Author Mistake #1: Superfluous Word Repetition
Why repeatedly using the same word or phrase will irk readers.
The other day I met a former student for happy hour. A few minutes before our scheduled time, I wandered into the local Barnes & Noble. As usual, I found myself in the business section where a 200-page book caught my eye. (I'll refrain from naming it here.)
I perused its contents and decided to check a few readers' Amazon reviews. I typically find the two- and three-star ones more interesting than five-star unabashed love affairs. One of the former pointed out the author's incessant use of the term accordingly. I put down my phone and l started thumbing through the book's pages. Was the criticism a fair one?
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