Increase impact of your writing by limiting use of these phrases
Idioms, cliches, jargon, slang and euphemisms; these five expressions, when utilized effectively within writing are captivating and persuasive, immediately drawing the readers attention.
When used incorrectly however, these five types of words can severely weaken the impact of what you are trying to say.
Listed throughout the course of this article are words and phrases that you should eliminate from your daily vocabulary. These will, in turn help make your point more recognizable, direct and thus, more engaging.
The words to rule out from your writing
That: Most of the time, ‘that’ is a word unnecessarily added to a passage of text to flesh it out. It should also never be utilized when referring to individuals. Try ‘who’ instead.
Went: There are numerous ways that the modern human travels. Utilize them in your text. Did you go in the car? Then say you ‘drove’. Casually jogged down the road? Say you ‘jogged’. This will also limit the repetition in your work.
Honestly: Adding this word does increase the emphasis on a statement. But it can also discredit all your previous musings as untruthful if you are not careful when using it.
Absolutely: ‘Absolutely essential’ seems to be a favored term these days. But if something is essential, it has to be done without question, making the ‘absolutely’ part redundant.
Very: This word should be utilized to add emphasis to a verb, adjective or adverb, not statements as it is not specific enough for the point being detailed.
Really: This is often used to modify adjectives and is therefore unnecessary. Next time you sit down to write or type, try a different word entirely. It will improve your point leaps and bounds.
Amazing: According to press outlets, media coverage and critical receptions, just about everything these days is ‘amazing’. It is not a word that captures attention anymore, henceforth it is best if you leave it out entirely.
Always/Never: If you write in absolutes, it means that you cannot deviate from your set path you have already outlined from yourself. It also makes you sound pompous and self-assured which can often be disproved at a later point.
Literally: If you think back to what ‘literally’ actually means you will start to see the problem. It means actually happening as stated without exaggeration. Often, many will mean ‘figuratively’ when attempting to describe a situation or statement.
Just: Once again, this is nothing more than a filler word used to flesh out sentences for no reason.
Maybe: Readers like to see statement and sentences that sound assuring and definite in their approach. Maybe makes your work seem uncertain and full of misinformation.
Stuff/Things: Once again a word that appears generic in nature and is often utilized as filler. If you offer ‘stuff’ to your clients, this could mean anything from a loan to a letter opener. Specificity is key when writing.
Irregardless: ‘Irregardless’ means the same as regardless when utilized in a sentence. Literally the same thing. Using it is therefore unnecessary.
The phrases to phase out
Actual Experience/Fact: An experience is something that you encountered first hand, and is thus actually what happened. ‘Actual’ in these circumstances is just filler.
Added Bonus: A bonus is an extra feature that is only positive. Anyone who has received a work bonus will tell you this. Hence, the ‘added’ is not necessary.
Ask a Question: To ask is to pose someone with a question.
Basic Fundamentals/Essentials: Fundamentals and Essentials are the very basics. Adding basic makes them seem repetitive and tiresome.
(Filled to) Capacity: You often hear of the capacity of a venue, an object or a container. Adding ‘filled’ to makes the statement repetitive, as you have already indicated the subject is full.
Close Proximity/Scrutiny: When you are within proximity to an object, you are thus incredibly close to them. Adding ‘close’ does nothing to the sentence at hand.
Direct Confrontation: To confront someone is to talk face to face, or near enough so that you can have a clear, uninterrupted conversation. ‘Direct’ is the unnecessary word here.
First Begun: To begin something is to undertake the very first steps. Remove the ‘first’ part here.
Forever and Ever: Whilst this is an acceptable timescale for under-10’s, the repetition of the ever is not needed. Forever is a definite timescale, ‘ever’ indicates no new information.
Major Breakthrough: A breakthrough indicates that progress has been made, the degree of which is often up for personal scrutinization. More often than not, this said progress is significant, hence the ‘major’ is not needed.
Plan Ahead: To make a plan is to lay out your process for the future. The ‘ahead’ is thus made redundant.
Protest Against: If you are protesting about something, you directly oppose what it stands for. The ‘against’ is not needed in this context.
Spell Out in Detail: If you have to spell something out, you are already providing excess details that were not immediately obvious before. Remove the ‘in detail’ to make the sentence flow more succinct.
Suddenly Exploded: A explosion is a sudden, immediate event. Whether it is planned or not, the ‘suddenly’ adds nothing to the description.
Unexpected Surprise: Funnily enough, if you are surprised by something then you were not expecting it to begin with. Remove the ‘unexpected’.
Written down: If you have written something, it has been put down onto paper. The ‘down’ part is superfluous to the sentence at hand.
By removing these words and phrases from your everyday vocabulary you will start to see immediate results. It will make your work more direct, addressing the customer (whomever they may be) whilst also appearing persuasive and headstrong in the direction of your choosing, which is only beneficial to all parties scrutinizing your enterprise.
Anything missing? Feel free to suggest phrases and words in the comments section below. We will add it. If you want to increase your words with the help of software read this review of the best vocabulary software programs.
Resources: Mashable | Daily Writing Tips
Photo: Common License 3.0 flickR