When readers encounter the same word too many times, it becomes distracting and takes away from the impact of the story. It can also create a sense of laziness on the part of the writer, who is relying on the same words.
Publishers and literary agents may be less likely to accept a manuscript that relies heavily on overused words, as it may signal a lack of effort and attention to detail. So it’s important to avoid overusing certain words and ensure that the writing is compelling, engaging, and polished.
Commonly overused words:
- Suddenly
- Amazing
- Just
- Really
- That
- Literally
- Very
- Like
- But
Some of these words should be used sparingly in writing, while others are deemed redundant and can be removed or replaced with a more fitting descriptive term. For instance, “very big” can be substituted with the word “huge”, which not only reinforces the message but also reduces any potential for repetitiveness.
Commonly overused verbs:
- Walked
- Said
- Smiled
- Noded
- Looked
- Felt
- Started
Determine whether the verb is required or not — is the reference to the character “smiling” or “looking” even relevant to the scene? It should only be used for effect and not for the sole purpose of filling a sentence. To avoid any potential repetition, a Thesaurus can be utilized to find a suitable alternative.
Kate Halena 