298 Filler Words That Rob Your Writing of Its Power

298 Filler Words & Phrases That Rob Your Writing of Its Power

by Shane Arthur

on

Filler words sneak into the works of even the most polished writers. Let's do something about this bad habit, shall we? After all...

You’re not stupid.

You know what writing is truly about.

It’s a never-ending battle for your readers’ attention.

Every sentence is a link in a taut chain that connects your headline to your conclusion.

And you are just one weak sentence away from losing your reader forever.

So you take your craft quite seriously.

You ignore all but your best ideas.

You work on each piece of writing for exactly as long as necessary to get it right.

And you edit until your words are crisp and clear.

But what if that isn’t enough?

What if weaknesses remain that are almost impossible to spot?

Filler Words: The Subtle Attention Killers That Hide in Plain Sight

No matter how carefully you scrutinize your writing, subtle problems will remain.

Certain words and phrases are so commonplace – and so seemingly benign – that they glide unnoticed under your proofreading radar.

But these unnecessary words and phrases can silently erode your reader’s attention.

They don’t stand out. The reader may not even notice them.

But they weaken your writing, dilute your ideas, and cloud your message with verbal static.

And soon, the delicate thread of attention connecting you and your reader snaps.

So if you’re serious about your writing, you must learn to spot these common filler words and phrases before they rob your writing of its power.

Want a handy, downloadable PDF containing all 298 flabby, filler words and phrases you must avoid in your writing? Click here.

Find and ruthlessly remove the following flabby, filler words and phrases from your writing:

