Redundant Words: Still, Currently, Really

Three words have come across my laptop that beg discussion: still, currently and really.

Every once in a while, they are needed -- but rarely. Usually, the previous sentence makes it clear that your topic is current. Also, the tense of your verb alerts the reader.

"John is currently in the process of finding a job." Actually, you don't even need "in the process." Just say: "John searches for a job."

In the same way, "still" is usually redundant.

"John still searches for a job." An exception would be: "John has interviewed with 10 companies. Still, he searches for a job." "Still" is used for emphasis in this case, and builds on the previous sentence.

On "really." Not: "John was really happy to find a job." Instead: "John was ecstatic to find a job." Tighten your sentence with a descriptive verb.

Watch for these words. Do you need them?

Commas

Where do you put the darn things?

Commas are slippery little suckers. They sneak into your sentences uninvited and hide on your keyboard when you need them most.

Why should you care? Because a misplaced comma can change the meaning of your sentence. It can make your words incomprehensible. And it can make you look like an amateur.

Simple rule: If you pause when reading a sentence out loud, it likely needs a comma.

"I wanted to play the piano, but I didn't have any sheet music." Try saying that without pausing. Can't, can you?

Now, do the opposite. Try to pause in a place where you instinctively know you shouldn't.

"That old movie house holds a special place, in my heart." If you're Bob Dylan, you can get away with that comma. But you're not. So don't do it.