Words to Delete or Replace

Words to Delete or Replace

The words on this list are often perceived as weak, redundant, or overused in writing, particularly in dialogue or narration, where they can diminish impact or slow the pace. These can usually be cut without replacement to tighten the writing, or swapped with more vivid, lively alternatives to boost character voice or scene energy. These words tend to be vague, habitual, or easily omitted or replaced. We’ve also included brief examples where a replacement could improve your writing.

– Removal Strategy: Test removing these words first—e.g., “She ran” vs. “She just ran”—to see if meaning holds. If not, pick a vibrant replacement.

– Dialogue Focus: Pair with your contraction list (e.g., “He ain’t gonna try” vs. “He isn’t going to try”) for authentic character speech.

– Project Application: Challenge club members to rewrite a paragraph, cutting these and using alternatives, to sharpen their skills.

– Absolutely: Often redundant; remove or use “utterly” (e.g., “She was utterly convinced” vs. “She was absolutely convinced”).

– Actually: Weak filler; omit or replace with “in fact” (e.g., “In fact, he lied” vs. “He actually lied”).

– Almost: Vague; remove or use “nearly” (e.g., “He nearly fell” vs. “He almost fell”).

– Anyway: Filler; omit or use “regardless” (e.g., “Regardless, he left” vs. “Anyway, he left”).

– Asked: Generic; replace with “queried” or “inquired” (e.g., “She inquired softly” vs. “She asked”).

– Began: Redundant with action; omit or use “started” with flair (e.g., “He started thrashing” vs. “He began to thrash”).

– Begin: Similar to “began”; remove or use “initiated” (e.g., “She initiated the dance” vs. “She began the dance”).

– Begun: Past participle redundancy; omit or use “commenced” (e.g., “The fight commenced” vs. “The fight had begun”).

– Basically: Filler; omit or use “essentially” (e.g., “Essentially, it’s over” vs. “Basically, it’s over”).

– Breath: Overused; remove or replace with “gasp” (e.g., “She let out a gasp” vs. “She took a breath”).

– Breathe: Common; omit or use “inhaled” (e.g., “He inhaled deeply” vs. “He breathed deeply”).

– Certainly: Redundant; remove or use “undoubtedly” (e.g., “Undoubtedly true” vs. “Certainly true”).

– Completely: Intensifier; omit or use “fully” (e.g., “Fully destroyed” vs. “Completely destroyed”).

– Definitely: Overstated; remove or use “clearly” (e.g., “Clearly wrong” vs. “Definitely wrong”).

– Down: Directional filler; omit or use “below” (e.g., “He glanced below” vs. “He looked down”).

– Exhale: Specific but overused; remove or use “sighed” (e.g., “She sighed heavily” vs. “She exhaled heavily”).

– Feel: Vague; omit or use “sensed” (e.g., “She sensed danger” vs. “She felt danger”).

– Felt: Passive; remove or use “experienced” (e.g., “He experienced joy” vs. “He felt joy”).

– Inhale: Technical; omit or use “drew in” (e.g., “He drew in air” vs. “He inhaled”).

– Just: Filler; omit or use “merely” (e.g., “Merely a scratch” vs. “Just a scratch”).

– Kind of: Vague; omit or use “somewhat” (e.g., “Somewhat odd” vs. “Kind of odd”).

– Like: Filler, especially in speech; omit or use “as” (e.g., “As she said” vs. “Like she said”).

– Literally: Often misused; omit or use “truly” (e.g., “Truly exhausted” vs. “Literally exhausted”).

– Look: Overused action; omit or use “gazed” (e.g., “He gazed ahead” vs. “He looked ahead”).

– Maybe: Hesitant; remove or use “perhaps” (e.g., “Perhaps later” vs. “Maybe later”).

– Nice: Bland; omit or use “charming” (e.g., “Charming smile” vs. “Nice smile”).

– Nod: Overused action; omit or use “inclined” (e.g., “She inclined her head” vs. “She nodded”).

– Okay: Casual filler; omit or use “acceptable” (e.g., “Acceptable plan” vs. “Okay plan”).

– Only: Restrictive filler; omit or use “solely” (e.g., “Solely mine” vs. “Only mine”).

– Perhaps: Tentative; remove or use “possibly” (e.g., “Possibly true” vs. “Perhaps true”).

– Ponder: Wordy; omit or use “mull” (e.g., “He mulled it over” vs. “He pondered it”).

– Probably: Uncertain; remove or use “likely” (e.g., “Likely to win” vs. “Probably to win”).

– Quite: Mild intensifier; omit or use “rather” (e.g., “Rather cold” vs. “Quite cold”).

– Reach: Generic; omit or use “extended” (e.g., “He extended his hand” vs. “He reached out”).

– Realize: Passive; remove or use “grasped” (e.g., “She grasped the truth” vs. “She realized the truth”).

– Really: Intensifier; omit or use “truly” (e.g., “Truly amazing” vs. “Really amazing”).

– Replied: Basic; replace with “responded” or “retorted” (e.g., “He retorted sharply” vs. “He replied”).

– Rather: Mild; omit or use “somewhat” (e.g., “Somewhat tired” vs. “Rather tired”).

– Said: Neutral; replace with “whispered” or “declared” (e.g., “She declared boldly” vs. “She said”).

– Seemed: Vague; remove or use “appeared” (e.g., “He appeared calm” vs. “He seemed calm”).

– Shrug: Overused gesture; omit or use “shrugged off” (e.g., “He shrugged off the comment” vs. “He shrugged”).

– Slightly: Weak; omit or use “faintly” (e.g., “Faintly smiling” vs. “Slightly smiling”).

– Somehow: Vague; omit or use “curiously” (e.g., “Curiously, it worked” vs. “Somehow, it worked”).

– Somewhat: Mild; omit or use “mildly” (e.g., “Mildly annoyed” vs. “Somewhat annoyed”).

– Sort of: Hesitant; omit or use “rather” (e.g., “Rather strange” vs. “Sort of strange”).

– Start: Redundant; omit or use “launched” (e.g., “She launched into song” vs. “She started to sing”).

– That: Filler; omit unless essential (e.g., “The car sped” vs. “The car that sped”).

– Then: Sequential filler; omit or use “next” (e.g., “Next, he ran” vs. “Then, he ran”).

– Thing: Vague; omit or use “item” (e.g., “The item broke” vs. “The thing broke”).

– Think: Generic; omit or use “consider” (e.g., “She considered it” vs. “She thought about it”).

– Thought: Passive; remove or use “reflected” (e.g., “He reflected deeply” vs. “He thought deeply”).

– Totally: Intensifier; omit or use “completely” (e.g., “Completely lost” vs. “Totally lost”).

– Try: Weak; omit or use “attempt” (e.g., “He attempted it” vs. “He tried it”).

– Understand: Plain; remove or use “comprehend” (e.g., “He comprehended it” vs. “He understood it”).

– Up: Directional filler; omit or use “above” (e.g., “She looked above” vs. “She looked up”).

– Very: Intensifier; omit or use “exceedingly” (e.g., “Exceedingly tired” vs. “Very tired”).

– Virtually: Vague; omit or use “nearly” (e.g., “Nearly done” vs. “Virtually done”).

– Well: Filler; omit or use “indeed” (e.g., “Indeed, it’s true” vs. “Well, it’s true”).

– Wonder: Wordy; omit or use “marvel” (e.g., “She marveled at it” vs. “She wondered at it”).