  1. About – Try not to use this common filler word when discussing quantities. Use “approximately” or a range instead. Ex: About 20 people attended. Better: Approximately 20 people attended. Or: Fifteen to twenty people attended.
  2. Absolutely essential – Redundant phrase. You don’t need the adverb absolutely. Ex: Fried eggs are absolutely essential in an English breakfast. Better: Friend eggs are essential in an English breakfast.
  3. Absolutely necessary – Redundant phrase. You don’t need absolutely. Ex: Reading is absolutely necessary to write well. Better: Reading is necessary to write well.
  4. Accordingly – Use simpler replacement, such as so. Ex: Accordingly, be careful next time. Better: So, be careful next time.
  5. Accuracy – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: The accuracy of his report wasn’t good. Better: His report wasn’t accurate.
  6. Actual facts – Redundant phrase. You don’t need actual. Ex: Listen to the actual facts of the case. Better: Listen to the facts of the case.
  7. Admit to – Filler expression. Drop to. Ex: You should admit to stealing the coat. Better: You should admit stealing the coat.
  8. Advance forward – Redundant phrase. You don’t need forward. Ex: The army advanced forward. Better: The army advanced.
  9. Advance planning – Redundant phrase. You don’t need advance. Ex: The heist required advanced planning. Better: The heist required planning.
  10. Advance warning – Redundant phrase. You don’t need advance. Ex: The storm hit with no advance warning. Better: The storm hit with no warning.
  11. Add an additional – Redundant phrase. You don’t need an additional. Ex: Add an additional string to your bow. Better: Add a string to your bow.
  12. Add up – Redundant phrase. You don’t need up. Ex: Add up your hours and see if you qualify for overtime. Better: Add your hours and see if you qualify for overtime.
  13. Added bonus – Redundant phrase. You don’t need added. Ex: Winning the prize was an added bonus. Better: Winning the prize was a bonus.
  14. Almost – Use approximations such as this sparingly. Specific terms are better. Ex: It was almost time for class. Better: Class started in one minute.
  15. All of – Filler expression. Drop of. Ex: All of the guests loved the party. Better: All the guests loved the party.
  16. All time record – Redundant phrase. You don’t need all time. Ex: He broke the all time record for home runs. Better: He broke the record for home runs.
  17. All things being equal – Empty Phrase. Don’t use it. Ex: All things being equal, we should arrive tonight. Better: If all goes well, we should arrive tonight.
  18. Alternative choice – Redundant phrase. You don’t need choice. Ex: He had no alternative choice but to fight. Better: He had no alternative but to fight.
  19. All throughout – Redundant phrase. You don’t need all. Ex: War exists all throughout history. Better: War exists throughout history.
  20. Analysis – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: Give an analysis of the data and then create a summary.
    Better: Analyze the data and then summarize it.
  21. And etc. – Redundant phrase. You don’t need and. Ex: She loved dogs, cats, frogs, and etc. Better: She loved dogs, cats, frogs, etc.
  22. Anonymous stranger – Redundant phrase. You don’t need anonymous. Ex: An anonymous stranger sent her flowers. Better: A stranger sent her flowers.
  23. Appearance – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: His appearance caused cheers from the crowd. Better: He appeared and the crowd cheered.
  24. Area – Vague Noun. Cut or use a more specific word. Ex: James left the area. Better: James left Maryland.
  25. Are/is after – Clunky verb construction. Use follow, or seek, or desire, or want. Ex: The events are after the lecture. Better: The events follow the lecture. Ex: I don’t know what you are after. Better: I don’t know what you want.
  26. Armed gunman – Redundant phrase. You don’t need armed. Ex: An armed gunman robbed the bank today. Better: A gunman robbed the bank today.
  27. As a matter of fact – Empty Phrase. Don’t use it. Ex: As a matter of fact, I did eat all the candy. Better: Yes, I ate the candy.
  28. As being – Filler expression. You don’t need being. Ex: She is known as being the smartest in the school. Better: She is known as the smartest in the school.
  29. Ascend up – Redundant phrase. You don’t need up. Ex: Ascend up the steps to reach the top. Better: Ascend the steps to reach the top.
  30. As far as I’m concerned – Empty Phrase. Don’t use it. Ex: As far as I’m concerned, all politicians lie. Better: All politicians lie.
  31. Ask the question – Redundant phrase. You don’t need the question. Ex: Ask the question to your mother. Better: Ask your mother.
  32. Aspect – Vague noun. Cut or use more specific word. Ex:  Commercials are an aspect of television I don’t like. Better: I love television, but I hate commercials.
  33. Assemble together – Redundant phrase. You don’t need together. Ex: Assemble together the parts included in the box. Better: Assemble the parts included in the box.
  34. As to whether – Filler expression. You don’t need as to. Ex: I didn’t know as to whether he’d stay or go. Better: I didn’t know whether he’d stay or go.
  35. As yet – Filler expression. You don’t need as. Ex: No word on survivors as yet. Better: No word on survivors yet.
  36. At all times – Empty phrase. Don’t use, or fix. Ex: Be vigilant at all times. Better: Be vigilant.
  37. Attempt – Use simpler replacement, such as try. This word can be an example of nominalization too (verb or adjective turned into a noun). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: Attempt it again. Better: Try again. Ex: His attempt at suicide was met with failure. Better: He attempted suicide but failed.
  38. At the end of the day – Empty Phrases. Don’t use it. Ex: At the end of the day, the toughest survive. Better: The toughest survive.
  39. At the present time – Empty Phrase. Don’t use or fix. Ex: I have no money at the present time. Better: I have no money now. I currently have no money.
  40. At this point in time – Empty Phrase. Don’t use or fix. Ex: At this point in time, let’s just forget about our plans. Better: Let’s just forget about our plans.
  41. Bald-headed – Redundant phrase. You don’t need headed. Ex: He was bald-headed. Better: He was bald.
  42. Basic necessities – Redundant phrase. You don’t need basic. Ex: Prepare for disasters by stocking basic necessities. Better: Prepare for disasters by stocking necessities.
  43. Belief – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: It’s his belief that editing can be done with ease. Better: He believes editing is easy.
  44. Big – Weak adjective. Replace with something more precise. Ex: He was a big man. Better: He was six feet tall and 250 pounds.
  45. Blend together – Redundant phrase. You don’t need together. Ex: The colors blend together nicely. Better: The colors blend nicely.
  46. Bouquet of flowers – Redundant phrase. You don’t need of flowers. Ex: The bouquet of flowers was beautiful. Better: The bouquet was beautiful.
  47. Brief moment – Redundant phrase. You don’t need brief. Ex: For a brief moment, he was speechless. Better: For a moment, he was speechless.
  48. Brilliance – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: Not all posts achieve brilliance. Better: Not all posts are brilliant.
  49. Cameo appearance – Redundant phrase. You don’t need appearance. Ex: The actor’s cameo appearance caused a riot. Better: The actor’s cameo caused a riot.
  50. Care about – Filler verb construction. Use value or like to save a word. Ex: Do your readers care about grammar? Better: Do your readers value grammar?
  51. Careful scrutiny – Redundant phrase. You don’t need careful. Ex: The speaker reviewed his speech with careful scrutiny. Better: The speaker reviewed his speech with scrutiny. Best: The speaker scrutinized his speech.
  52. Carelessness – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: Her carelessness caused his death. Better: He died because she was careless.
  53. Catch on – Verbal fillers. Use resonate or spread. Ex: Hopefully the message will catch on. Better: Hopefully the message will spread.
  54. Caused a drop in X – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: Pay cuts caused a drop in morale within our company. Better: Pay cuts demoralized our company.
  55. Caused considerable confusion – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. In this case, use something more powerful, such as confused or baffled. Ex: The instructions caused considerable confusion in the class. Better: The instructions baffled the class.
  56. Cease and desist – Redundant phrase. You don’t need and desist. Ex: Cease and desist all contact with Mrs. Jones. Better: Cease all contact with Mrs. Jones.
  57. Close proximity – Redundant phrase. You don’t need close. Ex: The close proximity of the tourists caused the elephant to charge. Better: The proximity of the tourists caused the elephant to charge.
  58. Closed fist – Redundant phrase. You don’t need closed. Ex: He hit me with his closed fist. Better: He hit me with his fist.
  59. Commute back and forth – Redundant phrase. You don’t need back and forth. Ex: His commute back and forth exhausted him. Better: His commute exhausted him.
  60. Comparison – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: He made a comparison between apples and oranges. Better: He compared apples with oranges.
  61. Completely destroy – Redundant phrase. You don’t need completely. Ex: Joe completely destroyed his room. Better: Joe destroyed his room.
  62. Completely eliminate – Redundant phrase. You don’t need completely. Ex: You must completely eliminate your foes. Better: You must eliminate your foes.
  63. Completely engulfed – Redundant phrase. You don’t need completely. Ex: Flames completely engulfed the house. Better: Flames engulfed the house.
  64. Completely filled – Redundant phrase. You don’t need completely. Ex: He completely filled his cup. Better: He filled his cup.
  65. Connect together – Redundant phrase. You don’t need together. Ex: Connect together the two wires. Better: Connect the two wires.
  66. Could possibly – Redundant phrase. You don’t need possibly. Ex: You could possibly win. Better: You could win.
  67. Crisis situation – Redundant phrase. You don’t need situation. Ex: In a crisis situation try to relax and think clearly. Better: In a crisis try to relax and think clearly.
  68. Current trend – Redundant phrase. You don’t need current. Ex: Some say affiliate marketing is a current trend that won’t last. Better: Some say affiliate marketing is a trend that won’t last.
  69. Cut down on – Filler Phrasal Verb. Use reduce or limit. Ex: You should cut down on your sugar intake. Better: You should limit your sugar intake.
  70. Decrease in strength – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: The Euro decreased in strength against the US Dollar. Better: The Euro weakened against the US Dollar.
  71. Definition – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: His definition of fun was sleeping and watching television. Better: He defined fun as sleeping and watching television.
  72. Depreciate in value – Redundant phrase. You don’t need in value. Ex: Assets depreciate in value as each year passes. Better: Assets depreciate as each year passes.
  73. Descend down – Redundant phrase. You don’t need down. Ex: Descend down the steps to exit the building. Better: Descend the steps to exit the building.
  74. Description – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: Please give a description of the man who attacked you. Better: Please describe the man who attacked you.
  75. Desirable benefit – Redundant phrase. You don’t need desirable. Ex: What desirable benefit does writing offer? Better: What benefit does writing offer?
  76. Did not have much confidence in – Avoid using negative constructions if possible. Readers don’t like when you tell them what something is not. They like when you tell them what something is. Use distrusted or doubted. Ex: The soldiers did not have much confidence in their officers. Better: The soldiers doubted their officers’ abilities.
