Overused Words In Writing & How To Avoid Them

Overused Words in Writing & How to Avoid Them

We’ve all got our comfort words—those trusty adjectives, verbs, or phrases we lean on like a crutch. But when certain words show up too often, they lose their impact, leaving your writing feeling repetitive or uninspired.

1. “Very” and Its Cousins

Why It’s Overused: It’s easy to tack on “very” for emphasis, but it’s vague and doesn’t pull its weight.

Instead of: “She was very tired.” Try: “She was exhausted.” / “She dragged her feet like lead weights.”

💡 Tip: Use precise, vivid descriptions rather than vague intensifiers.

2. “Looked” and “Saw”

Why It’s Overused: It’s functional but flat, and it often tells instead of shows.

Instead of: “He looked at her in disbelief.” Try: “His eyebrows shot up, his lips parting as if words had failed him.”

💡 Tip: Focus on body language or sensory details instead of relying on generic verbs.

3. “Suddenly”

Why It’s Overused: It’s often used to create surprise, but it tells readers how to feel instead of letting the scene deliver the shock.

Instead of: “Suddenly, the door slammed shut.” Try: “The door slammed shut, the sound ricocheting through the empty room.”

💡 Tip: Let the action or pacing create urgency without needing to announce it.

4. “Said” (When Overdone or Misused)

Why It’s Overused: While “said” is often invisible and functional, using it in every dialogue tag can feel robotic.

Instead of: “I can’t believe it,” she said. “Me neither,” he said. Try: Replace with an action: “I can’t believe it.” She ran a hand through her hair, pacing. “Me neither.” He leaned against the counter, arms crossed.

💡 Tip: Don’t ditch “said” entirely; just mix it up with context clues or action beats.

5. “Felt”

Why It’s Overused: It’s a shortcut that tells instead of showing emotions.

Instead of: “She felt nervous.” Try: “Her palms slicked with sweat, and she couldn’t stop her leg from bouncing.”

💡 Tip: Let readers infer emotions through sensory details or behavior.

6. “Really” and “Actually”

Why It’s Overused: They add little to your sentences and can dilute the impact of stronger words.

Instead of: “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.” Try: “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

💡 Tip: If a sentence works without these words, cut them.

7. “Walked” or “Ran”

Why It’s Overused: These are go-to movement words, but they can feel bland when used repeatedly.

Instead of: “He walked into the room.” Try: “He strolled in like he owned the place.” / “He shuffled in, avoiding everyone’s eyes.”

💡 Tip: Use verbs that convey mood, speed, or attitude.

8. “Just”

Why It’s Overused: It sneaks into sentences unnecessarily, weakening your prose.

Instead of: “I just wanted to say I’m sorry.” Try: “I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

💡 Tip: Delete “just” unless it adds essential nuance.

9. “Thought”

Why It’s Overused: It tells readers what a character is thinking instead of showing it through internal dialogue or action.

Instead of: “She thought he might be lying.” Try: “His story didn’t add up. The timelines didn’t match, and he wouldn’t meet her eyes.”

💡 Tip: Immerse readers in the character’s perspective without announcing their thoughts.

10. “Nice” and Other Vague Adjectives

Why It’s Overused: It’s generic and doesn’t give readers a clear picture.

Instead of: “He was a nice guy.” Try: “He always remembered her coffee order and held the door open, even when his arms were full.”

💡 Tip: Show qualities through actions instead of relying on vague descriptors.

Final Tips for Avoiding Overused Words:

1. Use a thesaurus wisely: Swap overused words for synonyms, but stay true to your character’s voice and the scene’s tone.

2. Read your work aloud: You’ll catch repetitive patterns and clunky phrases more easily.

3. Edit in layers: Focus on eliminating overused words during your second or third pass, not your first draft.

More Posts from Bookwormineedsleep and Others

bookwormineedsleep

3 months ago

I Had Thought About If Luffy Had Recruited The Strawhats In A Different Order And They Got To See Different

I had thought about if Luffy had recruited the Strawhats in a different order and they got to see different crewmates origins/events leading up to becoming pirates, and well-

Zoro's whole first-meeting ordeal might have left a different first-impression with Sanji

15K notes View Post

bookwormineedsleep

3 months ago

with all the bs going in the US, the only way i can bring a smile to my face is when i remember that baby boomers, gen X, and possibly older millennials, consumed lead when they were younger. im…im not joking…

back in the 70s/80s doctors/scientists issued a statement to the public that they should make sure their kids not eat paint flakes, or chew on blinds bc lead was used in a lot of products like food cans, paint, blinds, etc (and doctors would ask parents this when they were brought to the hospital/clinic) kids chew and eat shit they arent supposed to, i would know, i was one of these kids.

and if u think im lying my dad told me this straight up. he blatantly told me mid convo that he would chew on the old lead weights that they used for fishing when he was a kid….

so when I start wondering why magas are the way they are…. i remember they consumed lead paint.

oh and that tv stations had to issue ads to remind parents that they have children and to love them….

Ohio Sheriff Says Immigration Visas Too Confusing For Cops; Asks Trump, Musk To Change Them.

You simply can’t make this stuff up.

The sheriff of Butler County, Ohio, one Richard K. Jones, who gives “Yosemite Sam meets diabeetus,” legit wrote a letter to DJT — cc’d to Elon, no less — saying that immigration visas were “too confusing” for local law enforcement.

Ohio Sheriff Says Immigration Visas Too Confusing For Cops; Asks Trump, Musk To Change Them.

Then held a Facebook Live/press conference to… apparently brag about how unintelligent he thinks law enforcement is.

“Sheriff Richard K. Jones reports a letter has been written to President Donald J. Trump imploring him to modify the current language on immigration visas to make them more comprehensible to law enforcement personnel. “There’s roughly one-hundred and eighty-five different visas in this country, and too many interpretations of which one means what. Just too confusing,” states Sheriff Jones.” Butler County Sherrif’s Office Press Release

Dear Mr. President, In the recent months I have grown concerned with the substantial number of visas that are being disseminated in our country and the perplexity that these visas may have on our law enforcement. With roughly one hundred and eighty-five different visas in this country the verbiage in these documents may be confusing to ICE agents as well as our law enforcement as a whole. While ICE enforces immigration laws within the United States, as you know, the process of issuing visas fall under the U.S. Department of State. ICE agents or local law enforcement may not always have the knowledge concerning the specific nuances of different visa types. As a six term Sheriff, voted in by the citizens of Butler County, Ohio, I implore you to modify these visas to more simplified, comprehensible categories to alleviate any confusion moving forward.

Of course, behind the cringe is the simple fact that we’re looking at a bully who is so unintelligent that he has to ask who the “bad guys” are. A bully who knows who the bigger bullies are, and thinks that there is absolutely nothing wrong with displaying both his lack of intelligence and his willingness to bully others to the public at large.

And judging by the comments on his post, he’s sadly right. via ideatrash

2 notes View Post

bookwormineedsleep

1 month ago

Welcome to my blog!!