That's a perfect example, Simon.

I used a couple in a script today:

"They'll be sittin' ducks!"

and

"I know I can count on you."

INT. WOLVERINE - NIGHT

I'll be back.

"stop screwing around"

"quit goofin' on me"

"not on my watch"

"there was this guy with a burned face and knives for fingers"

"I want your badge and gun"

"he's the BEST there is!"

I've got a bad feeling about this.

The use of "chiseled" drives me wild. Guess I've just seen it too often.

Sandra

Personally, I have decided to stop using 'Well' and 'What?'

WELL is hugely obnoxious.  I've never seen a piece of dialog that wouldn't be vastly improved without it.

"Well, just let me think about it."  Ugh!

WHAT is even worse.  The problem with WHAT is that people use it all the time in real life, so it sounds so natural when you put it in a script.

Tim:  Sorry I'm late but I had to stop a kill a family of four on my way to the office.

Sandra:  What?

See?  What does Tim do here?  Repeat the story over?  My personal rule is that everybody hears everything perfectly the first time and responds accordingly.

Tim:  Sorry I'm late but i had to stop and kill a family of four on my way to the office.
Sandra:  How are the anger management classes going?

Maybe not perfect.  But ANYTHING is better than WHAT.  Banish it!  Banished I say!

Quoted from conwall Personally, I have decided to stop using 'Well' and 'What?' WELL is hugely obnoxious.  I've never seen a piece of dialog that wouldn't be vastly improved without it. "Well, just let me think about it."  Ugh! WHAT is even worse.  The problem with WHAT is that people use it all the time in real life, so it sounds so natural when you put it in a script. Tim:  Sorry I'm late but I had to stop a kill a family of four on my way to the office. Sandra:  What? See?  What does Tim do here?  Repeat the story over?  My personal rule is that everybody hears everything perfectly the first time and responds accordingly. Tim:  Sorry I'm late but i had to stop and kill a family of four on my way to the office. Sandra:  How are the anger management classes going? Maybe not perfect.  But ANYTHING is better than WHAT.  Banish it!  Banished I say!

A very very good piece of advice. I'm sure we can always find exceptions, but in every way, we need to learn to cut excess out unless it's applicable somehow to character or flavor and spice of the story in general. We need to learn to make that judgement call based upon the individual story/characters in question.

Good post, Conwall. Definitely brings something to the table to think about.

Sandra

I can't quit you...

You had me at hello...

You can be my wing man...

Is there a Doctor in the house?

It's not over until I say it's over...

You're my wife Damnit...

Never give up

Freedom...

Ugh.

S

I don't know when or where this thread was turned into "Phrases or sayings" you don't use in a screenplay -- but "WORDS" you don't use in a screenplay are as followed

Is
Are
The
That
Then
Walk
Sit(s)
Stand(s)
Look(s)
Of The
Just
Begin(s)
Start(s)
Really
Very
Suddenly
Quickly
Hesitantly
Instantly

And many, many, many more...   Avoiding "THE" was the hardest thing for me to do until I found out these past 6 months it's not in reference to only in passing.

Balt-

I guess from the first thread where...

**It tastes just like chicken.**

was the example used.

Maybe the name of the thread should have been differient.

Shawn.....><

Quoted from Ledbetter Balt- Maybe the name of the thread should have been differient. Shawn.....><

"I'd buy that for a dollar..."

Oh wait... Don't use that either.

Quoted from Baltis. I don't know when or where this thread was turned into "Phrases or sayings" you don't use in a screenplay -- but "WORDS" you don't use in a screenplay are as followed Is Are The That Then Walk Sit(s) Stand(s) Look(s) Of The Just Begin(s) Start(s) Really Very Suddenly Quickly Hesitantly Instantly And many, many, many more...   Avoiding "THE" was the hardest thing for me to do until I found out these past 6 months it's not in reference to only in passing.

It's a good list, but I know it doesn't work in the real world of screenwriting. And this is why:

Sometimes, the best word to use is:

Look/s

as opposed to trying to get fancy.

I don't think it's the words themselves that are at fault, but writers who use the easy words consistently without thinking. That's the problem. And yeah...

Just

That's a really useless one.

Sandra

Ha!

Hey-

In your AVATAR...

It seems...YOU'RE REACHING FOR THE STARS MA..

Shawn.....><

Quoted from Ledbetter Ha! Hey- In your AVATAR... It seems...YOU'RE REACHING FOR THE STARS MA.. Shawn.....><

Nope, he's getting ready to scrub the sink with Comet.  

Sandra