Everyone . . . listen up. Yes, that means you.
Remember when I wrote about “it,” “they,” and “them?” We discovered together that our writing is stronger if we name “it,” “they,” and “them.” Here are two related words. EVERYONE and EVERYBODY.
Let’s see if I can show everyone what I mean. Or, I should say, “let’s see if I can show my fellow writers what I mean.”
Everyone loves Robin’s blog.
Oh yeah? Sez who?
Aspiring writers avoid Robin’s blog because she babbles on and gives piss-poor advice.
~~~~~
When everybody was seated, Robin pontificated on the need to use strong words instead of weak words.
Gawd, she is so preachy. Damn know-it-all.
The conference attendees fled for the door when Robin took the stage.
~~~~~
Everyone applauded when Robin finished speaking.
They applauded because she finally shut-up.
The students groaned when Robin started speaking.
~~~~~
Everybody in the room crowded the stage and asked Robin for her autograph.
An angry mob scene, right?
After Robin’s lecture, the police were called in to squelch the rioters.
The trick here is to ask yourself, “who is the everyone?” Can you name ‘em? Are they flight attendants, pole-dancers, angry writers?
Related articles
- Strong vs Weak Words In One Convenient Location (robincoyle.wordpress.com)
Robin Coyle 
“Aspiring writers avoid Robin’s blog because she babbles on and gives piss-poor advice.”
Sounds like my kind of place! Great advice is too persuasive. Who needs to be told what to do?
Why go to other blogs for good advice when you can come here for rubbish!?
That really is a good pitch, I think.
I should change my tag line. Thanks for the idea.
Being specific is always good advice and they do sneak into my manuscript so I need to revisit that 🙂
Glad you’ve put them all under one banner as well. Ever helpful, Robin!
Glad to be of help, Pete! Hope your Christmas was wonderful.
It was a nice few days. I hope all is well with you.
Things are great. We had a lovely white Christmas in Vail, Colorado.
You hit the nail on the head with this one. Loved it!
Thanks toots! I like it when I hit target. Doesn’t happen very often, but I like it when I do!
You are welcome!
So you’ve been freshly pressed…I’m not surprised 🙂
Well I sure am!
Just found this series…what a great writing tool! I have booked marked the series and will be boning up on it starting at the beginning. Thank you!
Excellent! Let me know what you think after you delve in.
Nonetheless, there’s a very important exception. It happens when we intend to convey abstract concepts. Then, ‘weak words’ are not weak at all, but the most proper language many a time.
Of course . . . you can’t, nor should, always name the everyone, everybody, it, them, or they.
I don’t agree, really. Let me explain myself. I know you’re talking about the right and orthodox way to write, and I appreciate it a lot (otherwise I hadn’t bothered in reading this blog!). But I also appreciate the books which ‘change’ the rules… just because the authors know them very well. I give you an example, though it is from the cinema’s world. Hitschock’s film ‘Rebecca’ (sorry if I misspelled both names, I’m not sure about it) depicts a story in which Rebecca is involved… Nonetheless, she doesn’t appear. You actually CAN avoid many rules, just having the talent needed.
Rebecca is one of my favorite books/movies. I’m not sure what you mean. Daphne Du Maurier names Rebecca even though we never “see” her.
That’s it. We never “see her”. It’s a film, and “seeing” is the way a film works. Similarly, a book can not-name something… don’t pay me much attention xD, I often think about things like this one.
You’re doing God’s work, Robin Coyle. Thanks for the help!
You betcha Mr. Hook. You might be overstating the “God’s work” a tad.
Oh, this is definitely a good post for me, I use “everyone” all the time. “Everyone” and “everything”–I rely on them way too often. Thank you for this lesson, Robin. I’m sure everyone appreciates it. 😉
Everyone and everybody seem to like this post. It, them, and they like it too.
Wow, Robin FP!!! You’re a star 😉 Everyone and everybody and WP totally loves you.
Dianne . . . It has been CRAZY since I was Freshly Pressed around 1:00 yesterday afternoon. You should see my inbox! Everyone and everybody and their uncle are commenting. So cool!
Woo hoo – keep it comin’ I say 😉
I agree. Most of the time people can figure out who the “everyone” is, but often it is a much better sentence if you find a good word (noun) to actually tell them.
Everyone ran for the hills. sounds cool
Men, Women, and squirming little children ran for the hills. is a better picture.
Scott
I used everyone three times in one paragraph. Pathetic. I’m down to zero times now.
lol
Good point — thanks!
You are welcome Judith!
^/^
Excellent advice on an easily missed item.
Now let’s work on you self esteem issues! 🙂
Self-esteem? What is that? I don’t have any.
Duh. Really?
Congratulations on the FP. Extremely well deserved and your devotees appreciate it.
Thanks, Sarah. I am speechless!
I’ll need to get my head around this one. I most likely abuse everybody and everyone. 😦
Everybody and everyone says to quit abusing them.
Sooooooooo….. Freshly pressed, huh? Well I heard that each and everybodyone says it’s much better than stale and wrinkly. Toot toot! 😉
Everybodyone. Good one. I pretty tickled over my upcoming FP. Stunned is more like it.
Much deserved. That one was classic. In a GOOD way.
I don’t know if you are familiar with Kings of Leon, and their song ‘Use Somebody’… it’s what popped into my head when I read this post..”You know that I could use somebody, someone like you, and all you know, and how you speak…” The lyrics are apparently about looking beyond everybody & superficiality to find an authentic person… The K’s.o.L. need to find you. Congrats on FP. 🙂
Kings of Leon follow me already and comment often. Haven’t you seen them around here? They love me.
