{"id":11543,"date":"2016-07-26T06:34:42","date_gmt":"2016-07-26T10:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbittinger.com\/thoughts\/?p=11543"},"modified":"2025-04-21T01:56:38","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T05:56:38","slug":"11543-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/11543-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding ‘ Very ‘ In Your Your Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a society that increasingly regards anything smacking of ‘rules’ or ‘procedure’ as unfairly restrictive, things like punctuation, grammar, and spelling are rapidly falling out of favor. If you are one who lauds this movement, feel free to scroll on now: you won’t enjoy this article. If, however, you are one who still feels that language is beautiful and powerful, continue as I denounce the word \u201c very \u201d and offer alternatives to it’s use.<\/p>\n

Why Avoid ‘Very’<\/h1>\n
\"very\"<\/a>
Fascinating?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Very is laziness. It cheapens your work. We tend to add ‘very’ as a modifier to another word to heighten it’s meaning, but in doing so we lose the opportunity to make a much better statement. We might say, \u201cThe building is very large.\u201d but saying, \u201cThe building is enormous.\u201d conveys your thought so much better.<\/p>\n

I offer validation on the topic from famous authors:<\/p>\n

‘Very’ is the most useless word in the English language and can always come out. More than useless, it is treacherous because it invariably weakens what it is intended to strengthen. ~Florence King<\/b> <\/i><\/p>\n

Substitute \u2018damn\u2019 every time you\u2019re inclined to write \u2018very;\u2019 your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. ~<\/i>Mark Twain<\/b><\/i> <\/i><\/p>\n

So avoid using the word \u2018very\u2019 because it\u2019s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don\u2019t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys – to woo women – and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do. It also won\u2019t do in your essays. ~<\/i>N.H. Kleinbaum<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

What To Use Instead<\/h1>\n

Now that we have established ‘very’ as useless, let’s look at some ways to convey our thoughts more eloquently:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Instead of ‘very’:<\/th>\n\n

use<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

<\/th>\n\n

Instead of ‘very’:<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

use<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

afraid<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

terrified
\nhorrified
\nhysterical<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

neat<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

immaculate pristine
\nfastidious<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

angry<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

furious
\nenraged
\nsullen<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

old<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

ancient
\ngeriatric
\ndecrepit<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

bad<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

atrocious
\nawful
\nvillainous
\nwicked<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

poor<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

destitute
\nimpoverished
\nmeager
\ndeplorable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

big<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

enormous
\ngigantic<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

pretty<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

beautiful
\nadorable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

beautiful<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

exquisite
\nalluring
\ngorgeous<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

quiet<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

silent
\npeaceful
\nhushed<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

bright<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

dazzling
\nbrilliant
\nblazing<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

risky<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

perilous
\nprecarious
\ntreacherous<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

capable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

accomplished
\ncompetent
\nproficient<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

roomy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

spacious
\ncapacious
\ncommodious<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

clean<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

immaculate
\nspotless
\nsterile<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

rude<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

vulgar
\nboorish
\nimpertinent<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u00a0clear<\/td>\n\u00a0transparent
\ncrystal
\nfair<\/td>\n		<\/td>\n\n

sad<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

morose
\nmelancholy
\nmournful<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

clever<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

brilliant
\nadept
\ncagy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

serious<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

solemn
\nmeditative
\ngrim<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

cold<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

freezing
\nfrigid
\nicy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

small<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

tiny
\npetite
\nscanty<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

conservative<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0traditional
\nconventional
\nhidebound<\/td>\n		<\/td>\n\n

strong<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

unyielding
\ndurable
\nathletic<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

dirty<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

filthy
\nsqualid
\nunkempt<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

stupid<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

idiotic
\nmoronic
\nobtuse<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

dry<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

parched
\nbaked
\narid<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

tasty<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

delicious
\nenticing
\ndelectable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

eager<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

excited
\nkeen
\nimpatient<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

thin<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

gaunt
\nemaciated
\ncadaverous<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

fast<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

rapid
\nexpeditious
\nfleet<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

tired<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

exhausted
\nweary
\ndebilitated<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

fierce<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

ferocious
\nbarbaric
\nrapacious<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

ugly<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

hideous
\nmacabre
\nghastly<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

good<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

superb
\nsplendid
\noutstanding<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

valuable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

precious
\ncherished
\ninestimable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

happy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

jubilant
\ntriumphal
\njoyous<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

weak<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

feeble
\ndecrepit
\nemaciated<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

hot<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

scalding
\nscorching
\nsearing<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

wet<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

soaked
\ndrenched
\nsodden<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

hungry<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

ravenous
\nfamished
\nvoracious<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

wise<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

sagacious
\nperspicacious
\nscholarly<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

large<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

colossal
\nenormous
\ngargantuan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

worried<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

anxious
\ntormented
\napprehensive<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

lively<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

vivacious
\neffervescent
\nfrolicsome<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

loved<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

adored
\ncherished
\nidolized<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Credit where credit is due: the above list inspired by: www.WritersWrite.co.za<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

The Result<\/h1>\n

As you can plainly see from the list above, using exciting words rather than \u201cvery something<\/i>\u201d adds a great deal of punch to your work and helps keep the reader engaged. The exception, of course, is in dialogue. If your character is not eloquent, then use speech appropriate to his or her skills. But in your discourse, use the more engaging forms and entertain your reader.<\/p>\n

Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a society that increasingly regards anything smacking of ‘rules’ or ‘procedure’ as unfairly restrictive, things like punctuation, grammar, and spelling are rapidly falling out of favor. If you are one who lauds this movement, feel free to scroll on now: you won’t enjoy this article. If, however, you are one who still feels that … Continue reading “Avoiding ‘ Very ‘ In Your Your Writing”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[29],"class_list":["post-11543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-educational","tag-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11543"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11543\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20372,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11543\/revisions\/20372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}