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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.

Something something c*cking a gun

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….

A little extra drawing I made last night

I’m meathead

who was gonna tell me megatrons original atl-form was a fucking pistol💀💀 bro is literally 9 ft tall HOW!?!????

also, when optimus gets his new alt form in the show, tell me why when he transforms a cargo box fhat trucks usually carry is suddenly drawn into frame??? like where is it coming from??? is this just 80s tv show logic???😭😭😭 bc i can tell you rjght now it wasnt there in the first frame.

... and that's why I stick to fanfics and fanarts these days.

sometimes you need dialogue tags and don't want to use the same four

the fact that chappell roans good luck babe blew up because of a Maxley edit will never not be legendary and so fricking funny, I love chappell roan🫶🫶🫶 and thank you maxley for being the catalyst to her winning a grammy last night (this is obv a joke and her hard work is obv thr reason shes won and is here but its still funny)

tiktok is officially gone holy shit. ironically, the last video i had on my fyp was a megop angst edit. I am saddened and devastated by the ban, and it honestly doesn’t feel real. I learned so much from the app, and hurts that its gone. To all the people who aren’t worried about this and the impact it will have, then you need to go educate yourself on it. Because you will feel it to. This world is going to shit, and every single american will, unfortunatley, get the brunt of it. We are on our way to an Oligarchy. Inauguration day is 1-2 days from now, and i dont have a good feeling about this.