How many times have you read a book and noticed the author relies on the same string of adjectives again and again? Maybe you are the author who just can’t seem to shake the habit of overusing words. It’s common for writers to have a pool of favorite words or phrases they like to use. I can’t tell you how many times I have to stop myself from shoving ubiquitous into every sentence. Oops — there I go again!
If you’re a writer struggling with word choice — or you just enjoy basking in the mutual hatred of annoying language habits — we created a list of five overused words that we all wish would disappear from the page. The last one may surprise you.
Very
This is a very, very overused word. Very is a clarifying adverb and adjective that emphasizes its verb or noun. If you feel the need to use very in your writing, it’s a sign that your sentence lacks effective word choice. Don’t fret! Very is one of the easiest words to replace. Just ask yourself, what am I trying to say here?
Very sad changes to depressed, glum, or moody.
Very quickly changes to rapidly, immediately, or speedily.
Very pale changes to ashen, ghostly, or white.
Bad
Imagine reading an epic fantasy novel where the author only describes the villain as bad. The bad witch with the bad teeth casts a bad spell on the hero. This is a disappointing sentence, to say the least. But if instead it was a horrible witch with gruesome teeth who cast a murderous spell? Exhilarating!
Good is a similar type of word. These words are not inherently wrong by themselves, but it’s the overuse that bothers readers. Simple adjectives only scratch the surface of our imaginations. Readers want to be enchanted by rich, descriptive passages. If you find the picture you create is too vague, search for the smaller words and see if you can find a spicier replacement.
Instead of bad, try these words: evil, awful, terrible.
Said
This is one of the hardest words to replace. Take it from me, a fellow writer. After all, when you write a dialogue exchange, how else is the audience supposed to know the characters spoke? Let’s tackle this particular problem with some examples.
Example 1: “Let’s go to the movies,” she said.
Example 2: “I hate this shirt,” he said.
Example 3: “You’re an idiot,” they said.
Within these three examples, we have the opportunity to completely change the intention of each sentence. For Example 1, how would the sentence sound if she instead offered or cheered? What if he groaned or fretted when describing his shirt? The third example is especially interesting. Are they teasing the other person, or scolding? By exchanging these words, the reader already has a clearer view of who the characters are and what might be happening in the scene.
Be cautious of how often you replace said. Sometimes writers get too excited and overuse their alternate words. It would be equally boring if characters groaned every time they spoke. The key is balance.
Look
You may be sensing a pattern here. Look, like many of the aforementioned words, is only bothersome because of its simplicity. Easy verbs like this one present an opportunity for the writer to play with language and paint a more interesting image for the reader.
Instead of look, try these words: gaze, inspect, or peek.
Unique
Surprisingly, unique is not a unique word! This is the go-to word for writers who want to describe characters or scenery that is unusual in some way. To rid yourself of overusing it, we recommend consulting another important writing lesson: show, don’t tell. Instead of hiding behind unique, describe why this thing is odd.
For example, let’s say your character stumbles onto a mysterious hideout in the forest. You could just say the hut is unique and call it a day. Or you could say:
The birch and cobblestone walls swirled into the unmistakable shape of a dragon with an open jaw. Where its horns should have been, a chimney produced pink smoke that smelled faintly of lavender.
Without using unique, we have managed to create an exciting and strange image for the readers.
If your sentences are missing that special pizzazz, reach for the trusty thesaurus. There are thousands of new words waiting for you to discover. We hope this has inspired you to pick up the pen and write an amazing story full of sparkling and zesty language!
Want to learn more about the power of words? Click here.
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