By: Cheyenne Colt
When you are writing, you may sometimes experience writer’s block or simply run out of the words to say, while still having a minimum word count you need to reach. One way in which people handle this issue is by adding in filler words. Overusing filler words takes away from a writer’s piece, though. While it is adding to your word count, it somehow makes your writing less effective when your wording is repetitive. It can also bore the reader. The word “very” is perhaps one of the most overused words in writing, whether that be in the message you would like to convey, or the vocabulary being used. There are two instances in which these mistakes are made and can be corrected. The first is using the word “very” instead of other adjectives with the same meaning such as “remarkably” or “exceedingly” or “profoundly.”
Read the following sentences and take note of the difference between the two:
- It is very important to wear your mask in public.
- It is incredibly important to wear your mask in public.
While the two sentences essentially hold the same message, the second one sounds more serious and professional. Changing up wording also keeps readers interested.
Not only does the word “very” sometimes not hold the urgency you need, but it also just becomes repetitive to continually read/hear. Take, for example, the following two sentences:
- She ran very quickly to see her friend because she was very excited. They had not seen each other for a very long time.
- She sprinted to see her friend because she was ecstatic. They had not seen each other for an awfully long while.
By using the word “sprinted,” I avoided using a filler word, while also creating a stronger sense of urgency. Another example would be saying the word “joyous” instead of “very happy.” Using the word “ecstatic” instead of “very happy” creates an entirely different feel but still expresses the message you are trying to convey. The changes made in the last sentence make the writing sound more professional and interesting. It can be different to avoid overusing the word “very,” especially when you are trying to express urgency; however, there are ways around it. When I proofread my writing and I see that I used the word very, I will either think of a replacement word or look up a word on thesaurus that fits the sentence. I am not saying you can never use the word “very” in your writing. It is a simple, yet effective word. If you are critiquing someone’s work, there is not much of a need to use larger words. Saying “very good job” conveys the message just fine. It is always a good idea to check your writing to make sure you have not overused any words, though. While this is a simple fix, it can make a huge difference in your writing.