Words lose their meaning over time, and more often than not end up meaning something different from what they originally meant. All in all, there are many ways to reinforce your writing. You can pick one or all of these techniques to use if you are in need of re-enforcement in your own writing. The key is to remember to use these techniques in moderation, otherwise, your writing will start to sound repetitive.
Avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys – to woo women – and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do.
Professor Keating, Dead Poets Society
This list will help you think about how to liven up your manuscript by replacing filler-type words with others that could pack a punch.
A lot: copious, countless, myriad, numerous, plentiful, several
Amazing/awesome: astonishing, fascinating, incredible, marvelous, stunning, wonderful
Also: additionally, besides, furthermore, in addition to, moreover, to boot
Bad: deficient, inferior, dreadful, atrocious, unacceptable, dissatisfactory, erroneous
Big: considerable, vast, colossal, extensive, substantial, immense, ample, copious
Change: transform, modify, revise, switch, transition, adjust, alter, rework
Definitely: absolutely, undeniably, positively, doubtless, plainly, surely, specifically
Easy: uncomplicated, effortless, straightforward, adept, amiable, responsive
Fine: outstanding, exceptional, magnificent, well-made, admirable, first-rate
Get: acquire, obtain, accomplish, attain, extort, extract, glean, secure, procure
Give: bestow, relinquish, permit, award, bequeath, dispense, administer, contribute
Good: satisfying, stupendous, proficient, valuable, acceptable, worthy, congenial
Great: excellent, exceptional, unmitigated, proficient, marvelous, expert
Happy: contented, jubilant, ecstatic, elated, overjoyed, captivated, upbeat, gratified
Hard: arduous, troublesome, demanding, strenuous, onerous, exacting, complicated
Help: advice, guidance, remedy, corrective, assist, service, cooperation, comfort
Important: crucial, significant, essential, critical, meaningful, vital, far-reaching, imperative
Interesting: engaging, stimulating, captivating, compelling, absorbing, meaningful, notable
Keep: retain, preserve, possess, manage, amass, conserve, detain, garner, control
Know: experience, comprehend, acquainted, distinguish, differentiate, realize, discern
Like: similar, comparable, related, corresponding, equivalent, resembling, equal
Like: enjoy, relish, admire, cherish, regard, extol, appreciate, commend, respect
Look: glimpse, contemplate, survey, inspection, glance, attention, review
Nice: gracious, pleasurable, charming, amiable, well-mannered, genial, pleasing, seemly
Quite: considerably, absolutely, thoroughly, in all respects, utterly, all-in-all, purely
Really: literally, genuinely, categorically, in effect, unquestionably, undoubtedly, honestly
Said: announced, expressed, uttered, revealed, described, disclosed, divulged, intimated
So: apparently, accordingly, likewise, similarly, consequently, hence, provided that
Then: suddenly, formerly, in that event, subsequently, appropriately, as a consequence
Very: profoundly, extremely, truly, greatly, notably, prominently, suitably, immensely, vitally
Most writers use words that are overused in communication to convey meaning, meaning which is superfluous. We are all guilty of this to some extent, but it is worth being aware of. Think about it: how many times have you heard the phrase “until,” “however,” “although,” “obviously,” or “in all fairness”? How many times have you heard the phrase “I’m sorry”? Did you ever stop to think it’s not necessary?
I’ve shared my tips for how to avoid overused words and phrases. If you use them, make sure they are very deliberate. And don’t hesitate to use any of the alternatives I’ve provided. Since they are uncommon, they will make your writing more interesting.
