The 40 tells · Words · No. 08
Why "testament" makes writing sound machine-made
Flagged "Testament"
"A testament to" turns a plain fact into a ceremony. The building is a testament to craftsmanship. Our growth is a testament to our customers. It asks the reader to admire something instead of showing it.
Show the evidence and let the reader decide what it is a testament to.
Before
Our 5-star reviews are a testament to our commitment to quality.
After
Read the reviews: most mention the same thing, that the job was finished on the day it was booked.
The fix
Swap it for the concrete thing. What does it do, in words a buyer can check?
Write this instead
- shows
- proves
- or just state the evidence
What the checker matches
Any of these, in any case:
- testament