  77. Did not pay attention to – Avoid using negative constructions if possible. Readers don’t like when you tell them what something is not. They like when you tell them what something is. Use ignored. Ex: The soldiers did not listen to their officers. Better: The soldiers ignored their officers’ orders.
  78. Did not remember – Avoid using negative constructions if possible. Readers don’t like when you tell them what something is not. They like when you tell them what something is. Use forgot. Ex: The soldiers did not remember their orders. Better: The soldiers forgot their orders.
  79. Different kinds – Redundant phrase. You don’t need different. Ex: The post lists 55+ different kinds of literary devices. Better: The post lists 55+ kinds of literary devices.
  80. Difficulty – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: I’m having difficulty with math. Better: Math is difficult for me. Best: I’m struggling with math.
  81. Due to – Clunky expression. Use because or revise. Ex: He got wet due to the rain. Better: He got wet because it rained. Best: The rain got him wet.
  82. Due to the fact that – Empty phrase. Delete or use because or since. Ex: Due to the fact that I write, I love books. Better: Because I write, I love books.
  83. During the course of – Redundant phrase. You don’t need the course of. Ex: The forecast will change during the course of the day. Better: The forecast will change during the day.
  84. Dwindle down – Redundant phrase. You don’t need down. Ex: She loved to shop, so her savings dwindled down. Better: She loved to shop, so her savings dwindled.
  85. Each and every – Redundant phrase. You don’t need and every. Ex: I loved each and every one of them. Better: I loved each one of them.
  86. Ease – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: He thinks editing is a task you can do with ease. Better: He thinks editing is easy.
  87. Eliminate altogether – Redundant phrase. You don’t need altogether. Ex: We should reduce or eliminate altogether speeding ticket fines. Better: We should reduce or eliminate speeding ticket fines.
  88. Eliminate entirely – Redundant phrase. You don’t need entirely. Ex: We could eliminate entirely testing and students would still learn. Better: We could eliminate testing and students would still learn.
  89. Emergency situation – Redundant phrase. You don’t need situation. Ex: We have an emergency situation at the school. Better: We have an emergency at the school.
  90. Empty out – Redundant phrase. You don’t need out. Ex: Empty out the dishwasher. Better: Empty the dishwasher.
  91. End result – Redundant phrase. You don’t need end. Ex: Study and the end results will please you. Better: Study and the results will please you.
  92. Encouragement – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: His encouragement helped my success. Better: He encouraged me and I succeeded.
  93. Enter in – Redundant phrase. You don’t need in. Ex: Enter in your name and email address. Better: Enter your name and email address.
  94. Equal to one another – Redundant phrase. You don’t need to one another. Ex: They are equal to one another in size, but Joe is faster. Better: They are equal in size, but Joe is faster.
  95. Eradicate completely – Redundant phrase. You don’t need completely. Ex: We must eradicate completely these roaches. Better: We must eradicate these roaches.
  96. Every single person – Redundant phrase. You don’t need single (unless referring to marital status). Ex: Every single person should attend. Better: Every person should attend. Or: Everyone should attend.
  97. Evolve over time – Redundant phrase. You don’t need over time. Ex: Relationships evolve over time. Better: Relationships evolve.
  98. Exact same – Redundant phrase. You don’t need exact. Ex: They spoke at the exact same time. Better: They spoke at the same time.
  99. Facilitate – Use simpler replacement, such as help, yield, or aid. Ex: Patience facilitates understanding. Better: Patience aids understanding.
  100. Facility – Stilted phrase. Say exactly what an object is (school, hospital, government building). Ex: The facility had a large cafeteria. Better: Johnson Elementary School had a large cafeteria.
  101. Factor – Dull, unnecessary word. Replace with a verb. Ex: Avid reading was a factor in his writing ability. Better: Avid reading helped his writing.
  102. Failure – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: His failure was caused by not studying hard enough. Better: He failed because he didn’t study hard enough.
  103. Fall/Fell down – Redundant phrase. You don’t need down. Ex: If you fall down, try again. Better: If you fall, try again.
  104. Favorable approval – Redundant phrase. You don’t need favorable. Ex: The drawings received favorable approval from the planning board. Better: The drawings received approval from the planning board. Best: The planning board approved the drawings.
  105. Fellow classmate – Redundant phrase. You don’t need fellow. Ex: A fellow classmate teased Johnny. Better: A classmate teased Johnny.
  106. Fellow colleague – Redundant phrase. You don’t need fellow. Ex: A fellow colleague saw Jim stealing the office supplies. Better: A colleague saw Jim stealing the office supplies.
  107. Few in number – Redundant phrase. You don’t need in number. Ex: First-time home buyers are too few in number to absorb excess inventory. Better: First-time home buyers are too few to absorb excess inventory.
  108. Figure out – Clunky verb construction. Use determine, guess, or decide. Ex: I can’t figure out who’s who. Better: I can’t determine who’s who.
  109. Filled to capacity – Redundant phrase. You don’t need to capacity. Ex: The stadium was filled to capacity with anxious fans. Better: The stadium was filled with anxious fans. Best: Anxious fans filled the stadium.
  110. Final conclusion – Redundant phrase. You don’t need final. Ex: He came to a final conclusion that he hated his job. Better: He came to a conclusion that he hated his job. Best: He concluded that he hated his job.
  111. Finally – Weak linking term. Be more precise. Ex: Finally, he got the job. Better: After five interviews, he got the job.
  112. Final outcome – Redundant phrase. You don’t need final. Ex: Death was the final outcome. Better: Death was the outcome.
  113. Final ultimatum – Redundant phrase. You don’t need final. Ex: I gave him a final ultimatum. Better: I gave him an ultimatum.
  114. Find out – Clunky verb construction. Use determine, or learn. Ex: Find out what matters and what doesn’t. Better: Learn what matters and what doesn’t.
  115. First and foremost – Redundant phrase. You don’t need first and. Ex: He remains first and foremost a businessman. Better: He remains foremost a businessman.
  116. First conceived – Redundant phrase. You don’t need first. Ex: He first conceived the idea to start a business while he was a freshman in college. Better: He conceived the idea to start a business while he was a freshman in college.
  117. First of all – Redundant phrase. You don’t need of all. Ex: First of all, I didn’t tell him your name. Better: First, I didn’t tell him your name.
  118. Fly/flew through the air – Redundant phrase. You don’t need through the air. Ex: The bird flew through the air above us. Better: The bird flew above us.
  119. For all intents and purposes – Empty phrase. Don’t use it. Ex: For all intents and purposes, the job interview was a disaster. Better: The job interview was a disaster.
  120. Foreign imports – Redundant phrase. You don’t need foreign. Ex: He believes foreign imports hurt our country’s economy. Better: He believes imports hurt our country’s economy.
  121. Former graduate – Redundant phrase. You don’t need former. Ex: She was a former graduate of Harvard. Better: She was a graduate of Harvard. Best: She was a Harvard graduate.
  122. For the most part – Empty phrase. Don’t use it. Ex: For the most part, I enjoy editing. Better: I enjoy editing.
  123. For the purpose of – Empty phrase. Don’t use. Ex: I practice yoga for the purpose of improving my posture. Better: I practice yoga to improve my posture.
  124. Former veteran – Redundant phrase. You don’t need former. Ex: Uncle Bob was a former veteran of Vietnam. Better: Uncle Bob was a veteran of Vietnam. Best: Uncle Bob was a Vietnam veteran.
  125. Free gift – Redundant phrase. You don’t need free. Ex: You get a free gift if you complete the survey. Better: You get a gift if you complete the survey.
  126. Frequently – Imprecise Phrase. Use something more specific. Ex: I frequently wash my car. Better: I wash my car daily.
  127. Frozen ice – Redundant phrase. You don’t need frozen. Ex: He fell through the frozen ice. Better: He fell through the ice.
  128. Frozen tundra – Redundant phrase. You don’t need frozen. Ex: The frozen tundra was stretched out before them. Better: The tundra was stretched out before them.
  129. Fuse together – Redundant phrase. You don’t need of together. Ex: Fuse together the wires and continue with the next step. Better: Fuse the wires and continue with the next step.
  130. Future plans – Redundant phrase. You don’t need future. Ex: What are your future plans for college? Better: What are your plans for college?
  131. Gather together – Redundant phrase. You don’t need together. Ex: Gather together your things and leave. Better: Gather your things and leave.
  132. General public – Redundant phrase. You don’t need general. Ex: The portable bathrooms are for the general public. Better: The portable bathrooms are for the public.
  133. Get – Weak verbal filler. Cut it or use stronger verbs such as become, land, acquire, or retrieve. Ex: You need to get motivated. Better: Motivate yourself. Ex: How many clients did you get through starting a blog? Better: How many clients did you land through starting a blog?
  134. Get out of – Weak phrasal verb. Use exit. Ex: Get out of the building. Better: Exit the building.
  135. Give in – Weak phrasal verb. Use concede, or quit. Ex: Don’t give in. Better: Don’t quit.
  136. Go ahead and – Clunky expression. You don’t need it. Just start with the verb that follows this expression. Ex: I might have to go ahead and call the cops. Better: I might have to call the cops.
  137. Go back over – Clunky verb construction. Use reread, reexamine, or reevaluate. Ex: Let’s go back over the case files. Better: Let’s reexamine the case files.
  138. Go into – Clunky verb construction. Use enter; or visit, discuss, or explain. Ex: I will go into the school today. Better: I will visit the school today. Ex: I will go into detail about blogging during the lecture. Better: I will explain blogging during the lecture.
  139. Go on – Filler verb construction. Use continue. Ex: I could go on quoting famous people, but I won’t. Better: I could continue quoting famous people, but I won’t.
  140. Grateful every day – Filler phrase. Use eternally grateful. Ex: I’m grateful every day. Better: I’m eternally grateful.
  141. Grew/Grow/Grown in size – Redundant phrase. You don’t need in size. Ex: He grew in size since I last saw him. Better: He grew since I last saw him.
  142. Had a discussion concerning – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: We had a discussion concerning the proposed changes. Better: We discussed the proposed changes.
  143. Had/have a conversation (about) – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: We had a conversation about money. Better: We talked money.
  144. Harder than it has to be – Empty phrase. Use harder than necessary. Ex: You’re making it harder than it has to be. Better: You’re making it harder than necessary.
  145. Has/have to be – Clunky verb construction. Use must be. Ex: This has to be the right place. Better: This must be the right place. Ex: I have to be strong for her. Better: I must be strong for her.
  146. Have a need for – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: Do you have a need for me? Better: Do you need me?
