Do you love your blog?
For many of us, blog writing is the perfect vehicle for being true to ourselves.
- Language is relaxed
- Posts are conversational
- We write like we talk
While we revel in a less stringent form of writing, that last item may backfire.
Blog writing can be too relaxed. Writing like we talk is not always a good thing.
The first overused list shared 25 business words and phrases. The following are 25 overused (sometimes abused) words that sneak into our blog posts. And sometimes into other forms of business writing.
How many lurk in your posts? I pulled most of the overused, abused words from my bad habits. I trust I am not alone.
Blog Word #1 − Actually
Actually is disagreement without the boxing gloves.
Actually, I decided to take another route.
However, with the right tone, we pull on the boxing gloves.
The post said it was a great product. Actually, it is not so great.
This blog post word also sneaks into different meaning. One that defies the meaning of truth (or makes readers suspicious).
Do you use this product?
Actually, I do.
Really? You’re not saying that because you want to sell it to me, are you?
Blog Word #2 − Almost
This word may not be overused as much as it is a weak word. Well, almost.
- I almost believe that’s true
- You find the word almost everywhere
Maybe this blog post word should actually borrow those boxing gloves.
Blog Word #3 − Always
Sometimes we want to make a point so we exaggerate a bit. Bloggers always exaggerate to make a point. Don’t you?
Blog Word #4 − Basically
Basically has a bloating problem. The word fills where no filling is needed.
The oversight was basically harmless.
When used as a summary, basically fails when the writer drones on.
Basically, the plan is to go left, then regroup in five miles and examine where we are, then try again, remembering what we learned from the first turn and applying it to the second, and calculating how to use that information for the rest of the trip.
Huh?
Basically, the plan is to go five miles and regroup.
Blog Word #5 − Even
Even likes sarcasm or a dash of emphasis. On its own, even is not a bad word in those roles. Repetition is the killer.
The writing was so bad even the worst writers noticed.
Even you should understand this.
I tend to use even for emphasis. I am guilty as charged for overuse.
Blog Word #6 − Essentially
Essentially is the cousin to basically. Essentially, the word fills space and adds little value. Remove the word and I bet you won’t notice.
Blog Word #7 − Great
The world is a great place. We have great products, great reviews, and great answers. Isn’t that great?
Blog Word #8 − Got
I’m not sure why but got has an ugly sound.
I gasped while editing a recent project when I read aloud they got less. Scream. I changed the phrase to they received less. Doesn’t that sound better? Got edits?
Blog Word #9 − It
It earned its own SlideShare presentation.
- It weakens messages
- We often forget to define it
Blog Word #10 − Just
This word wins the award for abuse in my world. I just can’t seem to stop myself. The word is another one that just doesn’t add much value. If you just remove the word, you just may see what I mean.
If you remove the word, you may see what I mean.
Blog Word #11 − Kind of (Sort of)
I kind of, sort of know I can write better. But we are imperfect beings. Don’t beat yourself up because you kind of stumble. We kind of know what you mean. Sort of.
Blog Word #12 − Like
Like oh my God. Sorry. I know the Valley Girl inflection is also overused.
Like works in a simile − The cat sat in the chair like a King overlooking his subjects. A sprinkling of figurative language strengthens your writing. Beware of overuse.
Misuse of like acts as another filler.
Like that was a disappointment. It’s like even I could have done better.
Blog Word #13 − Literally
Do we believe the word literally brings a touch of class to our writing? You literally see the word everywhere.
We exaggerate and emphasize with literally to excess. Often used when we mean “figuratively”, the word perpetuates abuse.
- Literally means exactly or actually, as in it actually happened
- I doubt you mean you actually died in the sentence, I literally died when that happened
- If the above is inaccurate, may you rest in peace
Blog Word #14 − Lots
Hopefully, lots lingers in personal and not business blogging. Lots of anything weakens credibility.
We sell lots of products.
Lots of customers prefer this software.
That raises lots of questions. How many is lots? Is your lots the same as my lots?
Blog Word #16 − Only
Only is another weak word. It can also cave to exaggeration.
I only meant to say…
Only I can help.
If only that were true.
Blog Word #17 − Perhaps
Perhaps is like the partner who won’t commit. The word compromises, which is not a bad thing, provided it isn’t a ploy for avoiding commitment.
Perhaps that’s the answer to our problem.
Blog Word #18 − Pretty
Pretty much everything suffers with weak words. That’s pretty apparent in business writing. It ain’t pretty.
Blog Word #19 − Really
I really wish I eliminated my bad habits. I really do. Really?
Blog Word #20 − So
I like so. I think so is a lovely, casual transition. A much warmer version of however and therefore. So, what’s the problem?
