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Subject:Re[2]: Use of "that" From:"Virginia L. Krenn" <asdxvlk -at- OKWAY -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU> Date:Fri, 2 Feb 1996 10:33:14 -0600
>> One of my goals is to never use "that." It is fluff 98% of the time.
>> Avoid "that" consciously, uncomfortably for a week and you'll never
>> use it again without guilt. It only "sounds better" because most
>> people have accustomed themselves to the sound of more words. Break
>> free!! Whee!!
> According to my high school semantics teacher, "that" is appropriate
> only for spoken language.
> Debbi Gabriel
Here are two examples from the _Handbook of Technical Writing_ by
Brusaw, Alred, and Oliu:
CHANGE: Quarreling means trying to show the other person is in the
wrong.
TO: Quarreling means trying to show THAT the other person is in
the wrong.
CHANGE: Some engineers fail to recognize sufficiently the human beings
who operate the equipment constitute an important safety
system.
TO: Some engineers fail to recognize sufficiently THAT the human
beings who operate the equipment constitute an important safety
system.
