Generalizations (as in “Most user don’t know what a double click is.”) are worse than not writing anything at all. They mean nothing and waste the reader’s time. On the internet, having a reader spend time on your site is a privilege. Write wisely.
Common Offenders
- Research shows that – “Research shows that IE6 is one of the most popular browsers ever.” – If research does actually support your argument, cite it. Otherwise, don’t make it up.
- Most – “Most users don’t scroll below the fold.” – ‘Most’ is unspecific. It could mean 51% or 99.99%. Use a more specific number instead, even if it’s an informal survey of your friends or your past experiences (I find that 55% of my readers don’t scroll below the fold.)
- More – “More often than not a user doesn’t even go to a second page.” – If it’s true, prove it. Cite the source or your experience. Make it a more specific statement.
- A lot – “A lot of wars have happened in the past.” – The phrase ‘a lot’ is relative. Does it mean 5? 150? 700 billion?
- Some say – The only one who can pull this off is Jeremy Clarkson when he introduces the Stig. (Some say that he’s seen the Lion King 1,780 times)
- They say – “They say that the swine flu will be bad this year.” – Who said that? The experts did. What experts? Errrr…
It’s okay to use these words and phrases, but don’t base your writing on them. Don’t overuse generalizations. Used occasionally, they can reinforce your point. If they are your point, you might not have much substance behind your writing to begin with. Work on the substance instead of your generalizations and your writing will be more useful and comprehensive.
Tags: bad habits, generalizations, weak