Following the theme, you probably guessed − overuse. You reap what you so.
Blog Word #21 − That
With a nod to my writer friend, Lori Widmer, that hits our list. We all have words we love to hate and this (or should I say that) is one of Lori’s.
I agree with Lori. I probably fall into that trap more than I like; however, I admit I wince when a client takes my copy and sprinkles it with an abundance of that.
That is a challenge. For rule-lovers, that skates around hard and fast rules. Your best option is reading your sentence with that out loud.
- If you remove that, does the sentence suffer?
- Does the sentence sound awkward without that?
The use of that tends to be subjective and in the ear of the beholder. Flipping words around may eliminate the use of that and strengthen your sentence.
There are five topics that need to be addressed.
Five topics need addressing.
- Read sentences with and without that
- Tighten sentences by eliminating that and rearranging words
Blog Word #22 − Then
Then leaves readers asking, When then?
Replace then (when using the word as a reference of time) with a specific measurement.
Get back to me then.
When?
Get back to me tomorrow.
Then can also be a lazy transition. Try eliminating the word for stronger writing.
We first saw John playing basketball. Then, we saw John again at our favorite restaurant.
We first saw John playing basketball. We saw John again at our favorite restaurant.
Blog Word #23 − There
There likes to hook up with its buddies, are and is (there are, there is) to throw excess weight around.
There are no right or wrong answers.
No right or wrong answer exists.
There is nothing better than writing.
Nothing is better than writing.
If you are like me, you’ll be surprised how often you start a sentence with There.
Blog Word #24 − Thing(s)
Things are tired. Too tired to come up with descriptive words.
I wish things worked out better.
I wish the relationship worked out better.
Five things to improve include…
Five elements (areas) to improve include…
Blog Word #25 − Very
Aren’t you very glad to reach the end of this post? How glad? Very glad. Like lots.
Find alternative words to express very.
- Very clever − brilliant
- Very large − gigantic, huge, colossal
- Very fast − quick, speedy
- Very hungry − ravenous
- Very old − ancient
- Very small − tiny, minuscule
- Very happy − ecstatic
- Very good − superior, superb, outstanding, exemplary
- Very bad − hideous, atrocious
- Very pretty − beautiful, stunning
The Last Word
Few would describe me as a word purist. I love to play with words, invent new ones or use words in unconventional ways.
I love blog writing, freeing myself of word inhibitions. I respect the rules but like to bend them. So I offer the above sneaky, overused and abused words for consideration.
I use the following question as my guide (when I take the time to ask it).
Does the use of these less formal (sometimes overused/at times, abused) words add to my style or distract?
Embrace words and the potential magic.
What do you think about these words?
What sneaky, overused, abused words do you have?
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Guilty! I pick up and change some of these on editing, but I don’t get them all… good reminders.
I’m right there with you. Anne. I didn’t have to look very far to come up with the list. 😉
Guilty as charged!
Good rules for tightening up our writing and making it more effective. Thanks Cathy!
There’s a lot of that going around, John. 😉 Thanks for stopping by.
Great list, Cathy – actually and that are two I usually have to edit out 🙂
Actually, you are really doing much better than me if you just have two, Sharon. 😉
LOL, I’ve used some of the others, too, Cathy, but those are the worst offenders. 🙂
🙂
I’m guilty of overusing “actually” and all of the diminishing words including “just,” “only” and even “merely.” Oops. I overuse “even” too, but I blame my nephew. Hang around him long enough and you start speaking like him. “But I don’t even LIKE that!” or “How can you even stand the rain?”
Overusing “that” hit me many years ago when a neighbor circulated a flyer for a watch group. Seems as if seeing “that that” would have given her a clue that “that” (ha! I couldn’t help myself) was overused. Later, an editor told a group of writers her favorite editing trick was to use the search function to seek and destroy overused “thats.”
Take that, Paula! 😉 And can I blame your nephew, too? Even is one of my most overused words. 😉
Sure. I try to blame him for almost everything anyway. It’s fun watching him squirming his way out of things.
Thanks for the list Cathy,
I’m sure that some of these sneaky words have crept into my writing. I’ll have to be more careful. 🙂
(Although, when I first glanced at the post I thought I saw the word “the” and panicked. How do you write copy without using the word “the” in it? LOL. It was a relief to look at the post again and realize the overused word was “then” and not “the.”)
I thought you may have found one of my all too common typos, Laura. LOL! 😀
Thanks for stopping by.
No, it was totally me misreading it.
Not sure how I’m so far behind on your posts Cathy, but this is another great one this month. 🙂
My biggies are actually, basically, and just.
You can come by any time with such nice comments. 😉 Thanks, Jenn.