That's a different case than I was describing, but In your case it's about the usage. nothing inherent about the word again.
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A grad school professor of mine told me never to use the word "interesting" to describe something.
- Thread starter SolVanderlyn
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As others have already pointed out, "interesting" is not a word you use in academic literature. It's kind of expected that whoever did the work finds it interesting, they're doing it after all! But stating something is interesting really tells the reader nothing. Think of it is as show don't tell: explain why you think something is interesting (without using the word), or more plainly, why the reader should care about your work. Don't just tell them it's "interesting".
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He actually never specified if he meant in academic writing or just in general. It was in class, but it could have been taken either way.
Regardless, I don't think striving to use a more accurate word in conversation is a bad thing, even if I still end up using interesting from time to time. In papers, though, he was absolutely right and I don't think it should be used in an academic context.
Regardless, I don't think striving to use a more accurate word in conversation is a bad thing, even if I still end up using interesting from time to time. In papers, though, he was absolutely right and I don't think it should be used in an academic context.
Ask him if using "Yikes" and "cringe" is okay.
As for the word "interesting", it depends on the context. It's a perfectly fine word in many contexts. I'm not gonna stop saying "This looks like an interesting documentary" in favor of "This looks like a thought-provoking documentary." Just because an adjective is more specific doesn't mean it's more appropriate.
As for the word "interesting", it depends on the context. It's a perfectly fine word in many contexts. I'm not gonna stop saying "This looks like an interesting documentary" in favor of "This looks like a thought-provoking documentary." Just because an adjective is more specific doesn't mean it's more appropriate.
It's fine in conversation. In any serious writing, keep your "interestings" to a minimum. Things can be intriguing, hilarious, fascinating, blah blah blah I can quote from a thesaurus.
My High School English teacher said this about 'entertaining', which I think is fair enough. You should be explaining why something is interesting or entertaining, not just throwing it out there and moving on.
At least novel means new, still shouldn't use it though in my opinion. Sounds like bragging, and I think it should be left to the reader/reviewers to decide if the work is "new" and to what extent.
It's a meaningless word. It's like a placeholder for pending thoughts, like saying "Umm"
I still use it all the time, but it's usually unhelpful in actually conveying whatever thoughts I have on something.
I still use it all the time, but it's usually unhelpful in actually conveying whatever thoughts I have on something.
Sometimes you need to learn a rule as an absolute to get out of the habit of using it without thinking. Some words or phrases are horribly misused, but that doesn't mean they have no use whatsoever. For example, most of us were probably taught at school never to start a sentence with "and" or "but." However, both of those words are perfectly fine sentence openers if used correctly and sparingly, and in the right situation they can even elevate a text. The same goes for a word like "interesting," I suppose. There's usually a better word to pick for the situation, and if you make that into a habit instead, the few times when you do use the word "interesting" will be far more... interesting.
So sure, stop using the word completely for a while, at least until you get used to doing so. Then start gradually reintroducing it when appropriate. Your writing will likely be better for it in the long run.
So sure, stop using the word completely for a while, at least until you get used to doing so. Then start gradually reintroducing it when appropriate. Your writing will likely be better for it in the long run.
"Interest" is a common heuristic for convolutional neural networks. When doing academic AI write ups, the word "interesting" has definite non-basic meaning.
He right. It's an awful word in most cases.
Read Strunk and White. It's online too.
Rule 13 is incredibly useful.
Read Strunk and White. It's online too.
Rule 13 is incredibly useful.
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I feel like the whole point (and power) of the word is in its generality, though. "If I discover anything interesting, I'll let you know." I don't have to know in advance why my findings may be interesting, but the implications are understood.
Any synonym you'd use like noteworthy or intriguing would still be equally vague unless you follow up with details to explain your statement. Interesting is probably just being attacked because it's used more frequently and the professor feels it's a pretty weak word at this point.
Not the first to espouse those views, there's articles on it even
Just a couple but if you google you'll find more.
Just a couple but if you google you'll find more.
Professor here.
That grad professor is right. There isn't a good reason to use it in academic writing - you have time and space to convey precise thoughts through the written word. Saying that an idea is "interesting" in that context is doubly offensive:
1. It lacks clarity and doesn't advance your argument. So what if you think it is interesting? It's not an argument, and you're occupying space with a thought that will just need further explanation in the next sentence. It's awkward and unnecessary. That sounds brutal, I know. 😁
2. Your audience already assumes that your topic is interesting. After all, you decided to write a damn paper about the topic and its various components in a narrower sense. Since that's the case, what kind of impression does using that word give us? It reads and sounds like a person who doesn't know quite how to advance at that point of the discussion, and I'd rather have a person exploring the topic with expressed doubt than a person who claims an idea is interesting.
These rules aren't absolute, but "interesting" is a term that few people are equipped to use well. Just avoid it.
That grad professor is right. There isn't a good reason to use it in academic writing - you have time and space to convey precise thoughts through the written word. Saying that an idea is "interesting" in that context is doubly offensive:
1. It lacks clarity and doesn't advance your argument. So what if you think it is interesting? It's not an argument, and you're occupying space with a thought that will just need further explanation in the next sentence. It's awkward and unnecessary. That sounds brutal, I know. 😁
2. Your audience already assumes that your topic is interesting. After all, you decided to write a damn paper about the topic and its various components in a narrower sense. Since that's the case, what kind of impression does using that word give us? It reads and sounds like a person who doesn't know quite how to advance at that point of the discussion, and I'd rather have a person exploring the topic with expressed doubt than a person who claims an idea is interesting.
These rules aren't absolute, but "interesting" is a term that few people are equipped to use well. Just avoid it.
And for the record, this is only for academic writing. Obviously, there are rules that apply there that don't carry into other contexts or writing styles.
Generally, yes, you should not be using empty words to convey meaning in an academic paper.
What people mistake about these writing tips is that they are guidelines more than rules. Sometimes, though rare, you'll have need to bend them either to make your topic more interesting ( ;) )or to clarify your meaning to a specific audience.
I would not mark it down in any sense unless it was overused or used in a way that did not convey a proper meaning.
What people mistake about these writing tips is that they are guidelines more than rules. Sometimes, though rare, you'll have need to bend them either to make your topic more interesting ( ;) )or to clarify your meaning to a specific audience.
I would not mark it down in any sense unless it was overused or used in a way that did not convey a proper meaning.
In undergrad people had this habit of calling someone's work interesting without explaining why, so our professors banned it lol.
Filler words are fine depending on context and if you expand upon the topic.
If we're only talking about acedemic writings then sure, your professor has a point.
If we're only talking about acedemic writings then sure, your professor has a point.
As a (former) English academic and prof, I told my students exactly the same thing. "Interesting" really doesn't mean anything in most cases and is just a fluff word, at least when it comes to high-level academic writing.
I used to always say sorry for a lot of things when I was younger and my dad told me to stop always saying sorry. That's why I switched to "I apologize" it wasn't what he meant but it stuck lol
Casual conversation, yeah, whatever, doesn't really matter.
But in any form of serious writing where you're trying to describe or explain something, yep, "interesting" is a nothing word.
But in any form of serious writing where you're trying to describe or explain something, yep, "interesting" is a nothing word.
