EXPLETIVE S ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK WHAT

EXPLETIVE S IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK…

WHAT IS AN “EXPLETIVE”? • An expletive is literally a useless word • Many times, this can be a curse word • In writing, this is a word that has no meaning but to emphasize • “Indeed, the results of the study demonstrate the predictions of the hypothesis. ” • Where is the expletive?

KINDS OF EXPLETIVES • Empty words: • Actually • Really • Various • Meaningless words: • Question-less question words • “What the article is about is important. ” • Expletive structures • “There is a lot to get done today. ” • There is • In my opinion • It is important that • How can we rewrite the sentence? • Redundant Pairs • Final outcome • Past history • In my opinion, it is important that all college students vote.

WHAT IS AN “EXPLETIVE”? • Expletives are not always bad • You use expletives to: • Show emphasis • Point to something • Refer to a subject in a previous sentence or idea • “Karate gives me a great workout. It is one of the most thorough forms of exercise available. ”

EXAMPLES OF EXPLETIVES • Expletive: There are going to be hundreds of people attending the party. • Correction: Hundreds of people will attend the party. • Expletive: There is an easy way to determine the external temperature. • Correction: The external temperature is easy to determine. • Expletive: It is going to be a long, cold winter. • Correction: The winter will be long and cold. • Expletive: It was the setting sun that made it hard to see the ball. • Correction: The setting sun made the ball hard to see.