So often, when reading children’s writing, I come across the word, and. When I challenge the children about it, they tell me it’s a connecting word. Well, I say it’s an adding word. It adds sentences together, like a sticky, gunky goo, making them grow longer and longer, and windier and windier.

What’s wrong with a full stop? Often, replacing and with a full stop adds pace to a story. It increases the sense of action. Give me short, snappy sentences – any day!