Cut These Words From Your Vocabulary to Become A Better Author, Leader & Friend
Words mean a lot.
They hold an incredible amount of weight and value in the way we speak, express ourselves, connect with others and share our story.
Not all words are created equal. I don’t mean to pick favorites, but there are certain words I completely eliminate from my vocabulary because they don’t serve a higher purpose and do not communicate effectively.
What I’m about to share with you is a comprehensive list of words you can eliminate from your writing, speaking and conversations to become an all-around better communicator.
Now, to be fair, I am still human, and as such am definitely prone to error! If you see me use any of these words in my writing, speaking or otherwise, know I am just like you: always growing, learning and trying to become better.
With that said….
How often are you put in a situation where you simply “can’t?”
It’s actually probably very rare when you really sit down to think about it.
“I can’t” is typically a cover-up for “I won’t” or “I don’t want to.”
In other cases it may be a matter of belief. Have you ever said or thought, “I can’t write a book; I can’t speak in front of an audience; I can’t quit my job and start my dream company.”
As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t– you’re right.”
Ability only has to do with belief. Eliminate the idea you “can’t” do something. Try it first!
This is an excessively used word even I am guilty of using.
Take any sentence with the word very in it, scratch it out and the sentence still means basically the same thing. If not, replace it and the word it is describing with a more meaningful replacement.
For example:
“The pup was very happy.”
“The puppy was elated/excited/overwhelmed.”
“The meal was very tasty.”
“The meal was delicious/scrumptious/delectable.”
You get the idea! Very is a very lazy word.
This phrase assumes your audience or the other party is already in the know. You may not mean to sound condescending or arrogant, but it can come across that way.
And, if it is in fact “needless to say,” then you probably don’t need to say it at all.
Not exactly the most reassuring statement. “I’ll try” leaves a lot to be desired.
So will you do it or won’t you?
“I’ll try” gives yourself an easy escape route so you don’t have to commit. When it comes to building relationships and trust among others, often reverting to “I’ll try” won’t instill a lot of confidence in you or your abilities.
“That” certainly has its time and place, but in writing it is often a filler word that can be eliminated entirely without diluting the meaning of the sentence.
For example:
“I only read books that I know I’m going to like.
Take out that and you have, “I only read books I know I’m going to like.”
Has the meaning of the sentenced changed? Not at all! But now your writing it a bit cleaner.
What are some words you struggle or wish to eliminate from your vocabulary?
Let us know in the comments below! We love to hear from you.
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