Words To Avoid in Literary Analysis Writing

Image credit for stop sign and traffic lights: Pixabay, Public domain
Words to Avoid in Literary Analysis Writing

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STOP THE
MADNESS
1 I 2 me 3 my
I think...
I believe...
It seems to me...
In my opinion, ...
In my experience, I’ve learned that...
I believe the author intends...
The author intends...
1 I 2 me 3 my
I think...
I believe...
It seems to me...
In my opinion, ...
In my experience, I’ve learned that...
I believe the author intends...
we, us
The author intends... • Tricky
• Avoid if possible
• But sometimes...
• Once per essay = max
• Example:
We are all wise to
remember...
4 you 5 your
By the end of this story, you discover...
In the end, the reader discovers...
The story shifts your perspective...
The story shifts the reader’s perspective...
Avoid second-person pronouns

• Do not directly address the reader
• Too casual
• “You” and “your” in a formal paper makes the writer sound
young and weak. Avoid this.
• Stick with third-person pronouns or antecedents
Examples: they; readers; people; the audience; etc.
6 would 7 could
If the narrator would have shown more bravery,
then he could have...
One of many possible messages that the reader
could discover is that...
The reader discovers...
No trips to Fantasy Land

• Don’t discuss what happened in an alternative universe
• Analyze what actually happened in this story
• Avoid filler
8 should
Holden should have realized...
To fix this situation, Holden should...
No one likes a know-it-all

• “Should” makes you sound preachy
• Don’t try to use “needs to” instead of “should” (same preachy tone)
• Sometimes, you can use “must” but do so carefully
Example:
The reader must remember that...
9 may 10 might
It may be that the author believes...

The author might be trying to say that...
The author is saying...
or, even better: The author declares...
Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy

• Both words bring an unpleasant uncertainly to your voice
• Be bold, not wishy-washy
• Exception: “Might” as a noun form is fine. We’re just talking about verbs here.
Example:
He swung with all his might.
11 how
The author shows how it is to lose a spouse.
The author shows the gut-churning misery
created by the death of a spouse.
The narrator explains how it feels to be a teen.
The narrator helps the reader feel the fear and
uncertainty that fog the typical teen’s mind.
Don’t be lazy. Do the work.

• “How” is usually used in place of actual writing/precise expression.
• Don’t ask the reader to do the writer’s job.
• Readers shouldn’t have to fill in the mental blanks.
The Power of Words
In the following sentences, your classmates have written weak sentences featuring one or more of the following words:
I, me, my, you, your, would, could, should, may, might, how
Your job is to circle any of these 11 weak words that appear below and then rewrite the sentences to remove those words and strengthen the power
of the writer’s voice.
1. I think the author is saying that you’re never too old to enjoy life.
2. When thinking about this story, you need to remember that it was written in a different era.
3. Through foreshadowing and symbolism, the reader learns that ignoring nature’s warning signs could bring trouble.
4. If you ask me, the poem may be about how to learn to control your emotions.
5. The narrator explains how it feels to be lost in the woods.
6. If the narrator would have listened to her parents, the tragic accident could have been avoided.
7. From this story, I learned that we should never judge others.
8. In my opinion, this is a story that might change the world.

Key of Possible Answers
The Power of Words
In the following sentences, your classmates have written weak sentences featuring one or more of the following words:
I, me, my, you, your, would, could, should, may, might, how
Your job is to circle any of these 11 weak words that appear below and then rewrite the sentences to remove those words and strengthen the power
of the writer’s voice.
1. I think the author is saying that you’re never too old to enjoy life.
The author reminds the reader that one is never too old to enjoy life.
2. When thinking about this story, you need to remember that it was written in a different era.
Readers are wise to remember that this story was written in a different era.
3. Through foreshadowing and symbolism, the reader learns that ignoring nature’s warning signs could bring trouble.
Through foreshadowing and symbolism, the reader learns that ignoring nature’s warning signs often brings trouble.
4. If you ask me, the poem may be about how to learn to control your emotions.
The poem illustrates the importance of self-control.

5. The narrator explains how it feels to be lost in the woods.
The narrator explains the blind panic he felt when he was lost in the woods.
6. If the narrator would have listened to her parents, the tragic accident could have been avoided.
The narrator, who was foolish to ignore her parents, bears much of the responsibility for the tragic accident.
7. From this story, I learned that we should never judge others.
The story illustrates the foolishness that is created when people unfairly judge each other.
8. In my opinion, this is a story that might change the world.
This story has the potential to change the world.

1. I think the author is saying that
you’re never too old to enjoy life.
1. I think the author is saying that
you’re never too old to enjoy life.
The author reminds the reader that

one is never too old to enjoy life.
2. When thinking about this story,
you need to remember that it was
written in a different era.
2. When thinking about this story,
you need to remember that it was
written in a different era.
Readers are wise to remember that this

story was written in a different era.
3. Through foreshadowing and symbolism,
the reader learns that ignoring nature’s
warning signs could bring trouble.
3. Through foreshadowing and symbolism,
warning signs could bring trouble.
Through foreshadowing and symbolism,

warning signs often brings trouble.
4. If you ask me, the poem may be about
how to learn to control your emotions.
4. If you ask me, the poem may be about
how to learn to control your emotions.
The poem illustrates

the importance of self-control.
5. The narrator explains how it feels
to be lost in the woods.
5. The narrator explains how it feels
to be lost in the woods.
The narrator explains the blind panic

he felt when he was lost in the woods.
6. If the narrator would have listened
to her parents, the tragic accident
could have been avoided.
6. If the narrator would have listened
to her parents, the tragic accident
could have been avoided.
The narrator, who was foolish to

ignore her parents, bears much of the
responsibility for the tragic accident.
7. From this story, I learned that we
should never judge others.
7. From this story, I learned that we
should never judge others.
The story illustrates the foolishness

that is created when people
unfairly judge each other.
8. In my opinion, this is a story
that might change the world.
8. In my opinion, this is a story
that might change the world.
This story has the potential

to change the world.

Words To Avoid in Literary Analysis Writing

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Image credit for stop sign and traffic lights: Pixabay, Public domain

Words to Avoid in Literary Analysis Writing

Want more high-interest materials to help young writers?

Avoid second-person pronouns

No trips to Fantasy Land

No one likes a know-it-all

It may be that the author believes...

Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy

Don’t be lazy. Do the work.

5. The narrator explains how it feels to be lost in the woods.

7. From this story, I learned that we should never judge others.

8. In my opinion, this is a story that might change the world.

The poem illustrates the importance of self-control.

This story has the potential to change the world.

The author reminds the reader that

Readers are wise to remember that this

Through foreshadowing and symbolism,

The poem illustrates

The narrator explains the blind panic

The narrator, who was foolish to

The story illustrates the foolishness

This story has the potential

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