When Your Words Get Stuck- That's Too Damn Bad You Keep Digging

Have you ever felt like your writing just isn't hitting the mark, no matter how much effort you pour into it? It's a feeling many of us know well, this sense of pushing harder and harder, yet somehow getting further from where we want to be. Sometimes, it's almost like we're just making things more complicated for ourselves, digging a deeper hole instead of finding a way out. This can happen when we get caught up in the tiny details, losing sight of the bigger picture of what we're trying to say.

This whole idea of "digging" too much really applies to how we put our thoughts down on paper, or on a screen, for that matter. It's about those moments when we get so focused on one specific point, maybe a rule we think we remember, that we start to trip over our own words. We might be trying so hard to be "correct" that our message ends up being difficult for anyone else to pick up on. It's a bit like trying to find a treasure by only looking down, missing all the signs that point to an easier path. So, we keep going, even when it feels a bit off.

What if there was a way to step back, to put down the shovel, so to speak, and approach our writing with a different kind of aim? What if we could stop ourselves when we hear that little voice saying, "that's too damn bad you keep digging," and instead choose a clearer, more direct route? This is about making our words work for us, and for the people reading them, rather than getting caught in a tangle of tricky phrasing or rules that just don't quite fit. It's about making sure our ideas shine through, rather than getting buried under layers of unnecessary fuss.

Table of Contents

When Does Writing Feel Like You're Just Digging?

You know that feeling, don't you? It's when you're trying to put a thought into words, and it just doesn't quite come out right. You fiddle with it, move things around, and maybe, just maybe, you end up with something that feels a bit twisted. Sometimes, you might even find yourself adding extra words, like a double "that" in one sentence, because you're trying to force a certain flow. It's almost as if you're trying to build a bridge, but you keep adding more planks than you need, making it wobbly instead of strong. This kind of struggle is a common sign that you might be "digging" a little too hard, trying to make the language do something it just isn't meant to do easily. It's a very human thing to get caught up in these kinds of puzzles, really.

The Problem of "That's Too Damn Bad You Keep Digging" in Sentence Structure

Consider, for a moment, how often we might overthink the way we build our sentences. There are times when a simple phrase would do the trick, yet we stretch it out, adding extra bits that don't really help the reader. For instance, someone might write "given that" when a simple "given" would convey the same idea, making the sentence a bit more cumbersome than it needs to be. This is a classic case of "that's too damn bad you keep digging" when it comes to making your sentences clear and crisp. It's like you're trying to add decorations to a perfectly good cake, but the decorations just make it harder to eat. You're trying to be precise, perhaps, but the outcome is a bit of a muddle. We tend to forget that directness often wins the day, don't we?

Are We Making Our Own Rules Harder?

It's funny how we sometimes create our own little grammar traps, isn't it? We might hear a certain way of speaking or see a particular rule, and then we try to apply it everywhere, even when it doesn't quite fit. For example, some people wonder about contractions like "that'd" and if they're proper to use in written form. While it might sound natural when spoken, forcing it into formal writing can sometimes make the text feel a bit off, causing a reader to pause. This kind of hesitation, this worry about a small point, can lead us to "dig" into rules that might not serve our main goal of getting a message across clearly. It's almost as if we're looking for reasons to make things more complicated than they need to be, which is a bit of a puzzle, really.

Escaping the "That's Too Damn Bad You Keep Digging" Grammar Trap

To get out of this habit of "that's too damn bad you keep digging" in our grammar, we need to shift our focus a little. Instead of getting hung up on every single tiny rule, we should think about what sounds natural and easy to follow for someone else. Take phrases like "that being said" or "having said that." These are pretty common ways of speaking, and they usually work well in writing too. But then there's the idea that "that's been said" might be wrong in certain situations. When we start to question these kinds of phrases, it shows we're getting bogged down in specifics, rather than letting the words flow. The goal, after all, is to make our writing feel like a conversation, not a grammar quiz. So, it's about finding that balance, you know?

What Happens When We Don't Stop Digging?

When we just keep pushing, keep "digging" into our writing without stepping back, things can get pretty messy. The words might pile up, one on top of the other, until the main point gets lost in the pile. Imagine trying to read something where the writer is constantly wrestling with things like when to use "that is" or trying to figure out if a preposition should be at the very end of a sentence. This kind of struggle, while it might seem like a small thing to the writer, can make a big difference for the person trying to read it. It's like trying to listen to someone speak through a very thick wall; you can hear sounds, but the meaning is just not coming through clearly. This is where the phrase "that's too damn bad you keep digging" truly applies, because the effort isn't paying off in terms of clarity.