  147. Heat up – Redundant phrase. You don’t need up. Ex: Heat up the soup. Better: Heat the soup.
  148. Helps keep – Clunky verb construction. Use keeps or another strong verb. Ex: Outlining helps keep your thoughts straight. Better: Outlining clarifies your thoughts.
  149. Here’s the thingColloquial expression. You can do without it.
  150. Hollow tube – Redundant phrase. You don’t need hollow. Ex: He slid down the hollow tube at the water park. Better: He slid down the tube at the water park.
  151. I feel (that) – Timid expression. If you believe something, just say it. Besides, you can’t “feel” an opinion. Ex: I feel that college isn’t that much fun. Better: College sucks!
  152. I believe (that) – Timid expression. If you believe something, just say it. Ex: I believe everyone should study music. Better: Everyone should study music.
  153. If you need to – Filler if clause. Rework the sentence. Ex: If you need to get more clients, you need to market yourself properly. Better: Market yourself properly and you’ll gain more clients.
  154. If you want/wish/would like to – Filler if clause. Rework the sentence. Ex: If you want to get good grades, listen to your teachers. Better: Listen to your teachers and you’ll get good grades.
  155. I might add – Filler phrase. Delete it. Ex: I’m an excellent writer, I might add. Better: I’m an excellent writer.
  156. Increase in strength – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: You’ll see an increase in strength with exercise. Better: Exercise will strengthen your body.
  157. Individual – Whenever possible and appropriate, use a simpler replacement, such as man, woman, or person. Ex: If you’re the type of individual who likes adventure, skydiving is for you. Better: If you’re an adventurous person, skydiving is for you.
  158. Initial – Whenever possible and appropriate, use a simpler replacement, such as first. Ex: My initial thought was to flee. Better: My first thought was to flee.”
  159. Integrate with each other – Redundant phrase. You don’t need with each other. Ex: The two systems must integrate with each other to share data. Better: The two systems must integrate to share data.
  160. Intensity – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: She has a high level of intensity. Better: She is intense.
  161. Intention is – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: My intention is to sleep all day. Better: I intend to sleep all day.
  162. In terms of – Filler phrase. Delete it. Ex: The job offer was tempting in terms of salary. Better: The job’s salary was tempting.
  163. In my opinion – Filler phrase. Delete it. Ex: In my opinion, blogging rocks! Better: Blogging rocks!
  164. In order to – Redundant phrase. You don’t need in order. Ex: In order to succeed, you must work hard. Better: To succeed, you must work hard.
  165. In spite of that fact that – Filler phrase. Use although. Ex: In spite of that fact that I’m rich, I don’t own a car. Better: Although I’m rich, I don’t own a car.
  166. In the event of – Filler phrase. Use if. Ex: In the event of someone pointing a gun at you, don’t resist. Better: If someone points a gun at you, don’t resist.
  167. In the event that – Filler phrase. Use if. Ex: In the event that you win, you’ll receive a trophy. Better: If you win, you’ll receive a trophy.
  168. In the process of – Filler phrase. Delete it. Ex: I’m in the process of quitting my job. Better: I’m quitting my job.
  169. Introduced a new – Redundant phrase. You don’t need a new. Ex: They introduced a new software upgrade. Better: They introduced a software upgrade.
  170. Introduced for the first time – Redundant phrase. You don’t need for the first time. Ex: The new owners were introduced for the first time at the company meeting. Better: The new owners were introduced at the company meeting.
  171. Investigation -Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: My investigation led to solving the case. Better: I investigated and solved the case.
  172. Is aware of – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: He is aware of his bad reputation. Better: He knows his reputation stinks.
  173. Is in love with – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: He is in love with Judy. Better: He loves Judy.
  174. Is interesting to me – Weak to-be verb construction. Revise it. Ex: Editing is interesting to me. Better: Editing interests me.
  175. It is / it’s – Grammar expletive that robs your sentence of strength. Avoid it. Ex: It’s two hours before the game starts. Better: The game starts in two hours.
  176. It seems like – Filler phrase and a grammar expletive. Delete it. Ex: It seems like you hate me. Better: Apparently you hate me.
  177. It would be – Grammar expletive that robs your sentence of strength. Avoid it. Ex: It would be polite if you said hi to her. Better: Be polite and say hi to her. Ex: It would be nice if we had more vacation time. Better: I wish we had more vacation time.
  178. Join together – Redundant phrase. You don’t need together. Ex: They join together as one. Better: They join as one.
  179. Joint collaboration – Redundant phrase. You don’t need joint. Ex: The joint collaboration between state and federal agencies failed. Better: The collaboration between state and federal agencies failed.
  180. Kneel down – Redundant phrase. You don’t need down. Ex: Kneel down before Zod. Better: Kneel before Zod.
  181. Knowledgeable expert – Redundant phrase. You don’t need knowledgeable. Ex: She’s a knowledgeable expert in her field. Better: She’s an expert in her field.
  182. Lacked the ability to – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences, such as wasn’t able to or couldn’t. Ex: He lacked the ability to read. Better: He couldn’t read.
  183. Later time – Redundant phrase. You don’t need time. Ex: Call me at a later time. Better: Call me later.
  184. Led to the destruction of – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: The fire led to the destruction of the town. Better: The fire destroyed the town.
  185. Lift up – Redundant phrase. You don’t need up. Ex: Lift up the weight. Better: Lift the weight.
  186. Live studio audience – Redundant phrase. You don’t need live. Ex: The band played to a live studio audience. Better: The band played to a studio audience.
  187. Made a decision to – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: He made a decision to leave. Better: He decided to leave.
  188. Made/make an announcement – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: He made an announcement that he was getting married. Better: He announced he was getting married.
  189. Made it to – Filler phrase and a grammar expletive. Use arrived, or reached. Ex: They made it to their destination. Better: They reached their destination.
  190. Made out of – Redundant phrase. You don’t need out. Ex: It was made out of wood. Better: It was made of wood.
  191. Major breakthrough – Redundant phrase. You don’t need major. Ex: The invention was a major breakthrough in nuclear technology. Better: The invention was a breakthrough in nuclear technology.
  192. Major feat – Redundant phrase. You don’t need major. Ex: Bending horseshoes is a major feat of strength few can match. Better: Bending horseshoes is a feat of strength few can match.
  193. May/might possibly – Redundant phrase. You don’t need possibly. Ex: She may possibly get the job. Better: She may get the job.
  194. Meaningful – Weak adjective. Delete it or redo your sentence. Ex: It was a meaningful gesture. Better: The gesture touched me.
  195. Meet together – Redundant phrase. You don’t need together. Ex: The two roads meet together at the traffic circle. Better: The two roads meet at the traffic circle.
  196. Meet with each other – Redundant phrase. You don’t need with each other. Ex: We met with each other to discuss her offer. Better: We met to discuss her offer.
  197. Merge together – Redundant phrase. You don’t need together. Ex: Our companies should merge together. Better: Our companies should merge.
  198. Mix together – Redundant phrase. You don’t need together. Ex: Oil and water don’t mix together. Better: Oil and water don’t mix.
  199. Most unique – Redundant phrase. You don’t need most. Ex: His poetry is most unique. Better: His poetry is unique.
  200. Movement – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: My movement startled the cat. Better: I moved and startled the cat.
  201. Mutual cooperation – Redundant phrase. You don’t need mutual. Ex: We need mutual cooperation to succeed. Better: We need cooperation to succeed.
  202. Mutual respect for each other – Redundant phrase. You don’t need for each other. Ex: My father and I have mutual respect for each other. Better: My father and I have mutual respect. Or: My father and I respect each other.
  203. Need to do to – Clunky verb construction. Use need to or must do. Ex: That’s all you need to do to succeed. Better: That’s all you must do to succeed.
  204. Never before – Redundant phrase. You don’t need before. Ex: Never before have I been so offended. Better: Never have I been so offended.
  205. New innovation – Redundant phrase. You don’t need new. Ex: It was a new innovation to content marketing. Better: It was an innovation to content marketing.
  206. New invention – Redundant phrase. You don’t need new. Ex: The new invention would change the world. Better: The invention would change the world.
  207. None at all – Redundant phrase. You don’t need at all. Ex: None at all survived. Better: None survived.
  208. Not honest – Avoid using negative constructions if possible. Try to say what something is instead. Ex: He is not honest. Better: He’s dishonest.
  209. Not important – Avoid using negative constructions if possible. Try to say what something is instead. Ex: It’s not important. Better: It’s unimportant/trivial/minor.
  210. Now pending – Redundant phrase. You don’t need now. Ex: Our request is now pending. Better: Our request is pending.
  211. Off of – Redundant phrase. You don’t need of. Ex: Get your plate off of the counter. Better: Get your plate off the counter.
  212. Offered a suggestion – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: I offered a suggestion of a place to eat. Better: I suggested a place to eat.
  213. On a regular basis – Filler phrase. Use regularly instead. Ex: I exercise on a regular basis. Better: I exercise regularly.
  214. Open up – Redundant phrase. You don’t need up (unless talking about someone revealing something to you). Ex: Open up the windows. Better: Open the windows.
  215. Originally created – Redundant phrase. You don’t need originally. Ex: Nobody truly knows when the world was originally created. Better: Nobody truly knows when the world was created.
  216. Outside in the yard – Redundant phrase. You don’t need outside. Ex: The kids are playing outside in the yard. Better: The kids are playing in the yard.
  217. Outside of – Redundant phrase. You don’t need of. Ex: He puked outside of the bar. Better: He puked outside the bar.
  218. Over exaggerate – Redundant phrase. You don’t need over. Ex: She tends to over exaggerate. Better: She tends to exaggerate.
  219. Palm of my hand – Redundant phrase. You don’t need of my hand. Ex: He placed the gun in the palm of my hand. Better: He placed the gun in my palm.
  220. Passing fad – Redundant phrase. You don’t need passing. Ex: Selfies are a passing fad. Better: Selfies are a fad.
  221. Past experience – Redundant phrase. You don’t need past. Ex: My past experiences are what made me who I am today. Better: My experiences are what made me who I am today.
  222. Penetrate into – Redundant phrase. You don’t need into. Ex: The bullet can easily penetrate into the wood. Better: The bullet can easily penetrate the wood.
  223. Period of time – Redundant phrase. You don’t need of time. Ex: Dinosaurs ruled during that period of time. Better: Dinosaurs ruled during that period.
  224. Personalfriend – Redundant phrase. You don’t need personal. Ex: He’s a personal friend of mine. Better: He’s a friend of mine.
