"Crutch" words are unnecessary or habitual words and phrases that people rely on to fill gaps in conversation or writing, often used when unsure or hesitant. These words add little meaning or clarity and can dilute the impact of communication by making it seem less confident or direct.
Overusing crutch words can create redundancy and distract from the core message, leading to less effective or persuasive speech or writing. Though they can be a natural part of informal conversation, minimizing crutch words is important for clear, concise, and purposeful communication in both professional and personal contexts.
Here are 30 common "crutch" words writers should eliminate (or minimize) to tighten their writing:
Very – Often redundant and weakens the impact of the word it modifies.
Example: "very tired" → "exhausted"
Just – Adds little to no meaning and can usually be cut.
Example: "I just wanted to check in" → "I wanted to check in"
Really – Similar to "very," it's often unnecessary and can weaken the sentence.
Example: "really important" → "crucial"
That – Frequently overused, especially when it's not essential for clarity.
Example: "I know that you're right" → "I know you're right"
Actually – Often a filler word that adds nothing to the sentence.
Example: "I actually think" → "I think"
Basically – A weak word that can make sentences feel uncertain or unclear.
Example: "Basically, the idea is..." → "The idea is..."
Definitely – Can be overused and doesn't add emphasis.
Example: "I definitely agree" → "I agree"
Literally – Frequently misused for emphasis but unnecessary in most cases.
Example: "I literally died laughing" → "I died laughing"
Like – Common in dialogue but can clutter narrative prose if overused.
Example: "He was, like, confused" → "He was confused"
Almost – Weakens the strength of descriptions.
Example: "She was almost ready" → "She was ready"
Moreover – Often used to add information but can be replaced with a simpler transition or omitted altogether.
Example: "Moreover, we found the data to be flawed" → "We also found the data to be flawed"
However – Frequently overused as a transition and can be replaced with simpler alternatives or omitted.
Example: "However, she didn't agree" → "She didn't agree"
Rather – Often weakens the statement and adds ambiguity.
Example: "Rather cold" → "Chilly"
Somewhat – Makes statements less direct and authoritative.
Example: "Somewhat disappointed" → "Disappointed"
Perhaps – Adds uncertainty and can weaken the clarity of statements.
Example: "Perhaps he’s the one to blame" → "He’s to blame"
Quite – Similar to "very" or "really," it often dilutes the impact of a description.
Example: "Quite interesting" → "Fascinating"
Anyway – Often unnecessary, especially in narrative transitions.
Example: "Anyway, I wanted to say..." → "I wanted to say..."
In order to – Can usually be shortened to "to" without losing meaning.
Example: "In order to improve" → "To improve"
Then – Often overused in sequence descriptions and can be cut for brevity.
Example: "Then he turned around and said..." → "He turned around and said..."
Totally – Similar to "really" or "very," it often overstates without adding meaning.
Example: "Totally shocked" → "Shocked"
Absolutely – Another intensifier that’s usually unnecessary.
Example: "Absolutely necessary" → "Necessary"
Seem – Weakens statements by making them less assertive.
Example: "It seems like it’s broken" → "It’s broken"
Slightly – Like "somewhat," it dilutes descriptions and makes them vague.
Example: "Slightly nervous" → "Nervous"
Definitely – Adds little emphasis and can make sentences sound unsure.
Example: "I definitely agree with you" → "I agree with you"
Maybe – Injects uncertainty and can weaken the force of the writing.
Example: "Maybe we should try again" → "We should try again"
Kind of – Makes statements sound informal and unsure.
Example: "Kind of tired" → "Tired"
A bit – Similar to "slightly" or "somewhat," it lessens the impact of descriptions.
Example: "A bit difficult" → "Difficult"
Honestly – Often unnecessary and can come off as insincere or filler.
Additionally – Often used to introduce new information, but simpler transitions can often replace it or it can be omitted.
Example: "Additionally, the results show..." → "The results also show..."
In addition – Similar to "additionally," this phrase can often be streamlined.
Example: "In addition, the report highlights..." → "The report also highlights..."
In conclusion – Frequently used to start a concluding paragraph but can feel redundant.
Example: "In conclusion, we found..." → "We found..."
As well – Often redundant and unnecessary when used to connect ideas.
Example: "He completed the project as well" → "He completed the project"
In fact – Often overused to emphasize a point but can be unnecessary.
Example: "In fact, this was the case" → "This was the case"
For example – While useful, it’s often overused as a transition and can be implied instead.
Example: "For example, she went to the store" → "She went to the store"
Essentially – A filler word that doesn’t add much meaning or precision.
Example: "Essentially, they wanted to leave" → "They wanted to leave"
John Rovito
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