Throw-Away Words (Part 2 of 4)

If an action is completed, “began” and “started” are obvious, adding no meaning, and should be avoided.

1. He began to mumble the words with a mixture of sadness and stoic resolve.
   He mumbled the words with a mixture of sadness and stoic resolve.
2. We must begin to align ourselves with the truth.
   We must align ourselves with the truth.
3. We held hands and started dancing in a circle.
   We held hands and danced in a circle.
4. The men started to run in different directions.
   The men ran in different directions.

We often incorrectly say “try” or “able to” when the goal was to do the work.

1. We had marched from Georgia to try to turn away the enemy.
   We had marched from Georgia to turn away the enemy.
2. They were able to imitate the miracle with their secret arts.
   They imitated the miracle with their secret arts.