language. For the rest of us, our feelings run the gamut from indifference to loathing as we muddle through a seemingly arbitrary organizational system and apply it to something as individual as language. There’s pride. There’s resentment. There’s a lot in between.

Most of us live in the “in between.” We understand that following traditional grammar and usage rules helps us succeed at work and in our communities. It makes us better communicators. We do our best to write and speak well and to help our friends and loved ones do the same. It would be great if we could leave it as that—just a bunch of well-meaning people trying their best. Unfortunately, there is an ugly side to this pursuit of grammatical correctness.

Some people take it upon themselves to “police” grammar online or at work. When they use restraint and tact, these people can positively contribute to their communities. Sadly, many people miss the mark and consider “foolish” grammar mistakes justification for making others feel bad. These are grammar trolls. They are language bullies. And as well meaning as they think their efforts are, all us in-betweeners (56 percent) pretty much agree that peer grammar correction is not such a good idea. Language bullying destroys trust, hurts communities, and is just plain mean. (#StopGrammarTrolls)

Understanding Who Grammar Trolls Are

It’s likely that you know one or two people who infuriate others with their pedantic and vocal approach to grammar. It’s possible that you’re worried you might be a grammar troll. (Here’s a hint: if you have ever wished you had an app for correcting people’s texts, you are probably a grammar troll.) Language bullies are everywhere and come in all shapes and sizes, but they’re easy to spot because these trolls have some typical characteristics.

• Hyper-corrects self and others
• Focuses on relatively minor grammar and writing mistakes (e.g., typos)
• Makes broad statements and exhibits black-and-white thinking
• Insults, mocks, or shames others over writing mistakes

If we break each one of these down, you’ll get a clearer picture:

First, grammar trolls have a (compulsive?) need to correct grammar and other linguistic mistakes. This alone makes them scientifically proven jerks. This perfectionism can stem from a general need for control or from a desire to impose control on one sphere of influence when other areas are perceived as chaotic.

Trolls also tend to call out minor language errors as a front for a lack of deeper understanding. They rely on typos, missing words, and stale grammar myths (e.g., never end a sentence with a preposition) to prop up their “contributions.”

Trolls have a flair for generalizations and overstatement, particularly of their own opinions about grammar or writing—it’s all or nothing with them.

Finally—and this shouldn’t be a surprise—language bullies lack empathy for other writers. They often assume that all writers have had the same experiences with language that they have had and, therefore, have “no excuse” not to “know better.” It seems lost on trolls that while it’s easier now than ever to improve your grammar, we’re still not all starting at the same place. Nor do we necessarily want everyone to follow the rules all the time.

Drawing the Line Between Trolling and Helping

As a language lover, you might look at that list and think, “Geez, this looks familiar.” There is a fine line between a language troll and a helpful grammarian, which is why we’ve made the case before that you shouldn’t ever correct others’ grammar. However, there are some differences that deserve attention.

The critical differentiator is motivation. Trolls and bullies correct people for their own gratification—to vent anger, to feel superior, to connect with others, etc. Grammar samaritans offer advice and corrections for others’ benefit—to notify the small business that tweeted a typo or to help that co-worker who keeps using “their” incorrectly in company memos. If you’re not sure which bucket you fall into, ask yourself this: Why are you correcting this person’s or group’s grammar? Think seriously about this one. If you’re doing it for any other reason besides helping that person or group, you’re bullying. If you’re so sure that you’re doing it to be helpful, ask yourself this final telling question: how are you going to correct them? If you considered anything other than a tactful private message or conversation, you’re probably bullying.

Why are you correcting this person’s or group’s grammar? Think seriously about this one. If you’re doing it for any other reason besides helping that person or group, you’re bullying.

To be clear, bullying

• Is for the troll’s gratification
• Focuses on petty errors
• Destroys trust within the community or group and creates an us-vs.-them dynamic
• Often degrades others
• Is often public

While helpful correction

• Is for others’ benefit
• Deals with substantial errors or small errors that have a strong, cumulative influence
• Creates trust within the community or group and is inclusive
• Is tactful and considerate
• Stays private

Grammar trolls are pedants whose love of language and being correct trumps their love of community and people. Grammar samaritans are those who use their passion and love to build community and trust. For the majority of us on the fence about grammar, we can all come together around our frustration with language trolls. When it comes to helping with grammar and language bullying, there is no in between. You’re helpful or you’re not.

What is your experience with grammar trolls? Let us know on social media with #nogrammartrolls.

8 Incredible Podcasts All Book Enthusiasts Will Love

Is life getting in the way of your book habit? The more hectic your schedule, the harder it is to find time to indulge in your favorite work of fiction.

Fortunately there’s a new invention called a “podcast” that may just satisfy your craving for juicy storytelling. As an audio-only experience, podcasts can be enjoyed at times when it’s simply not practical to read a book—like while driving a car during your morning commute, standing squished against strangers in a bumpy train car, or working at your computer.

