Writing in the “potential tense.”
I understand that people want to avoid looking like they’re dictating someone else’s actions, but when every emote tells me that you would do something… I can’t help but want to respond that I would notice, except you haven’t done it yet and thus I go on about my day.
If it didn’t have its useful places, I would hate the word would.
With four-part harmony and feelin’.
Time to drop some knowledge! Here are the correct uses of the word “would.”
Imaginary scenarios
“I would love to go to Germany!”
“I would like to be a writer.”
“We would go to the party, but we don’t have a ride!”Past tense
Would is the past tense of will. Wouldn’t is the past tense of won’t. Here is an example of using would in a past tense versus a present tense situation:
James: “I will take out the trash.”
Amber (later on): “James said he would take out the trash.”One is direct speech. The other is reported later on.
Past actions
Used in the same way that you would use “used to.” Typically refers to repeated actions in the past.
“When Johnny went fishing, he would always wear rubber boots.”
“When I was a kid, I would jump on the bed when my parents weren’t around.”Conditional statements
This is mostly used in hypothetical situations.
“If I had a million dollars, I would buy a new car!”
“If I had worked a bit harder, I would have gotten a better grade.”So why is this post important?
It’s here because people often misuse this word in writing (and especially in RP). You might see a post such as:
“She would stretch out her arms to catch the ball.”
What’s wrong with this sentence? It’s missing a qualifier. All the writer is telling us is what would happen. They’re not telling is that it did happen. There are two options to make this sentence correct. Either give it a qualifier…
“She would stretch out her arms to catch the ball, but she is too far away.”
… Or don’t use would.
“She stretched out her arms to catch the ball.”
You see? She did the thing! SHE DID THE THING. THERE IS NO CONFUSION OVER WHETHER SHE DID THE THING OR WOULD HAVE DONE THE THING!
When using the word “would,” ask yourself the following question. “She would do the thing… but does she or doesn’t she? And if she doesn’t, why?”
So if you are writing a character and they do a thing… don’t use would.
IT GOT BETTER!!
It did get better! OMG. Reblogging both versions for interested/amused friends.
And if you’re RPing with someone, your action involves another player, and you don’t actually know if will succeed your character can always try/attempt/etc to perform an action.