Writers often pepper their work with unnecessary words (see July 8 post on “clutter” words). When we speak, we use fillers to give our brains time to figure out what we want to say and how we want to say it. In writing, we can review our messages to sharpen the wording.

Expletive constructions are specific examples of filler words. Expletive refers to a grammatical element that fills a space in a clause (often the subject position) but carries no meaning. The placeholder often hides the actor that should be the subject someplace else in the sentence. The results are unnecessary words and reduced readability scores.

The most common expletives used in this way are there is/are and it is. These sentences include expletives:

• There is a loss of control that makes it difficult for decision-makers to think strategically.
• It is critical for companies to take time to cultivate relationships with the right people.
• To build a successful media relations program, it is important to involve communication professionals in setting a strategy.

The first example contains two expletives (“there is” and “makes it”). “There is” provides a crutch for starting a sentence while our brain tries to decide exactly what we want to convey. The pronoun “it” in the example has no clear antecedent (see the post on pronoun-antecedent agreement) and fills an object, rather than a subject, position. We can rewrite the sentence to eliminate unnecessary words and make actors and relationships between sentence elements clear:

Loss of control makes thinking strategically difficult for decision-makers.

The indirect wording of the second example doesn’t establish for whom relationships are critical. The writer apparently used the expletive to avoid a more directive statement:

Companies should take time to cultivate relationships with the right people.

The third example introduces a syntax issue. The introductory “to build” infinitive phrase modifies the pronoun “it.” But “it” has no clear antecedent (see the post on pronoun-antecedent agreement). Therefore, the word offers no meaning to modify. Consequently, the “to build” phrase is dangling (see post on dangling modifiers). The independent clause has no clear actor to involve “communication professionals” in planning. Fixing the problem requires rewriting the sentence to include a precise noun for the “to build” phrase to modify:

To build a successful media relations program, an organization should involve communication professionals in setting a strategy.

While expletive constructions are often wordy, they aren’t grammatically wrong. They are common in writing. They are seen in other languages, such as German, as well as in English. Expletives are sometimes used intentionally (often in business or government writing) to keep the wording indirect. The writer doesn’t want to name the actor (who may be the reader), or the writer doesn’t know the actor (It is raining.) Other times, an expletive reflects fuzzy thinking. We really haven’t determined who the actor in the sentence is.

Whenever you see an expletive in your writing, consider if that construction is the most precise way to communicate your intended message.

Copyright © 2023 Douglas F. Cannon