If you’re ready to be whisked away to realms of imagination, learning, and exploration, here are eight incredible podcasts you’re sure to love.

1Myths and Legends

For those who love a good fantasy, Jason Weiser’s Myths and Legends delves into the rich and bizarre realm of world folklore.You’ll meet wizards and princesses, gods and dragons, and learn the fantastic (and often surprising) origin stories of your favorite fantasy characters before Disney got ahold of them. Weiser’s insightful storytelling and melodious voice will carry you off to magical lands and keep you coming back for more.

Couldn’t be more in love if I tried. @mythpodcast #mythpodcast #mythsandlegends #greatstor… https://t.co/mHY1ZL4wJ0 pic.twitter.com/udlsQTjw70

— Chenoa Loves Hair (@chenoaloveshair) March 22, 2016

2The Black Tapes

As an investigative documentary series, The Black Tapes is a modern-day War of the Worlds—convincingly blurring the lines between real-life and fiction. The show follows journalist Alex Reagan and paranormal expert Dr. Richard Strand as they investigate Strand’s mysterious unsolved cases. In their search for truth the duo encounter strange disappearances, occultic geometry, and portals to hell. Fans of sci-fi, mystery, and public radio will revel in this gem of a show.

Serial meets X-Files: the #blacktapespod is the most imaginative podcast since CBC’s brilliant Wiretap. https://t.co/be7zE9yvW6

— Miles Weafer (@miles_weafer) May 14, 2017

3LeVar Burton Reads

Need to get your short story fix? For countless years fans have been begging LeVar Burton to create a Reading Rainbow for adults, and the gods of fiction have finally smiled down on us with LeVar Burton Reads.

Burton selects his favorite short stories from various genres . . . which he then reads to you, whereby fulfilling one of your greatest childhood fantasies (or is that just me?).

The warm, soothing tones of his voice will melt away the stress and anxiety of daily life, and the thirty- to sixty-minute run time is perfect for your commute.

I started my week listening to @levarburton read me a story during my commute and I swear it has made all the difference.��#LevarBurtonReads

— lacie kopez (@KacieFriday) August 7, 2017

4The Grift

Lovers of true crime, this one’s for you! Journalist Maria Konnikova takes us deep into the world of con artists and their victims. Each episode of The Grift focuses on the incredible life and crimes of an infamous con artist. From the greatest card sharp alive, to a master art forger, to the schemer behind a $450 million Ponzi scheme, you’ll get a peek inside the minds of these expert deceivers and leave with as many questions as answers. It’s a cocktail of deception, power, and charisma that goes down smooth.

#TheGrift pic.twitter.com/8NuCZ06Ap9

— Panoply (@Panoply) April 28, 2017

5Modern Love

Based on the popular New York Times column, the Modern Love podcast dwells at the intersection of drama, romance, and the personal essay. The stories featured explore love and relationships, heartbreak and joy, with a vulnerability and intimacy that’s often heart wrenching.

Most episodes run twenty to twenty-five minutes and feature an essay lovingly read by an actor or personality (Kristin Chenoweth, Margaret Cho, and Judd Apatow, to name a few), plus an insightful follow-up with the essay’s author.

Swooning over this week’s #modernlove podcast about #bigtalk. Hint: It’s huge! https://t.co/gHSHneDA2M #intuition #matchmakers #datingtips

— Kelleher Intl (@kellehermatch) March 24, 2017

6Fictional

Another must-listen series from the creative genius behind Myths and Legends, Fictional transports us into the world of classic literature—but with a twist. Weiser features books that are difficult reads but tells them in a modern, conversational voice that’s easy for modern ears to follow.

Whether you’re already a fan of Jane Austen, Shakespeare, and the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, or if you’ve had difficulty getting comfortable with these texts, this podcast brings new life to classic stories.

@fictionalpod thx for doing a Sherlock story so quickly! Loved it! Keep up the great work, already loving this podcast!

— Joel Mendez (@JoeDiddy99) August 23, 2017

7Lore

If you’re a fan of horror, folklore, history (or just plain having your pants scared off) you’ll find a new favorite in Lore. This award-winning podcast tells the spine-tingling true life stories of the ghosts, monsters, curses, tragedies, and altogether unexplainable phenomena that have haunted human history. So grab a mug of cocoa and a blanket, and lean a little closer to the campfire—the show’s tagline, “Sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction,” does not disappoint.

I’ll be honest, this @lorepodcast story truly creeped me out and I thought I was immune at this point. ������ #podcast #mystery #lore #folklore https://t.co/5PQ4osQz6D

— Brook (@brook_podjunkie) August 22, 2017

8Rabbits

Another compelling docudrama for those whole love a good mystery, Rabbits resides in the same world as The Black Tapes—full of shady characters, conspiracy theories, and the unexplained. Carly Parker takes us into the world of ARGs (Alternate Reality Games) as she searches for her best friend, Yumiko, who has disappeared while playing a dangerous game known only as “Rabbits”. But as Carly’s quest unfolds, the rabbit hole begins to go much deeper than expected.