Pretty darn pleased about the upcoming mistake made by WordPress in FPing me.
I’m darned pleased about your FPing, and there’s no mistaking your genious 🙂
Everybody loved this post, Robin. And congrats on the FP! Do get ready to answer lots of comments for about two days and have fun watching the hits histogram climb. The cursive writing post is and great one. All the bloggers reading your post on WordPress with be delighted.
Very funny Cathy. “Everybody loved this post.” Very funny.
I’m exciting about the upcoming Freshly Pressed. Did your number of followers increase because of it?
Yes, I think my number of followers increased by close to 100. But after the excitement wore off and things settled the FP only increased my daily hits and likes by maybe 10-15% or so. It was very fun while it lasted! What I have found interesting is that I am still getting new followers from the FP post – maybe because it was also chosen for the Editor’s Top Picks for October. I get several pingbacks a week from news feeds that repost the ETPs.
Interesting. I’ll let you know what happens here. I did’t realize you were an Editor’s pick too. How cool is that!?
Wow–that’s a tough one for me. I’ll have to check back in on everyone and everybody.
Let me know what you find. I had 23 “everyone-s” and zero “everybody-s.” Not terrible, but better when I reworked them out the door.
If only every professor was as amusing and educational as you are dear Robin, I might actually have something SINK into this marble head of mine.(and I do mean every)
When you say “amusing and educational,” ao you mean dreary and mind numbing?
no I mean, man you make make me smile and make things stick in my limpy noodle.
(trying unsuccessfully to begin my FINAL… can I insert a HUGE expletive rant here?– having serious issues)
Must be a take-home final. I see you are using blogging as an effective method of procrastination. Well done.
If you want to rant here . . . go for it! I love a good rant.
oh feck. It is one of those make up your own questions and fecking answer them. 3-6 pages long. Feck feck and again feck(you said I could)
My mind does not work in this make up world.. I need absolutes!!
That is ridiculous. Make up your own questions? Here is one:
Questions: Is my professor an idiot?
Answer: Yes.
A+ material if I ever saw it! Feel free to use it.
thanks Robin. I am currently calculating what my overall grade will be if I totally tank on this. I am making progress, i have created the header on my document.. score!
Add page numbers and you are home-free.
sigh.. problem is I know I have until Sunday at 5 pm to get this done. And here I sit doing what I tell my daughters NOT to do. I guess I will never grow up. Once a poor student, always a poor student. You are so much more fun than Library Management(Yawn)
Not to sound like your mom or anything, but I always tell my girls to tackle the thing you want to do the least, first. But you know that, don’t you.
Get to work, missy!
naa
The handy-dandy page link will be handy while I await the book version. And I saw your comment to Mskatykins—congratulations on the upcoming Freshly Pressed status! Is it for your cursive post?
It is for the cursive post. You couldn’t have knocked me over with an eyelash when the email landed in my in-box this morning. My jaw literally dropped to the floor. And I mean literally. You know I’m not a fan of the word literally.
You’d best get your fingers in shape—you’ll soon have a lot of comments to respond to!
Oops, ending a sentence with a preposition. Please don’t tell Strunk and White! 🙂
Mr. Strunk and Mr. White forgive you. They are over at my place right now sipping champagne in celebration of this Freshly Pressed deal-io.
I keep thinking I’m going to get another email saying, “Oops . . . we meant to Freshly Press Robin Doyle. So sorry.”
I’m quite confident they reached the right Robin!
Specifics are always better than generalizations. It’s good to be reminded of this, even if it means getting the police involved. 😉
The handcuffs were so uncomfortable. They arrested me, not the angry mob.
Well, you were the inciter, after all. At least they didn’t taser you.
Oh no . . . I have the burn mark on my bum. What should I do about that Dr. Rubin?
BTW! I started reading your book again yesterday! I finished yet another dull, dull, dull book group book a week ahead of time so I had time to pick it up. Love it. I’m hooked. And, I wash my hands about every third minute. Watch for my review here soon.
That’s wonderful, Robin. Thank you!! But you’re on your own with that burned bum. 😉
Very good Robin. Everybody, I mean your blog followers will enjoy this one. 🙂
Good one. Everyone here is laughing. And when I say everyone, I mean me, myself, and I.
🙂
Ah yes, another one to add to my NaNo checking checklist of things to check.
You are welcome. Or, should I say, “I’m sorry”?
No, it’s definitely a good thing!
Ooh, did you get Freshly Pressed? I can’t see it on the Freshly Pressed page, but I see others have commented about it, so maybe my page is just a bit behind on updating. Congratulations!
Run with the rioters (also known nano bloggers now reaching their goals)!
Specific nouns always better – besides it avoids that annoying subject verb agreement issue with those “every twins”
Giggle worthy post
NaNo does crazy things to writers’ brains. They start storming the doors, carrying lit torches, and drinking martinis at 10 in the morning.
Glad I made you giggle!
those martinis better be in sippy cups by this point? (Always impressed by those dedicated bloggers)
Sippy cups or perhaps administered by IV.
Hi Commander! Nice to see you again. Congrats on NaNo. That is a challenge I could never take on.
Not to sound self-serving, but I put the Strong vs Weak Words series under one link on my left sidebar under the heading, “My Blogs.” Much easier to find than slogging through all the posts here.
Let me know how your editing goes! Now the fun, er, I mean work, begins, right?
Its been a while since I’ve visited- having now finish nanowrimo, I can relax a little more and make visits more frequent. Your advice is always golden. Perfect for polishing my crazy nano writing.