  225. Personalopinion – Redundant phrase. You don’t need personal. Ex: It’s just my personal opinion. Better: It’s just my opinion.
  226. Pick and choose – Redundant phrase. You don’t need and choose. Ex: Pick and choose your friends wisely. Better: Pick your friends wisely.
  227. Pick out – Filler phrase. Use choose instead. Ex: Pick out the right word to use. Better: Choose the right word to use.
  228. Pick up on – Filler phrase. Use notice, or sense instead. Ex: He didn’t pick up on the subtle nuances. Better: He didn’t notice the subtle nuances.
  229. Play up – Filler phrase. Use emphasize instead. Ex: You need to play up your best features. Better: You need to emphasize your best features.
  230. Plunge down – Redundant phrase. You don’t need down. Ex: The stock market plunged down today. Better: The stock market plunged today.
  231. Point out – Filler phrase. Use emphasize, say, mention, or state instead. Ex: Let me point out the rules first. Better: Let me mention the rules first.
  232. Polar opposites – Redundant phrase. You don’t need polar. Ex: The two friends are polar opposites. Better: The two friends are opposites.
  233. Postpone until later – Redundant phrase. You don’t need until later. Ex: You should postpone your appointment until later. Better: You should postpone your appointment.
  234. Pouring down rain – Redundant phrase. You don’t need down. Ex: The pouring down rain ruined the picnic. Better: The pouring rain ruined the picnic.
  235. Preheat – Redundant phrase. You don’t need pre. Ex: Preheat the oven before you prepare your ingredients. Better: Heat the oven before you prepare your ingredients.
  236. Present time – Redundant phrase. You don’t need time. Ex: He’s not available at the present time. Better: He’s not available at present.
  237. Protest against – Redundant phrase. You don’t need against. Ex: You must protest against tyranny. Better: You must protest tyranny.
  238. Put off – Filler phrase. Use postpone, delay, or stall instead. Ex: He put off his dentist appointment. Better: He postponed his dentist appointment.
  239. Put together – Filler phrase. Use assemble, build, or built instead. Ex: They put together the child’s toy. Better: They assembled the child’s toy.
  240. Raise up – Redundant phrase. You don’t need up Ex: Raise up the flag. Better: Raise the flag.
  241. Reaction – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: My reaction caused everyone to be surprised. Better: The way I reacted surprised everyone.
  242. Really – Filler modifier Try to do without, or think of a more powerful word you are modifying. Ex: I’m really hungry. Better: I’m starving.
  243. Reason why – Redundant phrase. You don’t need why. Ex: I’ll never know the reason why she left. Better: I’ll never know the reason she left. Or: I’ll never know why she left.
  244. Refer back – Redundant phrase. You don’t need back. Ex: You’ll have to refer back to the instructions. Better: You’ll have to refer to the instructions.
  245. Refusal – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: His refusal to leave forced me to call the cops. Better: He refused to leave, so I called the cops.
  246. Reply back – Redundant phrase. You don’t need back. Ex: Reply back to this email to get the special offer. Better: Reply to this email to get the special offer.
  247. Resulted in a decrease (an increase) – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: The mandate resulted in an increase in taxes. Better: The mandate increased taxes.
  248. Revert back – Redundant phrase. You don’t need back. Ex: Revert back to the saved file if you experience problems. Better: Revert to the saved file if you experience problems.
  249. Safehaven – Redundant phrase. You don’t need safe. Ex: That area is a safe haven for smugglers. Better: That area is a haven for smugglers.
  250. Same exact – Redundant phrase. You don’t need exact. Ex: I have the same exact phone cover as you. Better: I have the same phone cover as you.
  251. Seriousdanger – Redundant phrase. You don’t need serious. Ex: You’re in serious danger. Better: You’re in danger.
  252. Shock – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: What he revealed caused a shock to his family. Better: What he revealed shocked his family.
  253. Short – Weak Adjective. Replace with something more precise. Ex: Bob was a short man. Better: Bob was four feet tall.
  254. Show up – Weak verb construction. Use appear, enter, visit, or arrive instead. Ex: If you show up early, call me. Better: If you arrive early, call me.
  255. Situation – Vague noun. Be more specific if possible. Ex: The situation got worse. Better: The riot got worse.
  256. Small – Weak Adjective. Replace with something more precise. Ex: My desk is small. Better: My desk is only three feet wide.
  257. So – Unnecessary intensifier. Delete. Ex: It was so delightful. Better: It was delightful.
  258. Spell it out in detail – Redundant phrase. You don’t need in detail. And you can use define, or explain instead. Ex: Did you spell it out in detail for him? Better: Did you spell it out for him? Or: Did you explain it to him?
  259. Spend – If this word is followed by an ing verb, modify your sentence. Ex: How many hours do you spend writing each day? Better: How many hours do you write each day?
  260. Start off/out – Redundant phrase. You don’t need off/out. Ex: Let me start off by saying thanks. Better: Let me start by saying thanks.
  261. Starts to – Redundant phrase. You don’t need to. Ex: If it starts to rain, close the window. Better: If it starts raining, close the window.
  262. Stillpersist – Redundant phrase. You don’t need still. Ex: If symptoms still persist, call your doctor. Better: If symptoms persist, call your doctor.
  263. Stillremains – Redundant phrase. You don’t need still. Ex: Even after all the bombing raids, the building still remains. Better: Even after all the bombing raids, the building remains.
  264. Suddenimpulse – Redundant phrase. You don’t need sudden. Ex: I had a sudden impulse for chocolate cake. Better: I had an impulse for chocolate cake.
  265. Surprise – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: Her actions were the cause of his surprise. Better: Her actions surprised him.
  266. Surrounded on all sides – Redundant phrase. You don’t need on all sides. Ex: They were surrounded on all sides by enemies. Better: They were surrounded by enemies. Or: Enemies surrounded them.
  267. The first step is to – Filler phrase. Use first, or start by instead. Ex: The first step is to realize you have a problem. Better: Start by realizing you have a problem.
  268. Take alook at – Redundant phrase & Nominalization. You don’t need take a. Ex: Take a look at this photo. Better: Look at this photo.
  269. Take action (to) – Filler verb construction. Use act instead. Ex: You must take action to resolve the matter now. Better: You must act to resolve the matter now.
  270. Takes up/Taking up – Filler verb construction. Use consume instead. Ex: If blog chores take up too much of your time, outsource them. Better: If blog chores consume too much of your time, outsource them.
  271. Talk about – Filler verb construction. Use discuss instead. Ex: Let’s talk about sensory words. Better: Let’s discuss sensory words
  272. Tall – Weak Adjective. Replace with something more precise. Ex: The building is tall. Better: The building is six hundred feet tall.
  273. Temper tantrum – Redundant phrase. You don’t need temper. Ex: The kid is having a temper tantrum. Better: The kid is having a tantrum.
  274. The (most) important thing is to – Filler expression. Delete it. Ex: The most important thing is to remain positive. Better: Remain positive.
  275. The reason – Filler phrase. Delete it. Ex: The reason you hate me is because I’m beautiful. Better: You hate me because I’m beautiful.
  276. There’s / There is – Grammar expletive that robs your sentence of strength. Avoid it. Ex: There’s time to change your mind. Better: You have time to change your mind.
  277. There are / There were – Grammar expletive that robs your sentence of strength. Avoid it. Ex: There are some bloggers who seem to have all the luck. Better: Some bloggers seem to have all the luck.
  278. There will be – Grammar expletive that robs your sentence of strength. Avoid it. Ex: There will be some people who fail the class. Better: Some people will fail the class.
  279. This is a (insert noun here) that – Filler construction. Use this (insert noun here). Ex: This is a subject that students love. Better: Students love this subject.
  280. Time and time again – Filler phrase. Use repeatedly instead. Ex: You will see it time and time again. Better: You will see it repeatedly.
  281. Took up – Filler phrase. Use consumed or occupied instead. Ex: It took up all my time and energy. Better: It consumed all my time and energy.
  282. Transformation – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). His transformation into an athlete caused shock among his peers. Ex: He transformed into an athlete and shocked his peers.
  283. Try to figure out – Filler phrase. Use determine, guess or decide instead. Ex: Try to figure out what you want in life. Better: Decide what you want in life.
  284. Two equalhalves – Redundant phrase. You don’t need two equal. Ex: Cut the fruit in two equal halves. Better: Cut the fruit in halves.
  285. Umm – Just seeing if you were paying attention. You know not to use umm, uhm, and their awkward, placeholder brethren in your writing, right? The user of crutch words like these are common in public speaking, but they shouldn’t be anywhere near your list of possible word choices when writing. (And for you public speakers out there, Toastmasters is a godsend if you want to remove filler sound from your speech.)
  286. Utilize – Use simpler replacement, such as use. Ex: Utilize your time wisely. Better: Use your time wisely.
  287. Very – Another common filler word. More appropriately, “very” is a filler modifier. So, use a stronger word that very is modifying. Ex: I was very scared. Better: I was petrified.
  288. Went back over – Filler phrase. Use reread or reevaluated instead. Ex: They went back over the case files. Better: They reread the case files.
  289. When it comes to – Filler phrase. Rewrite or delete the phrase. Ex: When it comes to writing blog posts, you must choose headlines wisely. Better: When creating blog posts, you must choose headlines wisely. Best: Choose headlines wisely when you create a blog post.
  290. Which is – Filler phrase you can live without. Ex: Chocolate, which is my favorite flavor, is also the name of my cat. Better: Chocolate, my favorite flavor, is also the name of my cat.
  291. Who is – Filler phrase you can live without. Ex: His brother, who is a doctor, lives in Washington. Better: His brother, the doctor, lives in Washington.
  292. Will be different – Filler to-be verb construction. Revise. Ex: Each instance will be different. Better: Each instance will differ.
  293. Within that time frame – Redundant phrase. You don’t need frame. Ex: You must sign the paperwork within that time frame. Better: You must sign the paperwork within that time.
  294. With reference to – Filler phrase. Use regarding instead. Ex: With reference to what you said earlier, I don’t agree. Better: Regarding what you said earlier, I don’t agree.
  295. Write down – Redundant phrase. You don’t need down. Ex: Write down your name on this sheet of paper. Better: Write your name on this sheet of paper.
  296. You can – Filler verb helpers. Delete or revise. Ex: You can visit Oz by following the Yellow Brick Road. Better: To visit Oz, follow the Yellow Brick Road.
  297. You’re going to – Filler phrase. Use you’ll instead. Ex: You’re going to learn about writing in class today. Better: You’ll learn about writing in class today.
  298. You’re going to have/need to – Filler phrase. Use you’ll have to, or you must instead. Ex: You’re going to need to exercise each day. Better: You’ll need to exercise each day.
Want a handy, downloadable PDF containing all 298 flabby, unnecessary filler words and phrases you must avoid in your writing? Click here.

