On the Word "And"

For the past couple of days, I was experiencing writer’s block on what I kind of subject I should speak about for this blog post. I almost thought about doing another life update – which I’m sure would have been entertaining – but I just did a life update blog post exactly a month ago.

Personally, various things have been frustratingly stalled for the past two weeks. I just started reading my leisure book again after having to take a three week break due to busyness, and I really want to get back to writing creatively – I haven’t done so since my Spring Writing Project – but I don’t exactly have time for that either. (It’s bizarre not to work on a July Writing Project; I’ve had one for the last 3-4 years.)

And just when I figured I might have to wing this blog post, because forcing yourself to write is really the only way to overcome writer’s block, a youtube video came to my rescue.

I’m referring to John Green’s video about prepositions. As an English writer and speaker, I found it so fascinating. I also never really thought much about the phrase “on the phone,” and how weird it actually is.

Mainly, I was relieved that I wasn’t the only crazy person who has put so much thought into certain seemingly ordinary words lately.

For me, though, I haven’t been pondering about prepositions. Instead, I’ve been focused on “and.”

My new obsession came about because of the last two manuscripts I had to read for my internship. In them, both of the authors loved stringing along lengthy sentences by incorporating multiple and’s within the sentence. Every time I came across this word, I had to pause and determine if a compound comma was needed in front of it.

In one manuscript I even had to suggest an edit to eliminate an “and,” because it was just too much. There were five and’s that had showed up, so I crossed the third one out and replaced it with a period. Boom! Two new complete sentences.

Maybe it’s just a writing style that some people have? Using many and’s to give it more of a poetic voice? There is a better way at writing lyrically or whimsically, right? (Not to say that it’s completely wrong to overload on and’s, though. I can see it being used to convey the panic or rambling of a character written in first person perspective.) Of course, this is coming from a girl who creatively writes in a more direct way. I prefer shorter sentences; they get to the point and if done well, packs a better punch. You know, trying to use my active voice rather than a passive one. Also, I was always taught if you can convey your sentence in less words than what your have, then go that route. Nobody likes to read a run-on sentence.

Basically, I wish people would rethink how often they use the word “and” in their writing. Also, I should probably find a better hobby. Or at least get outside more.



P.S. In case you were curious, I used the word “and” sixteen times within this blog post. However, seven of those times were me referencing the word “and.” (<---This last one wasn’t counted.)