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If you're concerned that you're using too many, then after you're done your first draft, go back and search for any -ing words. Replace them at least half the time. So: I couldn’t help thinking...
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#4: Attribution notice removed
by
System
·
2019-12-13T12:00:33Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/20696 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added
by
System
·
2019-12-08T04:59:38Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/20696 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision
If you're concerned that you're using too many, then _after_ you're done your first draft, go back and search for any _-ing_ words. Replace them at least half the time. So: > I couldn’t help _thinking_ to myself, who is this woman on the phone? And if it’s not Burns’ mother then why does she want to speak with Burns? Monica’s purse **rattled** again and I walked back out to the living room to find her _sitting_ down. She took out what I believed was a handheld tape recorder. “Oops,” she said, and **placed** the item back in her purse. Your _-ing_ verbs are continuous action; your _-ed_ verbs are completed actions. Consider where you can finish an action and change those.
#1: Imported from external source
by
System
·
2016-01-28T23:49:25Z (about 8 years ago)
Original score: 2