It’s Time to Use Fewer Filler Words (& Tone Flabby Writing)

So there you have it – 298 common fillers you should banish from your language today.

That’s nearly three hundred ways to tone and trim your prose.

But powerful though this list is, it won’t work if you simply read it and move on.

You see, concise writing isn’t magic, it’s work!

And just as cockroaches quickly reappear when lights go out, the use of filler words and filler phrases will soon creep back into your writing…

Unless you make it part of your editing process to find them.

So bookmark this post and use it as a cheat sheet to silence verbal static.

And next time you think you’re ready to click Publish, go back and weed out these sludgy, attention-killing little words

Your writing will be more powerful, your readers’ attention will soar, and the money-making potential of your blog expands.

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Shane Arthur

Shane Arthur is a former copy editor for Jon Morrow’s kick-butt Guest Blogging Certification Program and a proud evangelist for Jon's Content Marketing Certification Program, which teaches people just like you how to become freelance writers. Go here to learn more about it.

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Written by Shane Arthur

Shane Arthur is a former copy editor for Jon Morrow’s kick-butt Guest Blogging Certification Program and a proud evangelist for Jon's Content Marketing Certification Program, which teaches people just like you how to become freelance writers. Go here to learn more about it.

197 thoughts on “298 Filler Words & Phrases That Rob Your Writing of Its Power”

  1. Hi Shane,

    Wow! This is quite a list. I’m sad to say I use quite a few of these words in my writing.

    I’ve gotten better, thanks to pointers from Henneke at Enchanting Marketing, but it’s still a challenge removing all “filler” words from my writing.

    Great resource, Shane. Thanks!

    – Kevin

    Reply
  2. Excellent post. However, I disagree with 2 and 3. This is because sometimes you need your writing to carry the emotions and the emphasis that go with a particular sentence. For example, saying Reading is essential for writing may not be verbally equivalent to Reading is absolutely essential for writing because the latter conveys more emotions and emphasis (body language that went with the sentence); that reading is the single most important determinant of quality and effective writing.

    So, sometimes “redundant” words are needed to convey emphasis which written speak can otherwise not convey as.

    Reply
    • @Rafay (and everyone else): Feel free to disagree with any of these suggestions, as Language follows rules; it doesn’t follow orders. You know your audience better than any opinionated blog post ever could, so go with what you feel is best. 🙂

      Reply
      • Hi Shane, thanks for your reply. Perhaps, what I had intended to say was not that I disagree, but rather, to inquire about your thoughts on this. I have heard the advice to avoid redundancy in writing. Blog posts as well as books on managerial communication. However, then what would be the best way to convey the emphasis, emotion and the body language that goes with a particular sentence (other than using power words)? Thanks for your reply and advice.

      • @Rafay: Colloquial phrases (even if redundant) do have their place in bonding with readers. Writing suggestions try to remove anything that would get in the way of the magic of writing. So, writers must decide what to agree with and what to disagree with — this writing thing is an art and a little bit of magic, after all (ever write something that appeared to write itself, and you’re smiling from ear to ear?). 🙂

      • Hi Shane,

        Great post. My editor on wordpress does remind me of some of these, but I’m going to print out this list because I know that I’m guilty for using many of these! I have a few that always get my hackles up.
        1. “uber” (utterly pretentious) [I hope that it’s alright to say “utterly”] :]
        2. “it begs the question” (does it?)
        and this one always gets my hackles up. Unfortunately, it’s become an extremely popular filler, both in oral and written speech.
        3. “having said that.” (We used to say, “however,”)
        There is also the common misuse of words, like “your” for “you’re” or saying women when you are referring to one woman. (or vice versa).

    • @Lorenzo (and Lauren): Haha! This post kicked my butt. I felt overwhelmed while creating it. Each time I thought I was done with it, I found a new entry that I had to add. And as you can see from Lauren’s comment, we may have to add more.

      Reply
      • Hi Shane, j
        Just wondering why you used “done” in the sentence that reads “Each time I thought I was done…” I am always correcting my grandkids when they use “done” in this context because I was taught to use “finish” when speaking of a human action. “Done” applies to meat and baked goods, etc. Your thoughts?

  3. Wow there’s some serious flab in them there words. Thanks for sharing Mr Arthur. I feel considerably lighter after having looked at it!

    That’s going into my list of indispensable resources to write killer posts (right next to the 317 Power Words post)

    *Opens secret vault where he hides his best writing secrets … *

    🙂

    Reply
  4. No more major breakthroughs?

    No more foreign imports?

    Sometimes English makes me sad 🙁

    But I guess it’s time to lose the extra flab!

    Reply
  5. Love this and it reminds me of Stephen King’s advice from On Writing, “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”

    Reply
      • Hi Shane,

        I’ve been in a funk (and blogging slump) lately and have stayed off of the radar. 🙂

        I’m feeling burned out with what I’m doing because I’ve put a lot of time, effort and money into it and don’t have the success I thought or was told I would have. Every day I question if it’s time for me to do something else. What that is, I don’t know. I may have an idea, but I get stuck on “What does it look like?” and “How can I do this?” :/

        I’m on another soul searching journey. o.O

    • Three years ago, I decided to compile a list of writing tips I’ve read on various sites. The tips that fascinated me the most were the examples of redundant phrases. That branched off into other examples of words and phrases that (again, in my opinion) were clunky. I believe that if you can say something using one word as opposed to three words, you may as well go with the simpler version to satisfy readers who are busier and less patient than ever.

      Reply
  6. I don’t think we have ever bookmarked a specific blog post…until today. We will SURELY return to it again and again. We even plan to use it to help our teens with their writing too. Thank you!

    Reply
  7. This is a fantastic list. Thanks so much for taking the time to compile and share. I’m going to refer to this a lot. In my fiction writing, I’m always on the lookout for ways to tighten my writing. So many great ideas here.

    Reply
  8. Shane,

    Superb list! Thank you for creating a go-to resource. Bookmarking it!

    And here are few more of my pet-peeves:

    “Literally”
    “Very/pretty unique”
    “Reason… Because”

    Sometimes bloggers (myself included) forget that although it is OK to be conversational, it doesn’t mean you have to stuff words.

    Thanks for the share!

    Tweeting it out in a bit. 🙂

    Pooja

    Reply
  9. What a great list. I’ve got a few to work on, but not bad. Going to get my “find” and look for them. I think it was Hemingway that said replace every “very” with the word damn. If it works you can keep the “very.”

    The only caveat I would add, would be when writing dialogue. Realistic dialogue sounds stilted if we don’t write the way we speak, and we use a bit of redundancies when we speak 🙂

    GREAT list. Thanks Jon!

    Reply
    • Yeah, Hemingway or some other old dead dude since people don’t say “damn” anymore. Damn never sounds right in contemporary conversation. It’s either “very” or something way less polite, ha ha.

      And I agree 100% with your caveat about dialogue. There is no conversational dialogue without redundancies.

      Reply
    • I believe you are referring to something William Allen White, a famous newspaper editor of the early 20th century, is reported to have said: “Never use the word, ‘very.’ It is the weakest word in the English language; doesn’t mean anything. If you feel the urge of ‘very’ coming on, just write the word, ‘damn,’ in the place of ‘very.’ The editor will strike out the word, ‘damn,’ and you will have a good sentence.” This quote is wrongly attributed to Mark Twain all over the Internet.

      Reply
  10. Wow… I am guilty of many of the nominalisation examples.

    Thanks for a great resource.

    My love for writing started when I worked in a company that I was the designated letter writer to angry customers. I guess I must have got into the habit of making writing as wordy and explain-ey as possible. I now see I picked up some bad habits. Great to have this kind of resource I tell ya.
    Thanks again!

    Reply
  11. Great list. My father was an editor at McGraw-Hill. His favorite was, “repeat it again.” Better still, “repeat it again one more time.”

    I must hand it to you for the cockroach reference. No flabby writing there!

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • @Winifred: That such a great story. I bet writing term papers in school was different for you, huh? Did you get a ton of red ink on your papers from your Dad? What a great resource to have!

      Reply
  12. Honestly, just the other day I was thinking, ” I wonder when Shane’s gonna post that epic list of flabby words he promised…”

    And here it is, and it’s epic indeed 🙂

    I think I already avoid most of these, but I’m definitely adding some new ones to my checklist.

    One question though…

    Someone — don’t remember who — once told me it’s better to use ” discover” rather than “learn”, because nobody likes learning. So I wondered if “discover” might be an even better substitute for “find out”. Thoughts?

    (Gotta admit though, the guy who told me this was kinda nutty 😉 )

    Reply
    • @Robert: I’m glad I wasn’t drinking coffee when I read that last sentence. Laughed aloud quite hard on that one. Thank you. Keep up the great work with the guestblogging course.

      Reply
  13. Good list overall, but I’m perplexed by your choice of “approximately” instead of “about.” To me that’s no different than favoring “utilize” instead of “use,” and you admonish that choice in item #285. More broadly, this list itself is flabby in that it doesn’t precisely make the point. Some of the examples are indeed flabby phrases, such as “in order to” and “in spite of the fact that,” but many of them are just mindlessly repetitive expressions (“armed gunman”) or grammatical errors (“off of.”) Nonetheless, you’ve succeeded in raising awareness of weak writing, so I commend you for that.

    Reply
  14. @Michael: I understand your point regarding #1. I believe I found that one on a page listing advice for fiction writing, but I can’t specifically remember where right now. And now that you mention it, I have to revisit that one and review why “approximately” was listed as a better choice. I agree with the being more specific part though).

    And, yes, some of these points will carry more weight than others (how often will we be writing about gunmen anyhow, right?) 🙂 Thanks.

    Reply
  15. Never fails to amaze me how lazy some writing is even by the most popular bloggers. My favorite is “very.” Editing teacher said if you’re not willing to use damned in the text, then you shouldn’t use very. One that irks me most is the use of over when more than is meant. This is not on the list but should be added. John Bremner’s Word on Words is a great resource for these kinds of rules and suggestions.

    Reply
  16. Thank you and well done, Shane.

    I’m rather partial to a flabby word of two – they go with my flabby mind and body – but I shall try to be strict and lean in the future, striking down intruders when I edit if not when I write.

