「十個英文寫作時你不該用的字」- 10 Words to Cut from Your Writing

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Ten words to cut from your writing:
十個你寫作該刪去的字：

As Mark Twain famously wrote, "I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead." His point: Strong writing is lean writing. When you want to make your writing more powerful, cut out words you don't need.
如馬克‧吐溫所寫的名言：「我沒時間寫一封短的信，所以我反而寫一封長的。」他要表達的意思：鏗鏘有力的寫作就是精實的寫作。當你想要讓你的作品更有力，刪掉那些你不需要的字。

One: Just
一：Just (正好、就、只是...)

The word "just" is a filler word that weakens your writing. Removing it rarely affects meaning yet tightens a sentence.
「just」這個字是個讓你的文章虛掉的冗字。將它拿掉很少會影響到句意，卻會使一個句子更扎實。

Two: Really
二：Really (真的、很)

Using the word "really" is an example of writing the way you talk. It's a verbal emphasis that doesn't translate perfectly into text. In conversation, people use the word frequently, but in written content, it's unnecessary.
用「really」這字，是一個以你說話的方式寫作的例子。這是一個不太能完整在文本上表達的口頭強調用字。對話中，人們很常用這字，但在書寫的內容中，這是不必要的。

Three: Very
三：Very (非常)

Everything that applies to cutting the word, "really" applies to "very." It's a weak word. Cut it!
用來要求省略掉「really」這字的所有原因，也都適用於「very」。這是一個無力的字。刪去它吧!

Four: Perhaps or Maybe
四：Perhaps(或許)或 Maybe(可能、或許)

When you use words like "maybe" and "perhaps," uncertainty is all that you're communicating.
當你用像是「maybe」還有「perhaps」這些字時，你在表達的就只有不確定性而已。

Five: Quite
五：Quite(相當、頗)

When someone uses "quite," sometimes the word adds meaning, and sometimes it's fluff. Learn to tell the difference. But when in doubt, cut it.
當有人用了「quite」時，有時候這字會增加意義，但有時候它是個無意義的字。學著分辨那差異。但有疑問時，就不要用它。

Six: Amazing
六：Amazing(驚人)

Ditch this diluted word. Decades of overuse have disconnected the dramatic impact of the word. How can something be amazing if everything is?!
捨棄這個薄弱的字。幾十年來的濫用已經把這個字和它戲劇化的作用分離了。如果每樣東西都很驚人，那怎麼還有東西算是驚人的呢？!

Seven: Literally
七：Literally(如字面地)

When something is true in a literal sense, you don't have to add the word "literally."
當某事物是如字面表達的那樣真實時，你就不必加上「literally」這字。

Eight: Stuff
八：Stuff(東西)

It's casual, it's generic, and it usually stands in for something better.
這字很不正式、這字缺乏明確性，而且它通常取代的是某樣更出色的事物。

Nine: Things
九：Things(事物)

Writers use the word "things" to avoid using a clearer, more specific word that would communicate more meaning. Specificity makes for better writing.
作家們用「things」這字來避免使用一個能傳達更多含意，更清楚、更明確的字。具體明確導向更出色的寫作。

Ten: Got
十：Got(有、得、使得...)

Think of all ways we use the vague word "got" in conversation. The word's fine for conversation. In writing, "got" misses valuable opportunities.
想想我們在對話中用「got」這個模糊不清的字的各種方式。這個字說話時用可以。在寫作時，用「got」會錯失許多傳達理念的寶貴機會。

Rather than writing a lazy word, look for clearer, more descriptive language. Whether you've been writing for a few days or for many years, you'll benefit from evaluating the words you use. Cut the filler, and your writing will be stronger.
與其用一個懶散的字，不如找出更清楚、更生動描述的語言。無論你已經寫作寫了幾天還是幾年，評估你使用的字會讓你獲益良多。省掉冗字，你的寫作會更鏗鏘有力。

「不確定、感到懷疑」- In Doubt
But when in doubt, cut it.
但有疑問時，就不要用它。
「替代、代理」- Stand In For
It's casual, it's generic, and it usually stands in for something better.
這字很不正式、這字缺乏明確性，而且它通常取代的是某樣更出色的事物。
「導致、始成為可能」- Make For
Specificity makes for better writing.
具體明確導向更出色的寫作。