Why “thing” weakens your writing (and how to fix it)

Take these two sentences:

I laid out all my things on the floor and took a step back.

I laid out all my climbing gear on the floor and took a step back.

Which creates a clearer picture in your mind?

Small words can have a big impact on your story, and not always for the right reasons. One of those small words is “things”. 

The problem with “thing” is that it’s a vague word. It doesn’t give readers much of a clue about what the “things” are. Swapping it out for a more specific, stronger word will make your scenes clearer and more immersive. You’ll give readers more detail without them even knowing that that’s what you’re doing.

Let’s look at when “thing” falls flat and how to fix it.

“Thing” is vague

“Thing” works as a placeholder, but it doesn’t give readers any visuals to help them build the scene.

I packed my things and away I went.

What are the things you packed? We might be able to tell from context, but giving readers a touch more detail will help us picture the scene. It can be as simple as this:

I packed all my gear and away I went.

Not all scenes call for rich detail. In this scene, maybe all you need is to show readers that you packed gear and not, say, clothes or food. We can at least build an immediate image of what gear you may have packed.

“Thing” lacks precision

When the scene calls for detail, precise wording is key. Precision makes your writing more immersive. When you spell out what things you are referring to, you build an image in the reader’s mind. 

I packed my things and away I went.

Let’s make this more precise and immersive:

I rammed as much into my pack as I could – tee-shirts, undies, socks, shorts, skort, hoodies, sun hat, sun screen, even gloves, and food, so much food.

Here’s another example of “things” weakening a scene:

I arrived at base camp exhausted, and shocked at all the things Joseph had scattered about.

This sentence has a solid detail about how the writer feels, but the generic “things” lets it down. What kind of things would leave the writer shocked? And is it the things themselves, or that they’re scattered about? Here are a few ways to make this moment more precise:

I arrived at base camp exhausted, and shocked at all the rubbish Joseph had left scattered about.

I arrived at base camp exhausted, and shocked at all the gear Joseph had scattered about. Did he not care about someone standing on his ropes?

I arrived at base camp exhausted, and shocked at all the crap Joseph had scattered about – crampons, pack, clothes, gas burners – it was like a hurricane had torn through camp.

When “thing” works

Sometimes, a vague, imprecise “thing” is just what your scene needs. Good examples include using “thing” in dialogue, creating deliberate ambiguity, and talking about concepts.

“What’s that thing?” I pointed to a strange metal contraption sticking out of the ground.

When you’re recounting a conversation you had with someone, it makes sense to use the words they used. If they talked about things lying everywhere or things they saw, go ahead and use their words directly.

I could sense something out there, a thing that made noises like nothing I’d heard before.

The glowing thing hovered just above the horizon, silent and unmoving.

In both of these, the writer is building tension and being deliberately vague. Perhaps they didn’t have the words to describe the thing they experienced. Until they can get closer, it’s simply “a thing”.

Memory is a strange thing. I can remember that day so clearly, but I can’t remember anything leading up to it.

The most precious thing in life is what we do with our limited time on this blue marble.

In these examples, the writer is talking about concepts (memory and life), and the conversational “thing” works to introduce these ideas in an approachable way.

Questions to ask yourself when confronted with “things”

• What exactly am I describing?
• What makes this “thing” unique? How can I bring it to life for readers?
• How does this thing build the scene or advance the story?

Using precise wording doesn’t just clarify your scene—it gives it life. Every word is an opportunity to deepen the reader’s experience and pull them further into your story.

Wrapping up

“Thing” is a useful placeholder when you’re in the writing groove and you just want to get the words out. But when it comes to revising, keep an eye out for rogue “things” and see if you can replace them with stronger, more precise words.

Don’t feel the need to delete every “thing” from your manuscript. The key is using it with purpose. If there’s a stronger, more precise word, then swap it out. But if “thing” is just the thing your scene needs, then keep it there.

This is the second post in my series about small words that can weaken your writing. Read about why “decide” is on that list, and sign up to my newsletter so you get notified about every new post.