Clarity Lost- A Sign of "That's Too Damn Bad You Keep Digging"

One of the biggest signs that you're caught in the "that's too damn bad you keep digging" cycle is when your message loses its sharpness. For example, when defining something like an "interjection," is it "A word or phrase that is used to express emotion" or something more simple? Often, adding "that is" can make a sentence feel a bit clunky, like putting too many joints in a pipe. The reader has to work harder to get from one idea to the next. Or consider the puzzle of prepositions. While we usually put them before a noun, sometimes they end up at the end of a sentence, which can feel a bit odd to some. When we get too hung up on these little rules, we forget that the main aim is for our words to be easy to take in. It's a bit like trying to solve a puzzle by forcing pieces together, rather than looking for the natural fit. So, the result is often a loss of directness, which is really what we're aiming for.

How Can We Write So People Actually Get It?

So, how do we make sure our writing truly connects with people, without getting caught in all that "digging"? It really comes down to thinking about the person on the other side of the page. Are they going to understand what you mean without having to stop and re-read a sentence? For instance, when you're talking about a joint effort, like a "seafood collaboration dinner" with your wife, do you say "my wife and I's"? Or is there a simpler, more natural way to phrase it that everyone just gets? Often, the simpler option is the one that feels most human and easy to follow. It's about letting go of the idea that every sentence has to be perfectly constructed according to some strict, unspoken rule, and instead, letting it flow a bit more freely. We want to be understood, after all, don't we?

Putting Down the Shovel- Avoiding "That's Too Damn Bad You Keep Digging"

To avoid the "that's too damn bad you keep digging" trap, we need to learn when to simply put down the shovel. This means trusting our instincts for what sounds clear and natural. For example, think about phrases like "only that." Does it mean the same thing as "unless" in every case? When someone writes, "This does not mean that it is freely chosen... only that there is popular..." it's a specific kind of phrasing. Trying to force it into another meaning, or overthinking its precise use, can lead to unnecessary mental effort. Or consider the use of "have had." When should we use that combination? These are the kinds of questions that can make us "dig" deeper into grammar books when a simpler approach might be to just listen to how people actually speak and write in everyday situations. It's about letting go of the need for absolute perfection in every tiny detail and focusing on the bigger picture of getting your point across. So, it's about finding that sweet spot, you know?

Sometimes, we come across sentences that just feel a bit off, like a word or phrase "that is used to express emotion or surprise" might be written in a way that feels too formal. It’s like trying to explain a feeling using overly academic terms. Or when prepositions, which usually come before a noun, show up at the very end of a question, it can make us pause and wonder if it’s "correct." This kind of overthinking, this constant questioning of small grammatical points, can keep us from just letting our words do their job. It's a bit like being so worried about how you hold the pen that you forget to write the story. So, the real trick is to aim for clarity and connection, rather than getting stuck in the weeds of every single rule. It’s about making your writing feel like a real conversation, rather than a puzzle for the reader to solve. We want our words to flow, don't we?

Ultimately, the goal is to make our writing feel open and easy to approach. When we're trying to share an experience, like a "seafood collaboration dinner" with a loved one, we shouldn't get caught up in how to say "my wife and I's" versus a simpler way. The moment we start to wonder about the "proper way to use a sentence in which you and a specific person" are involved, especially when it means we "can't just say our," we're probably "digging" too much. It's about choosing words that feel natural, that don't make the reader stop and think about the grammar, but instead let them just absorb the message. The aim is to communicate, to share ideas and feelings, without putting up unnecessary barriers of overly complex or strained language. It’s about letting the message come through, clear as day.

This, that, these e those: quando usar? - Brasil Escola
This, that, these e those: quando usar? - Brasil Escola
“That”の種類と見分け方!使い方の総まとめ - ネイティブキャンプ英会話ブログ | 英会話の豆知識や情報満載
“That”の種類と見分け方!使い方の総まとめ - ネイティブキャンプ英会話ブログ | 英会話の豆知識や情報満載
This That These Those Grammar Lesson Learn The Difference Quiz – Theme
This That These Those Grammar Lesson Learn The Difference Quiz – Theme

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