Dead words. What are dead words? The first time I ever heard about dead words was when my daughter came home from Ms. Settle’s seventh grade English class and gave me the list. I don’t remember the project they were assigned to get rid of such words, but I know that a lot, pretty, good, and nice were on the list. A lot appears to be dead even if you use it correctly — as two words.
A dead word is one that is used so often it adds nothing to writing or conversation. Dead words are often also hazy, fuzzy and not very descriptive. What is good, anyway? Well, it does happen to be the most commonly used adjective in the English language.
- The pizza is good.
- You look nice.
- I have a lot of homework.
How about
- The pizza is spicy and delicious.
- You sparkle in that dress.
- My homework will take me two or three hours to finish!
Well, you know what I mean.
Here is a (not complete) list of dead words. There is obviously no final and approved list of such words.
- nice
- good
- a lot
- stuff
- things
- awesome
- okay
- really
- very
- quite
- bad
- like
- basically
- pretty
- etc.
Here are some overused, fuzzy, or redundant phrases. Best to stay away from these too.
- I think
- and also (redundant)
- being that
- considered to be
- due to the fact that (how about just because?)
- each and every
- on account of
- point in time
- the reason why is (how about just because)
- sort of
- kind of
- suppose to (if you must, it is supposed to)
- use to (if you must, it is used to)
If you are writing, a thesaurus can always help you find a living word to use!
Check out this infographic from our friends at Proof Reading Services for suggestions on how to avoid using the word bad — 730 suggestions. Of course, bad has many degrees, so the words are not all what you could call synonyms of bad. But next time you start to use a dead word, just think of all the living words you could use instead!
NEXT WEEK: Lists – Formatting and punctuating them
CALLING ALL OF YOU READING THIS!!!! I have been writing this weekly blog since January of 2013. For all you mathematicians out there, that is seven years. That equals 300-350 posts. Obviously, I am running out of things to say. So….I need some help:
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If you want to write a post, please e-mail me. Posts need to be accepted and edited by the management (me).
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If you know someone who might want to write a post, let me know.
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If you have anything you want me to write about, please let me know!
A word that I hear people use–in person or via media– redundantly is “crazy;” “crazy good.” Always, I want to ask “how” or “what do you mean?”
In business writing, I see articles, brochures use “provide” instead of selecting more specific terms that fit the context.
Thank you for letting me vent!
Feel free to vent any time! Crazy good!
I remember reading once when I was about 12 years oldthat if you reepeated a wordin a continuous way it looses its meaning. It suggested doing so with the word “teapot”. I tried it out and repeated the word continuously for a few minutesand fouhd out it was true. That, however,
was just an experiment, and like all experiment the time factor is vital.Teapot eventually regained its meaning
Yup, I have done that one!
Keep writing these posts!
Thank you, my friend!
Here’s one more word for your dead word’s list. Though it isn’t considered a dead . . . yet . . . “amazing” is the first word that comes to mind. Most things people dub as “amazing” are, quite simply . . . not. Ugh! There are other words that should be given the kiss of death, but this one tops my list. I also agree with “awesome” and “like.” Or starting a sentence with the word “So . . . ” What has happened to our magnificent language??? Some well-known articulate, educated people have rather suddenly come to sound as if they’re right out of an inner city high school.
Regarding your blog posts, I for one would not object to your repeating a good number of them. They’re wonderful, and so very helpful. Thank you for hanging in there with us all this time, Arlene.
~Cate Parke
Thanks so much for all the kind words! Yes, “amazing” is definitely dying, if not dead already! I am a bit guilty of that one myself. And I used to say “basically” all the time!
Yes, I agree with Cate. We wouldn’t mind you repeating your popular blog posts.
Thanks, Robin. A good idea — and so easy for me!
Possible topic.
(knock knock) “Who’s there?” “It’s me.” I know you’ll recognize my voice.
This is incorrect, you’ll tell me. But if I said “It is I,” that would be the voice of a completely different person. You’d be smart not to open the door.
Suppose there are two outside the door. Would they respond, “It’s us”? I’ve never once heard anybody say, “It is we.”
“Correct” vs. colloquial have different connotations, and are not interchangeable.
Is this an example of language changing?
We had a similar discussion recently about laid vs. lain and who vs. whom.
I am a believer in the preservation of correct, formal language, so to me who and whom and lay and lie are not interchangeable. Yes, we all say “it’s me,” but what about when you answer the phone? If someone asks for you, do you say, “this is him” or this is he”?
And everything.(like that),…
Like they say,….
I’m just saying….
Someone said, …
“Like”…
Everyone is saying….
They all say…
If I had a nickel for …..
anything Trump says…
Thank you!!!!:)