So apparently you can use "the" too much.

[cgsmith]

I read the critique @Bowler1 posted on Determined Hope and he said something that surprised me.

He commented on repetitious use of the word "the," said that it was used too much.

Now, I always thought "the" was pretty much an invisible word and could be used pretty much as much as you like. But then again, I thought a lot of things.

I can't really find too much about it on the web and was wondering what your thoughts are.

Thanks again.

 

[Hex]

I guess if it struck one of your readers as an issue, then it's worth considering whether something's not working. I mean, if a reader is noticing repeated words, then he's not caught in the story and that means something's going on. I think you can overuse just about anything, really, it's just words like "the" are harder to overuse.

 

[HareBrain]

Like any of these "invisible" words, they can stop being invisible, and then they stay loudly visible and the reader gets distracted. But often, this is just the case of an individual reader who happens to notice three in a row, and then can't stop noticing them. This probably isn't so much to do with frequency as with rhythm. If it's pointed out, it's always worth trying to identify where the cloak of invisibility fell away, and trying to alter the rhythm of the occurrences (or remove one or two). But in the case of something like "the", I wouldn't let it consciously affect your natural writing style.

 

[cgsmith]

I should point out that the story in question wasn't mine, but rather by @anthorn

I quite liked it, especially the part about the JFKs and Marilyns, and didn't notice all the the's until after it was pointed out.

Here is the thread.
https://www.sffchronicles.com/threads/561234/

 

[anthorn]

So, apparently you can....I didn't notice this myself, until it was pointed out.

 

[TitaniumTi]

In this case, I think, the repetition of "the" accentuated a similarity in clauses, phrases and sentences early in the excerpt. I also noticed it, but thought it was a deliberate stylistic choice which didn't appeal to me, but might appeal to other readers.

 

[Mad Alice]

Using "the" too much was a feedback I received upon my crit piece also. I am still not sure how to go about fixing that particular problem.
I tried a full copy removal of "the" from my piece and rebuild up from there.
It was a really big edit project that I ended up shelving until I finish the whole book.
I tried using different demonstrative pronouns.

Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives. Demonstrative pronouns include this, that, these, and those. They are useful for both direction and emphasis.

But I soon realized that "the" was also as Titanium Ti asserts, a stylistic issue.
http://www.trussel.com/the.htm

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I don't know that I would have particularly noticed it in that piece if I hadn't come to it from this thread. It struck me as a stylistic choice, and I quite liked the piece.

 

[Dave]

If I am writing an essay to a particular word limit I have found the easiest word to remove is "the." Not only that, but the sentences it is removed from still make perfect sense and actually sound better. So, I would tend to agree. Nevertheless, I can't ever remember reading anything and saying to myself, "there are way too many "the"s in this.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

I tend to add spurious "of course". To a lesser extent "so", "though". "but" and "also". I sometimes check the word frequency, though it doesn't count and list phrases.

 

[yorelm]

I read part of the story and would have noticed the "the's" wo it ever being pointed out here. I mean they really stood out, so much so, I believe that like earlier stated, it must have been intentional. But also like stated, it wasn't a style that I particularly care for as a reader.

 

[Bowler1]

As I started this I should contribute - sorry Anthorn.

Invisible words - the, then, just - can breed and take over your writing and have done for me in the past.

"The" - as we have seen can add emphasis and style, which it can, but "the" can usually be removed in my view and not change the meaning of "the"/a line. So if a word can be removed and doesn't change "the"/a line, do you need it? I think you should always strive to say what you need to say in the least words. "Then" when you want to add emphasis, use "the" for added punch. An option that's not available if you've used "the" heavily.

Then, then "the" character did this, then... then... then.... "Then" as a means of moving characters about can nearly always be ignored. "Just" then, the character shouted.... Just as a means of expressing time, or simply just then, or just the man can usually be avoided too.

The use of "the" doesn't usually bother me until I notice it. With the joy of a simple word search its easy see how heavily words are used, and if the page looks like its caught a dose of something, then I think is shows poor editing. I find when I write words stay at the forefront of my mind and get repeated, they "just" do. That's fine when writing, but these repeated words should be removed/amended/changed when editing. So for me, its about editing and making sure I don't get into lazy habits when writing. Nothing should stand out (something always does, we're only human) when reading and its a balance of style and content, but "the" overused simply shouts out a lack of editing for me.

It could be me being too fussy of course, but its how I feel. As HB said too, no longer being invisible and stuff - well said lad

 

[TitaniumTi]

I don't have a problem with "the", but I do have a problem with "but" -- as can be seen in my earlier comment.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Sometimes multiple thes can make it read a little listy. As others have mentioned it may be about the rhythm, rather than the word.

 

[Mad Alice]

Sometimes multiple thes can make it read a little listy. As others have mentioned it may be about the rhythm, rather than the word.

Undeveloped sense of rhythm, eh? I knew I should have kept up the piano lessons. Its just that I had so much going on at seven and a half. I can still play Good King Wenceslas a treat, though.

 

[Jeremy M. Gottwig]

In my critique circle, I have gotten dinged for using 'the' in place of possessive pronouns. It might be worth double-checking that you aren't doing the same. This could be low-hanging fruit during editing if you have a 'the' problem.

 

[Atum Hadu]

It's a rhythm thing. Like others have said, sometimes a reader will get hung up on stuff like that, but it's easy to fix by pushing a few words around. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Bowler1]

I did develop a real bad case of the repeats (the word kind for this thread!) and I had all the invisible words running wild through my writing. Herds of THEs, THENs all over and what must have been the apex predator, JUSTs. I really felt at the time I was editing hard, but I'd gotten into the habit of writing with the repeats. It was pointed out to me by a member on here and an editing professional too, so I'd paid for the privilege of being told of my THEs, THENS and JUSTs. I've now become very fussy with these words and in my fussier experience, 50% can be culled and not change the meaning of a line or section of writing. Then (FECK!) when I do want rhythm, (like - the bombs, the bullets and the bodies) I have THEs in reserve to use. So I do of course use THE for impact and affect, but only when I feel its needed and my THE should have a little more impact as I try and keep usage down.

 

[cgsmith]

I did develop a real bad case of the repeats (the word kind for this thread!) and I had all the invisible words running wild through my writing. Herds of THEs, THENs all over and what must have been the apex predator, JUSTs. I really felt at the time I was editing hard, but I'd gotten into the habit of writing with the repeats. It was pointed out to me by a member on here and an editing professional too, so I'd paid for the privilege of being told of my THEs, THENS and JUSTs. I've now become very fussy with these words and in my fussier experience, 50% can be culled and not change the meaning of a line or section of writing. Then (FECK!) when I do want rhythm, (like - the bombs, the bullets and the bodies) I have THEs in reserve to use. So I do of course use THE for impact and affect, but only when I feel its needed and my THE should have a little more impact as I try and keep usage down.

So do you reckon a good exercise would be to remove every "the" and see how necessary it really was, I have about a 100 for every thousand words or text. Put it back in unless I can find a better way.?

 

[Ursa major]

I have about a 100 for every thousand words or text

The piece in question had 91 instances of the word, the, in 1344 words -- i.e. 67 for every thousand words -- which is two-thirds the size of your ratio.

Are you sure you're only counting the word, the, and not occurrences of the string, the, as can be found in there, they're, their, other, these, cathedral, etc.?