Would You Not Use Would?

By Paul McLeod

Thanks to its over-use by on-air broadcasters, would has become the most abused and misundersood verb that journalese has produced in recent memory. Flat out, it is better for writers to use the past tense of any verb one can think of rather than use WOULD in any story!

WOULD -

auxiliary verb – The past tense of will

Used to express desire or intent: She said she would meet us at the corner.

Used to express a wish: Would that we had gone with you!

Used after a statement of desire, request, or advice: I wish you would stay.

Used to make a polite request: Would you go with me?

Used in the main clause of a conditional statement to express a possibility or likelihood: If I had enough money, I would buy a car. We would have gone to the beach, had the weather been good.

Used to express presumption or expectation: That would be Steve at the door.

Used to indicate uncertainty: He would seem to be getting better.

Used to express repeated or habitual action in the past: Every morning we would walk in the garden.

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Why wouldn’t writers use would? - Example

The women’s volleyball team at Cal State Fullerton WOULD WIN its fourth match of the season Friday night, but it WOULD NOT BE easy. The Titans WOULD RALLY from a one-game deficit to take a 25-30, 32-30, 30-28, 26-30, 15-13 Big West Conference victory over Utah State at Titan Gym in front of a crowd of 326. The win WOULD SNAP a four-match losing streak by Fullerton (3-9, 2-2). Utah State (2-7, 0-4) WOULD LOSE five in a row.

Outside hitter Amy Smythe WOULD LEAD the Titans with 27 kills, including five in the final game that WOULD HELP Fullerton erase the Aggies’ 7-3 lead.

Opposite Joan Biggles WOULD ADD 17 kills and WOULD SERVE an ace that WOULD BREAK a 13-13 tie in the final game. Smythe WOULD FOLLOW with the match winner off a bump-set from freshman setter Amanda Leibowitz, who WOULD BE MAKING her first start in place of Zilstenstra Bradokovic. Bradokovic WOULD LEAVE the team Thursday to return to Poland to attend the funeral of her grandmother. After a slow start, Leibowitz WOULD FINISH with 42 assists.

“It was a little scary out there at first,” she said. “But once I settled down and found my hitters, things just seemed to click after that.”

Sally Young WOULD LEAD Utah State with 24 kills and 16 digs. Her one-handed save following a kill attempt by Biggles in the fifth game WOULD EVENTUALLY set up teammate Brandy Black for a kill that WOULD GIVE the Aggies their 7-3 lead. But two unforced errors and back to back stuff blocks by Titan middle blocker Amy Jones WOULD GET Fullerton back into contention.

After Titan Libero Janis Payne WOULD COME UP WITH with a dig off a let serve from Aggie Jill Benson, Smythe WOULD PUT AWAY a short set from Leibowitz to tie the score. Smythe WOULD ADD three of the next four kills and the Titans WOULD SUDDENLY LEAD, 10-8.