Wednesday word of the week is back! Today's word is redundant. It can mean superfluous or not needed, that which can be omitted without loss, or in my case having to leave the day job at the end of February (to show your sympathy feel free to email me chocolate, or buy my book.) On the plus side I'll have more time for writing and for travelling in the van which means more stories to submit and more photos to share here. Brace yourselves.In writing it's those words or phrases which don't add anything to the story which are considered redundant.
For example, 'Mary sat down on the floor', or 'The snow fell on Wendy's bare limbs. She felt cold and then she shivered'.
It's been said that a picture can paint a thousand words. If that's true maybe it could make a whole story redundant. Are you artistic? If so, this competition to win a iPad might appeal.
Just in case you're wondering, the picture is to symbolise the possibility of one door opening as another closes.
49 comments:
Hi Patsy. You might like to try my 'Redundant Word' quiz which can be found on my blog(November 14 2012)I wrote it for an education student about to take her Literacy test. It's fun and the answers are on Nov 20. Now shall I have a biscuit or some cake - a 'difficult dilemma'
Sending you lots of virtual chocolate!
Nice post - but didn't you post something like that before and before that - just kidding-
-N-
Meant also to say, Patsy, that when I was made redundant two years ago in Feb it was a shock at first but then quickly became the best thing that could have happened - you'll soon see the silver lining!
Great post, Patsy. I love striking out those redundant words! Sorry to hear about your job. I've already bought the book, but if you know a way to email chocolate it's yours!
Cakes are bigger than biscuits ... but you can have more if you go for biscuits. Yes, that IS a tricky one!
Glad you were able to adjust to your own redundancy so well. I'm not sure I'll ever think being made redundant from the job I love is the best thing that could have happened, but I do intend to search out all possible silver linings.
Yummy, thanks, Annalisa.
Grrrrrr! You're right though, Neil, repetition and redundancy in writing are often the same sort of thing.
Linda, I think you have to squash it quite thin to email it, so probably best not to try with Maltesers!
Sometimes a little redundancy is needed. If you try to listen to spoken language from which every bit of redundancy has been excluded it can sometimes be tricky to follow. Like when you listen to a language you're not yet fluent with - you can read it well enough but try to listen and you soon get lost.
You get to quit your job? That's cool!
I agree that cutting too severely isn't always a good idea, Rob. As with everything it's a case of getting the balance right.
They get to quit paying me though, Alex. S'pose there's a downside to everything.
Sorry to hear about your job. It's tough when this happens, but hope you find something soon.
Having more time to write is useful, so I'm sure you'll be looking at all the opportunities more free time brings.
Do you think After Eights might e-mail okay? :-D
Sorry to hear that, Patsy. I wish I really could send you chocolate! :) Glad to hear you're staying positive. Enjoy your extra writing time!
so sorry to hear you've lost your job but as you say, as one door closes....even more time for writing! Best of luck.
Snap, our little shop of inspirations is being knocked down, in a row of six. They're replacing the three that have been there the longest, not including ours. The characters are so funny though, and now they know we're leaving they're getting funnier. One family want presents to remember us by!!! We're already selling stuff off at half price!! Presents. One lady who's never been out of the house in five years has been in every day this week demanding a chair!! Patsy, your bosses must be mad, you were the best tour guide. Hey, we can now do a writing job, well... you can. I'll keep on trying. Love that knocker.
Bummer! Or maybe just fate,leaving you free to write.
I'm sorry to hear about the day job Patsy :(
But..... ;)
Xx
Actually, I very much look forward to more pictures from you--I love having a window into other people's travels. :)
Redundancy is a horrible word - so sorry to hear you're losing the job that you love. My work is going through a 'restructuring' (also a dreadful word) so I'm looking at taking further studies, possibly a distance-learning masters in writing. I'm sure all that positive energy that you have will ensure a good outcome to events.
I reckon they just might, Carol.
Thanks, Rachel. I know I won't find myself having nothing to do.
Thanks, Catherine.
My opinion of the boss who's responsible isn't fit for this blog, Suzy! I'm not the only one going though - almost everyone who's been there more than three years will be replaced by part time staff.
I know your shop will be a big loss to you. Hope we both move onto something else we enjoy.
Sorry about the job, Patsy :-( But you have already found a big plus so here's to the next chapter - you'll need lots of chocolate :-) x
I'm looking at the positives, L - and more writing time is certainly one of them.
Thanks, Vikki.
They'll be lots of pictures, Linda! Lots and lots.
Sorry about your own job, Gail. Although I'm not happy with the outcome, I think the waiting to find out was worse in some ways. Hope things settle down in a way that's good for you.
Thanks, Teresa.
I'm so sorry to hear about the redundancy, it's always such a shock when these things happen. Hopefully you'll find a big silver lining, sending you lots of hugs and chocolate wishes.
Sorry about the job loss, Patsy, and sending you lots of virtual chocolate and positive vibes. Maybe the publishing door will open even wider now for you now.
Thank you. I think I'm over the shock now.
I do hope so, Rosemary.
I'm so sorry about the job, Patsy. But really hope you enjoy all that time to write (and eat chocolate, of course!).
Sorry about the job, Patsy. Try and sort out a writing routine so that this becomes your job.
I'm sorry about the job too. I hope you get a lot of writing done. Love your word Redundant. It's so true that we need to keep redundancy out of writing.
That's a real shame, Patsy. I hope something positive comes out of it in the end - such as more writing success!
Really sorry to hear that Patsy as I know you loved your job. But I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and you will be able to devote more time to writing. At least no-one can stop you from doing that.
So sorry about the job, Patsy... That word has got some pretty awful connotations for lot's of people nowadays. Keep up the writing and I wish you loads of success!
Thanks, Frances. I shall make the most of my free time.
I shall, Keith. The hardest bit will be sorting out the writing payments so they become real wages!
We definitely need to keep redundancy away from writing - having it in one area of my life is quite enough.
Thanks, Sally. That's what I'm hoping for - it has to be worth a try.
Maggie, my husband keeps telling me that things happen for a reason and that this'll all work out OK. He's often right ... about nearly everything (but don't tell him I said so)
Thanks, Pat. I'm better off than many others who're losing their jobs as I don't have children to feed and writing does bring me in some money.
I have been told that I use the word redundant too often day to day!
I love that word! I use it a lot in ms critiques I give people. Heh, heh, heh. ;)
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