    Thanks for the, oh so useful, reminder.

    Reply
  17. You can add “Hopefully” to the list. We don’t know who is hoping. Better to say, “I hope,” and it’s two syllables instead of three.

    But your list is great!

    Reply
  18. Love, love, love this list! (is that flabby enough for you?)

    The most important thing in this article—oops! Strike that.

    “Just as cockroaches quickly reappear when lights go out, these words and phrases will soon creep back into your writing.”

    Your list will be a standard part of my editing routine.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  19. Hi Shane,

    Thank you for the excellent list. I’m not surprised that it took three years to compile this many tips. We see (and use) so many of them in our everyday speaking and writing that it’s hard to spot them.

    I have only one quibble. I think “is in love with” and “loves” have different meanings. “In love with” implies a special love for someone with whom you are, or wish to be, in a serious relationship, whereas “love” can be felt for many people you care deeply about. I love my spouse, parents, siblings, and many close friends. I am in love with only my husband.

    “I love my boss” most likely means that you really enjoy working for this person, whereas “I’m in love with my boss” will probably result in an HR situation.

    Thanks again for the excellent post!

    Reply
    • @Dave: Thank you. I’ll have to stew on that one a bit. May need to adjust. (Which I don’t mind doing. My list actually had 390 items, but I felt some weren’t strong enough. So I don’t mind cutting entries if need be.)

      Reply
  20. Shane what an awesome post and list. It’s great having a bit of insight into the magical way you seemed to edit my guest posts in Jon’s guest blogging course and make them amazing. I will print and bookmark!

    Reply
  21. I’m an English writing consultant-educator (for post-secondary students) and workshop presenter (for adult professionals), and I oft remind students and clients that they sound downright silly when they use phrases such as “end result” (I wonder what a “beginning result” would look like?) and many of the “padded” phrases Jon offers here. An especially ridiculous phrasing (I must add) worms its way into sentences that make even semi-educated folks cringe: “I thought to myself.” (I usually circle the “to myself,” and ask–in the margin of their written work–“as opposed to?”) Gosh. Unless the writer is in a sci-film (for example), who ELSE would a person think…TO? Yes: Silly. Absurd. —>Thanks, Jon, for reminding your readers about the padding that adds no meaning to English sentences–and how verbs function in English. I’ll send many clients to your blog. ~Roxana

    Reply
  22. Shane,

    Awesome post and list. Many thingd to learn form your post. I will print and bookmark! Your list will be a standard part of my editing routine.Again thankd you so much for a wonderful post 🙂

    Reply
  23. One more to add: You’ve got or you have got, as in “You’ve got a special smile.” Get rid of the got. “You have a special smile.” I’m not sure why we sneak that in there if the first place.

    Maybe we should get rid of in the first place, too. I’m not sure why we sneak that in there. 😉

    There were a could I might disagree with on the list, depending on the usage and our voice. We need to keep a bit of style to express ourselves. If you’re more of a Hemmingway or journalist, great, but the world still need a few Faulkners and Rushdies. I know blogs can’t be effusive novels, but I do like conversational prose.

    So I’m okay with a few extra words if they sound authentic. His transformation (as he preheats the oven?) isn’t going to rob anyone’s writing of all its power, in my opinion. On that note, we might have left “all its” out of this post’s headline to tighten it up a bit. 🙂 But it’s not a deal breaker… it’s a really great list!

    Reply
    • “The reason why” is the one that makes me cringe. I hear TV and radio “journalists” use it all the time and I want to slap them vigorously around the face! Walter Cronkite would never have made this blunder. These passive media are a primary source of info for those who don’t want to or don’t have time to read, and sadly, if people hear it on TV, then it must be right! Right?

      Reply
  24. I am a fan. Great tutorial!
    Re: Edit until your words are crisdp and clear. Good advice
    I want to print it out. I cannot read what I print out.
    I have a good Canon printer and good eyesight.
    I suggest updating print set upfeatures to allow this on printed pages.
    Please.

    Reply
    • @Christian: I paid someone many moons ago to write a MS Word macro for me that found and highlighted all these words. It was neat, but as new versions of Word came out, the marco didn’t work correctly any longer, and my computer crashed anyhow, so I forgot about it. I’ll pass on the idea.

      Reply
    • @Christian: I was wondering when someone would suggest automation to help identify these flabby words! I’m a software entrepreneur, and something like that shouldn’t cost very much at all to build. Let me know if it’s something you’re interested in. Same goes for you, @Shane, and anyone else reading this.

      Reply
  25. Excellent tips for my clients, Shane, but do you have only one reader? That’s what you imply in the following sentence: “It’s a never-ending battle for your reader’s attention.” The plural possessive, i.e., readers’, would have been the correct word. 😉 Even great writers need editors and proofreaders.

    Reply
  26. I love this list, but it totally overwhelms me. I can’t think of any practical way I can use the list without spending hours reviewing every article I write. I wish there was a software that would automatically review my written material, and flag these phrases for me. (Hint: can someone create this for us?)

    Reply
    • Totally possible, @Debra! I’d love to have this kind of software myself. If I find enough interest among bloggers I’ll even build it! If you’re still interested I’d love to get more detail on how you’d like it to work.

      Reply
  27. Less is often more Shane and you just proved a point!

    I reckon I use a lot of the flabby words and phrases so this post is going right to the top of my bookmarks. I’ve started using the Hemingway app which has helped to eliminate some of them but it’s always good to have a huge list like this one to refer to.

    Reply
  28. I have a question regarding your admonition of the phrase “added bonus.” Would it be alright to use this term when referring to an actual added bonus? For example, “Sharon enjoyed her prize vacations every year, but her pay raise this year was an added bonus.” Would it be better to use the word “extra” or would “added” be alright in this instance? Thank you! Love your tips.

    Reply
    • Hi SOL Train Learning,

      I’ll be waiting to see what Shane says about this one. I respect his opinion and style. This list he’s given us is like a mini-Bible for grammarians. But I get where you’re going with this question since the vacation could be considered a type of bonus which makes the pay raise an “added bonus.” I don’t know. I think you could take some creative license here.

      Shane?

      Reply
      • My favorite quote applies here too. Language follows rules; it doesn’t follow orders. One could argue either way here, but I’d use “unexpected bonus.” You could even say “icing on the cake.” But you know better than an opinionated blog post what is best for your readers. 😉

  29. Wow Shane! Brilliant! This list will be a part of my editing process, for sure!

    Reading this post and also reading other books on writing made me realize this: too often, we use many words to express the simplest thing.

    And writing with less words, but more accurate ones, makes the message clearer for us, and for our readers!

    Thanks so much Shane!

    Reply
  30. The use of “momentarily” by US newsreaders mystifies overseas viewers. Eg,
    “We’ll be back momentarily”. If only! What they mean is “we’ll be back with you in a moment”, not they’ll be back for a split second only.
    Also, as the language usage becomes more dumbed down each year, meanings change so that the wrong meaning rapidly becomes the new (right) meaning.
    Eg. “begs the question” now means “requires you to ask the question the newscaster is about to say” whereas it originally meant that it “beggared” the original question, that is, nullified or made it irrelevant or redundant (made it poorer).
    “Awesome” and “weird” underwent transitions in that their current usage has robbed the of their original power, thereby permitting them to be used as descriptions for events or things that are decidely un-awesome or un-weird.

    Reply
  31. Language is dynamic and evolves in response to our struggles, playfulness and aspirations to articulate complexity.
    Sometimes we are flabby and get things muddled but then we are all flawed. We learn from our little language misdemeanours but as long as our aim is the courtesy of communicating as clearly as we can to others, then we can continue without becoming so inhibited that we dare not reach out at all.
    I shall continue to babble to the world, undoubtedly being flabby but knowing that there are many friends out there who will kindly correct me because they are motivated by a wish for me to be the best that I can.
    Thank you everyone for your contributions.

    Reply
    • Oh Zara, I love what you have to say here. It puts a smile on my face because it’s so true. I wish more people would just “care” about what they say and how they use words. I wish they were more open to a constructive critique.

      My mother-in-law used to use two words that drove me nuts: ironical and irregardless. After my husband and his sisters and I all corrected her as diplomatically as possible for many years, we finally gave up after she kept saying “I know but that’s how I learned it and that’s how I like to say it.”

      I too, will continue to babble–flawed though I may be–and know that friends will correct me and that I’m not as perfect as I would like to be.

      Now, I must move down one post and ask Clemence a few sumpin-sumpins (contrived and colloquial; don’t slap me) because I have never used the word “concision” the way he has.

      Keep babbling!

      Claire

      Reply
      • My dear babbling-twin, Claire, Thank you! And thanks to your mother-in-law, my late mum, George W. and other courageous souls who negotiate the minefield that is English, stake their very individual claims, jiggle our puritanical buttons and thus enliven our lives. (P.S. I was eating breakfast when I read your responses to Clemence. I was doing all right until I got to “circumcision” – my jaw dropped so low that my fork lost its way to my mouth. At least I woke up!) Kindest regards, twin.

