Writers have habits. Some collect adverbs. Some fall in love with ellipses. And many—many—lean on the word “that” far more than they realize.
It’s not wrong.
It’s not a grammar sin.
It’s just unnecessary… most of the time.
And unnecessary words slow the pacing, clutter the sentence, and pull readers slightly out of the flow. When you want readers fully In the Zone, trimming a few stray “thats” can make your story feel cleaner and more confident.
Let’s break down when you should keep “that,” when you should cut it, and why your manuscript probably has more of them than you think.
Why “That” Shows Up Too Often
Your brain adds “that” as a tiny pause marker.
It’s a writing crutch you don’t notice because it feels natural while drafting.
But when you remove it?
The sentence almost always reads smoother.
Compare:
❌ She said that she’d call.
✔️ She said she’d call.
One is tight and direct.
The other feels like it’s tiptoeing in wearing an extra coat it didn’t need.
Proofreaders spot these instantly. Readers don’t consciously notice them—but they feel the difference in pacing.
When You Should Cut “That”
Here’s the magic rule:
If the sentence works without “that,” cut it.
Try reading the sentence out loud both ways.
If dropping “that” doesn’t change the meaning or make the sentence awkward, it’s safe to remove.
More examples:
❌ I hope that you understand.
✔️ I hope you understand.
❌ She realized that she was late.
✔️ She realized she was late.
❌ He promised that he’d be there.
✔️ He promised he’d be there.
❌ The report showed that sales increased.
✔️ The report showed sales increased.
Every time you cut an unnecessary “that,” the sentence gets leaner and stronger without losing clarity.
When You Should Keep “That”
Sometimes “that” is doing real work.
You need it when removing it makes the sentence confusing, clunky, or unintentionally funny.
Keep “that” when:
1. Clarity depends on it
She knew the dog that barked all night was mine.
(You need “that” to specify which dog.)
2. Removing it causes a misread
She said that Bruce rules the household.
If you drop “that,” it wrongly reads like Bruce said it.
3. The sentence becomes awkward without it
It’s important that writers understand pacing.
Removing “that” makes the rhythm weird.
4. You need it in a specific clause structure
Especially after certain verbs (insist, demand, recommend, etc.).
Why This Matters for Indie Authors
Trimming unnecessary “thats” does more than tidy sentences. It:
- improves pacing
- tightens narration
- makes dialogue more natural
- reduces wordiness
- strengthens your author voice
- keeps readers more deeply engaged
Readers don’t leave reviews saying,
“This book had too many unnecessary thats.”
But they do comment on writing that feels slow, clunky, or repetitive.
These small edits protect your story’s flow—one of the main reasons authors hire a proofreader in the first place.
A Quick Self-Editing Tip
When revising, use your manuscript’s search function to find every instance of “that.”
Then ask two questions:
- Does removing it change the meaning?
- Does the sentence read better without it?
If the answer to #1 is no and the answer to #2 is yes, hit delete.
You’ll be amazed how much stronger your writing feels after a single pass.
Final Thoughts
“That” isn’t your enemy—it’s just a word that likes to overstay its welcome. Trim the extras, keep the ones that matter, and your sentences will stay sharp, flexible, and easier on the reader.
And if you want a set of fresh eyes to help you find the sneaky, unnecessary words your brain automatically skips, I’m here to help.
Let’s keep your readers In the Zone.