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Dec 13, 2016 · 10 Writing Errors Even Native Speakers Make (Infographic) Take our list of overused words and phrases as a reminder to use them less often, or stop using them altogether; Because sometimes, the words we say don’t mean much. This infographic highlights 44 such terms, so nondescript and ubiquitous that many barely even notice their meaningless ...
Jun 28, 2021 · Said — very often overused with some much more powerful synonyms that convey tone and meaning (such as yelled, whispered, roared, bragged, commented, demanded, growled, retorted, taunted, stated ...
- Jyssica Schwartz
- Other
- More
- Good
- Best
- Important
- Great/Amazing
- Actually
- Lots/Lots of
- Like
- Innovative
The word “other” is very versatile, but it is also very over-used. Because it applies to almost any situation, writers are tempted to use it often. However, there are alternatives that work just as well, for instance: 1. Do you have any other suggestions? 2. Do you have any further suggestions? 3. We were looking for other opinions on the topic. 4....
Like “other” the word “more” is a catch-all word. It can refer to many different things, but it is also one of the most boring words in the English language. Instead, look for more interesting words, as in: 1. Please give me more context about the problem. 2. Please give me greater context about the problem. 3. Do you have more room for the furnitu...
Good means very little in the English language. It is used so much, it becomes filler. Here are some examples of more descriptive words to use: 1. They had a good afternoon at the beach. 2. They had a relaxing afternoon at the beach. 3. The town got a good amount of snow. 4. The town got a sufficient amount of snow.
Like “good,” the word “best” has lost much of its meaning among English words because it is so over-used. Here are some examples that use a better word in place of this superlative. 1. These are the best matching socks for the outfit. 2. These are the perfectly matched socks for the outfit. 3. They felt he was the best expert to interview. 4. They ...
The word important no longer carries a strong meaning because of how often people are overusing it. Instead, find a more colorful and descriptive word, like these examples: 1. The school board had an important decision to make. 2. The school board had a crucial decision to make. 3. Getting licensed was an important step in starting his career. 4. G...
Both great and amazing have the same meaning, and these words get used too often. Replace them with something more specific to your meaning, as in these examples: 1. The office had a great amount of debt to consider. 2. The office had a staggering amount of debt to consider. 3. She found an amazing deal on her new dress. 4. She found a remarkable d...
Actually, like many adverbs, gets used far too often, and in places where it is not necessary. In most instances, you can leave off this word, saving it for a competitive game of scrabble, not your writing, and the sentence will make sense. Here are some examples: 1. I actually liked the olives on the pizza. 2. I liked the olives on the pizza 3. I,...
If you want to irritate an editor, use this word repeatedly. It is so over-used that you will get a red pen mark quickly when you do. Instead, find a heftier word, as in these examples: 1. The boy delivered lots of newspapers Saturday morning. 2. The boy delivered a hundred newspapers Saturday morning. 3. She received lots of compliments on her per...
The world like is usually a filler. It can be used to mean “enjoy” or “appreciate,” but those are better words to choose. Here are some examples: 1. I like listening to classical music before going to bed. 2. I enjoy listening to classical music before going to bed. 3. They were like sisters, more than friends. 4. They seemed to be sisters, more th...
In the tech industry, innovativeis over-used. Instead, use a word that indicates just why the idea is innovative, such as: 1. The innovative design caught the eye of the tech giant. 2. The state-of-the-art design caught the eye of the tech giant. 3. The Apple Watch gained notoriety because it was an innovative concept. 4. The Apple Watch gained not...
Oct 8, 2019 · Do you find yourself reusing certain words in your writing? We have rounded up the most common words and alternatives to keep your writing fresh.
- Important. In this day and age, everything is important. Watching the news, eating your greens, taking some time off, and the email you just sent to the entire company.
- Like. Whether it’s used in its simple present form, to indicate something that you are fond of (“I like this Asian restaurant”), or as a preposition (“they were like siblings, always hanging out together”), like is overused, over-gestured and over-counted on your social media feed.
- Random. Even if you go by the widest definition of random: “a haphazard course; [...] without definite aim, direction, rule, or method” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary), you’re likely to either misuse or overuse it.
- Literally. Literally just sounds great, doesn’t it? You’re literally going to march up to your manager, you literally drank the entire bar, you’re literally dying there.
Strategy #1: Determine which words you commonly overuse, and find them in your writing [Ctrl+F]. If you notice that certain words, such as important or interesting, get commonly recycled in your writing, try using the find-text tool [Ctrl+F] once you’ve drafted the document or a paragraph, entering the word into the search bar, to scan your ...
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May 25, 2020 · 5. Don’t be lazy. The very definition of cliché – a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays lack of original thought – means you should rarely, if ever, use them in your writing. And yet, they become clichés for a reason. Content creators love using them.