  32. Interesting, and some food for thought. However, good writing is all about concision of phrase. A competant editor and writer would do this instinctively and would not need a checklist. It’s like expecting a doctor to talk to their patient with a distracting textbook in one hand. Hardly inspires confidence in their ability.

    Reply
    • Hey there Clemence,
      I had to look up “concision” because I thought it was archaic and haven’t seen it except in Ye Olde English. But dictionary.com does list it as a noun meaning “quality, brevity..” However, the #2 definition is “archaic for “a cutting up or off; mutilation” which then gives the use of the word in your context, the opposite effect. Concision of phrase=mutilation of phrase.

      I also wanted to pass along the following info, also from dictionary.com. Not at all what I expected but I thought I’d share:

      Gr. katatome; i.e., “mutilation”), a term used by Paul contemptuously of those who were zealots for circumcision (Phil. 3:2). Instead of the warning, “Beware of the circumcision” (peritome) i.e., of the party who pressed on Gentile converts the necessity of observing that ordinance, he says, “Beware of the concision.”

      I’m a sucker for etymology, so….

      By the way, in keeping with the constructive critique I described to Zara above, I wonder why your spell check did not catch the word “competant” which should be “competent.” So maybe a competent writer/editor DOES indeed, need a checklist.

      Your last sentence references “their ability” but I would use “his” ability since the ability refers to a single doctor. To others reading this, what’s your opinion? Getting too picky? I do that a lot! (I refuse to write the word “alot.”)

      That’s all for now.

      Blabberingly yours,
      Claire

      Reply
      • Thanks, Claire – what a thoughtful dissection of my comments! Concision of phrase did indeed mean brevity in that particular context. And I actually think that archaic words can sometimes be rather wonderful to use, so will take that as a compliment.

        I would never rely on a spell check to catch errors, but it just goes to show that a usually competent editor does have off days (unforgivable as that was! I blame myself entirely, you’ll be pleased to hear). I prefer to make statements gender neutral, though I do agree it is not ideal, ‘their’ is at least preferable to the clumsy ‘his/her’. I would not say ‘his’ for a doctor, as that’s as presumptuous as saying ‘she’ for a nurse. Anyway, thanks for responding and for keeping me on my toes (I’m a she, by the way!).

      • All of you posting here are so creative and sometimes, really funny. I am enjoying being a part of this group. Just wanted to say thanks for your input and keep writing. Zara, a special shout out to you, your mum and Dubya! And Clemence, I love your name and my apologies for the gender goof. Peace and love!

  33. Great list! I’m surprised the word “that” didn’t make the list. I find myself constantly overusing it. Ex. I’m surprised that the word “that” didn’t make the list. Nuff said!

    Reply
  34. Okay I loved the 297 phrases & words that I should not be using in my writing. I take my writing seriously on my blog so this list will come in handy. Thank goodness for print friendly printer and pdf creator app because now I have this great list in a pdf, printed and by my side as I write my next blog post.

    Reply
  35. Shane, thanks so much for this! I didn’t have a chance to read it last week, I’m so glad I came back to it now. Excellent! 🙂
    Will keep it handy to read through. Each time a few more of these should stick in my brain.

    Reply
  36. “Caused a drop in X – Nominalization (wordiness introduced when someone uses the noun equivalent of a verb or adjective). Use the verb or adjective form for more powerful sentences. Ex: Pay cuts caused a drop in morale within our company. Better: Pay cuts demoralized our company.” Your “Better” example isn’t. A company is a thing and cannot, therefore, be demoralized. A real “Better” would be, “Paycuts demoralized our personnel.”

    Reply
  37. Here’s another common and redundant term: hot water heater.
    It’s simply a water heater. It heats cold water and shuts off when it’s hot.

    Reply
  38. Shane, I would like your permission to include this list with other examples in my forthcoming book, “Self-editing your Novel.” I hope to publish sometime in late October. Please reply to: Allegory60@gmail.com

    thanks!

    Reply
  39. Wow, Shane–this list is much more comprehensive than so many similar lists I’ve seen. Way to dig deep, guy! What a valuable reference. Thanks for posting these golden nuggets of verbosity. 🙂

    Reply
  40. Thanks Shane for the insights. I am a victim of most mistakes you’ve mentioned. I bookmarked the article two months ago,but when i saw the article in my mail today,i decided to refresh my mind. To add on to the redundant words overspeeding eliminate over and simply write speeding.

    Reply
  41. I’m terrified to write a comment in case I say something redundant, but here goes.
    This article is a welcome neutron bomb thrown at the redundant writing we see everywhere. I cringe when I hear our TV newsreaders in New Zealand say a vehicle ‘reversed back’. I suspect it’s because they’re insecure and feel more words add gravitas. They also use ‘infer’ when they mean ‘imply’. No doubt this is for the same reason, or perhaps they think it sounds more sophisticated.

    Reply
    • @Jonathan, if you want terror, write a post on proofreading or editing! Haha! If you make one mistake, people will let you know about it in the comments. 🙂

      Reply
  42. Shane, you nailed it. These words have so gotten in our way. At a point, I was looking for a list like this to weed out unnecessary words from my work then suddenly, I landed here and there you got it all laid out… I’m bookmarking this page already. And I’m going to read it again and again. Thanks Shane!

    Reply
  43. Shane,

    Wow wow wow, what an epic list of words. At first, I didn’t know what to expect but after I read through your post, I have to agree on most, if not every words you mentioned.

    At the end of the day, I guess it’s about distilling your message to its’ essence. Some new writers may think fancy, long phrasing make them sound smart. But the opposite is true, simple (and genuine) is best.

    As a blogger, I love editing the most. Cutting off words from my posts is kind of enlightening to me too. It’s like discovering a gem in your own garden.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Cheers,
    Anh

    Reply
    • @Anh, editing gets in the blood. I struggle to turn off my editor brain to enjoy a good fiction book. I have to actively tell myself not to edit while I read. 🙂

      Reply
  44. It’s amazing just how many redundant words and phrases litter my writing sometimes. It wasn’t until my novels got red penned that I realized the extent of it. It helped that the words and phrases were highlighted, which made me aware of them so I didn’t repeat them in the future (or try not to). One thing is sure though, a piece can be made so much better–so much tighter–when the fat is trimmed. Great post!

    Reply
  45. Hi Shane. Thanks for sharing the list. It looks like most of your phrases either contain redundant words or passive voice. I recently switched to Yoast SEO for my blog and it points out how often I use passive voice. I was shocked. Now that it has my attention my writing is a lot better.

    I also appreciate that in your comments you admit that these are only guidelines. It is OK to use some of those phrases when it helps to make a point. We just need to be careful not to abuse them.

    Reply
  46. I saw the e-mail from Jon, missed your byline, read the article, and until I got to the end, thought Jon Morrow wrote it. That is the ultimate compliment, by the way! Great article. I shared it in several private writing groups!

    Reply
  47. Hi Shane,
    Great List.
    You would be a HERO if you could provide a downloadable PDF like Power Words by Jon categorized into 6-7 feelings, it will be tremendously helpful to have it as a handy reference.

    Possible?

    Reply
  48. Hi Shane, I don’t know how much time you actually spent to craft this fabulous post, but I can’t even think how you did this possible?

    In fact, I’m familiar with these sorts of redundancies and flabby words. You just made me think differently from now on.

    Thanks for sharing the great post.

    Best Regards,
    SM Nuruzzaman

    Reply
  49. An amazing list and most fortuitously timed. I am one of Jon’s students, am about to launch my own blogging website, and have my first invitation to be a guest blogger on a site with 350000 members
    I have shared this on my Facebook page. I know several other serious writers who will find it an essential tool
    Thank heaven for Twitter!

    Reply
  50. My greatest enemy seems to be “absolutely necessary’. It’s often appears absolutely necessary to include the absolute. Oh! That was intentional. Nice list. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  51. Good information. I’m adding the following with respect and an attempt to be helpful, not as criticism. Your title doesn’t need “Your” or “All.” Better: 297 Flabby Words and Phrases That Rob Writing of Its Power”

    Also, “Find and ruthlessly remove the following flabby words and phrases from your writing:” is better as “”Find and ruthlessly remove the following flabby words and phrases:” Generally, prepositional phrases are our enemy. Root them out and kill them!

    Great job on the list, Shane!

    Reply
  52. Ok, can I just say this is a post (I think) 90% of bloggers should read?

    I don’t know what it is but “wordiness” seems to run rampant. Maybe bloggers are trying to beef-up their word count? Maybe they’re trying to sound smarter? Whatever the reason, I wish they would get to the point already. Write like you talk, I say.

    So, with that, thanks for this list. I am sharing it now.

    Reply
  53. Shane, this post helps. Does a service like Grammarly weed out many of these words? Are there other services that weed them out? Some of them are weeded out by the WordPress weed-word eater as well. My problem is having to look at the list with every article I write. It’s a huge list and I struggle with many of these flabby words.

    Reply
  54. This is a monster post! Great job dud!

    I am bookmarking it too. My writing is weak cos of these filler words, have to work on it. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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