This made weeding, baking and cleaning thrilling! Fascinating podcast! #rabbits https://t.co/4KuEvdtYSj

— Erin Conkin (@ErinConkin) August 1, 2017

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Your Writing

A few years ago, author Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, became a New York Times Bestseller. Kondo, a Japanese consultant who helps people get organized, detailed her KonMari method of decluttering in her book. We wondered if her principles could be applied to writing and found that they work just as well for creating clean copy as they do for creating a clean habitat.

“In Japan,” writes Kondo, “people believe that things like cleaning your room and keeping your bathroom spick-and-span bring good luck, but if your house is cluttered, the effect of polishing the toilet bowl is going to be limited. The same is true for the practice of feng shui. It is only when you put your house in order that your furniture and decorations come to life.”

Here are some great tips inspired by Kondo’s book to help you declutter your writing and make it come to life.

Tidy by Categories

It’s hard to figure out where to start editing when you look at your writing as a whole, but if you break it down into categories things become a whole lot easier. Kondo’s book will help you clear out a cluttered closet and find a new home for that blender you never use. In writing, instead of taking out the garbage, you’ll be sweeping away the extra verbiage. Finding incidences of some of the words below might be as simple as using your word processor’s “find” feature (ctrl + F or cmd + F), sorting through your finds, and deciding what to dump.

Slash weasel words

Weasel words are qualifiers. They can make your position seem weak or ambiguous, as though you’re trying to create a little wiggle room. Say what you mean! Slash words like: could, can, like, may, might, virtually, up to, as much as, believe, and possibly. You may need a qualifier every now and again, but more often than not you’ll find yourself able to cut them without changing the meaning of what you’ve written. In fact, your writing will be stronger and you’ll sound more confident. How will you know you’ve used a weasel word? If you sound like a politician trying to smooth over a public relations disaster, you’re on the right track.

Toss out very, really, and other empty words

Renowned newspaper editor William Allen White said, “If you feel the urge of ‘very’ coming on, just write the word, ‘damn,’ in the place of ‘very.’ The editor will strike out the word, ‘damn,’ and you will have a good sentence.” Editors disdain the words very and really, so it only stands to reason that you should pitch them out when you’re cleaning up your draft.

You may find you have a tendency to use adverbs to amplify weak adjectives. Instead of saying that death metal concert was “really loud” you could say it was “ear-splitting.” That good-looking salesman may be “very cool,” but why not describe him as “suave” instead? Better yet, especially if you’re writing fiction, do your best to eliminate adjectives that tell readers how to feel. Invoke feelings through narrative, instead.

Just like very and really, there are plenty of other words and phrases in the English language that, more often than not, aren’t necessary in clean writing. When you find them hanging around in your drafts, just like the 150 neckties hanging in your closet (including the twelve you actually wear), strike them out whenever possible:

• That
• Currently
• Presently
• Actually
• In order to
• Start to
• Suddenly
• Because of
• Therefore

Eliminate redundancies

It doesn’t make much sense to have both a toaster and a toaster oven—they’re two appliances with the same function, which makes them redundant. Redundant words and phrases can easily creep into writing, too. Search your draft with an eye out for where you might be repeating yourself. Here’s an example:

Before: Not a soul wandered the dark, deserted streets that night.

The words “not a soul” imply that a place is deserted. “That night” implies darkness. Eliminate the redundancies:

After: Not a soul wandered the streets that night.

Also, keep an eye out for tautologies—phrases with words that mean or imply the same thing. A few examples:

• Baby puppy
• Future prospects
• Added bonus
• 2:00 a.m. in the morning
• Completely devoid
• Final outcome
• Duplicate copy
• Honest truth

Don’t get too attached

Kondo is onto something when she directs her readers to focus on specific categories one at a time. The practice allows you to detach from your writing project as a whole and home in on the specific bits that need tidying up. It also encourages you to be ruthless with your purging. Remember: less is more!

We tend to ramble when we’re writing; it’s our brain’s way of finding just the right words. It’s fine to pour those words out into your first draft, but once the draft is finished, it’s time to start cleaning house. To declutter your living space, Kondo recommends putting all your clothing (or books) on the floor so you can get a clear look at just how much you have and get rid of whatever’s unnecessary. You can apply the same principle to your writing. Dump everything into your draft, but then sort through it, category by category, and keep only what works.

In writing, just as in keeping a home, we often become attached to things that don’t serve any useful purpose. You may love the way you’ve turned a particular phrase, but if it doesn’t fit with the rest of what you’ve written, or it’s otherwise repetitive or unnecessary, then it has to go. As Stephen King said in his book On Writing: “Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.”

The joy of tidy writing

Cleaning up your writing, just like cleaning up your home, is a process. It takes time to develop the habits that keep clutter at bay. But, as you tidy up each draft, you’ll begin to learn how to avoid most of the messiness in the first place. When you come across weasel words, empty words, and redundancies, you’ll be able to leave them on the shelf, and your writing will bring you joy.