Stop Using These 09 Words in your Articles— It Sucks!
Here’s the rule of writing, to those who cares.
If I would talk to Tony Stubblebine, I’d tell him to jail some of us, MediumWriters! Not funny!
Writers aren’t just side hustlers, they are halfway doctors. Pharmacists. They prescribe drugs about life, writing, money, wealth, lessons — and a lot of bunch more related stuffs to patients who are looking for way out. I mean your 'hungry-readers’.
People suffering with problems meet their screens and start googling because they want to be healed form a particular problem.
They want you to solve it. They want you to give them medicine. They want you to help them with your ideas. Give them an advice of how they can change their fears. Change their limits. Change their life.
I want you to look at this critically, think about it with all of your entire head and the intestines it contains — your 'brain’:
Imagine a person wandering at a place he visited without knowing the right path to take, the right way that’ll lead them to their destination.
The person turns, and search and turn around, looking for someone to show them the way.
But.... No one was found. Except you. You the 'Writer'
You were sitting not too far from the person. He saw you and walks directly to ask you for the way (because they believe you know the area, you can show them the way)
“Would you mind showing me the way to (he names the place)?”
“Okay, I will. I know the place. It’s my friend’s. Then now, if you follow that way and maybe you follow that corner near that coffee shop. You’ll see a kiosk behind. Then maybe you’ll see a hotel at the opposite. Then, maybe... Maybe.... Maybe— ” common on, my friend!
That’s how some writers are!
You’re directing someone to somewhere without using words that’ll boost their confirmation of being at the right spot. At the right time.
“Maybe... Then.... But... But... But— ”
Hold your words and put them in your throat. Eat them if you wish. Swallow them!
A writer *should* write with confidence. With affirmation. Deep confirmation. Not doubtful words, anyhow.
You have to think, my friend. You have to analyze each of your words. Examine it. Tell them— that’s it.
You have to be 'CONFIRMATIONAL' not predictive, unassured. You have to be sure of what you say. How you say. And to whom you say.
I’ve made a brief, but useful research of words a you should avoid if you want to build a writing empire, a writing brand like a 'Kingdom’. The words are toxic than acid, harmful than poison.
But not to your health, to your writing success!
Here are 12 words you should avoid using;
1. I think
You think? That shows you are not sure of what you’re about to say.
When readers stumble on your article, they’re not looking for doubts like ‘I think’. They want confirmation of solution to the problem they’re facing.
This phrase shows your incompetency, your lack of skill about the topic.
Because you’re saying ‘ I think’
2. Maybe
This means you are totally and absolutely not sure of the way. They come to you to show them the way but you end of saying:
“Umm... Maybe if you go to the place, you’d — ”
That’s how it will sound when you’re using 'maybe' in your article.
3. Very very
Very, very good, huh?
You have to stop that 'very' from your writing vocabulary, if not. If not, it will chase many of your potential readers away. Without you knowing how and when it happened.
Because you use a word which shows you treat your readers as young kids. And they don’t want that.
They want respect. Respect them. Respect their value and they will do the same.
When you buy a chocolate for your kid but the kid is not willing to take it, do you remember those kind of words you tell them?
“Collins, try this, my dear. It is very very sweeeeeet!”
4. Just
“I don’t wanna hear anything from anyone else. Just do as I say. Just go out and just stay there!” the officer commands them
Haha, that’s how it happens when you use this 'just' word in your articles.
It looks like you’re giving your potential readers *an order* to do that, do this. Do this, do that. When you don’t know they like it or not. They hate it or not. You don’t know!
5. Really
Oh, really?
You can answer this yourself; when a friend come to you with something that made you surprised, how do you react?
“Oh, really? You sure?” that’s what you say.
Using that in your writing will show how careless you are towards the problem your potential reader is struggling with.
They want solution but they find you saying 'really, really’. Really what?!
And they don’t like that. They don’t like it at all! They want you to show care and concern. Period!
6. So Much!
So much exciting, right?
That might seems good, especially when writing about a moment that made you extremely surprised.
But remember, this is Online World. Millions of people might read what your brain impregnate to your thoughts and your hand born it out. I mean your head. Your ideas.
You need to be formal. Respectful.
The word 'so much' shows you’re trying to highlight something not everyone is supporting or doing but few.
7. In my opinion....
Listen, we’re not talking about opinion. Your opinion is your own opinion, not everybody’s own.
Hold your opinion and use it later. I told you ‘this is a place of millions of people’. You come telling them about your opinion?
They’re not looking for that, they want confirmation from well-researched source by a professor or someone who’s able to be followed. Someone worth listened.
Mind your words, my friend. Use your words wisely. Be smart with it. Your audience will pay back in return.
8. Then
The word 'then' simply shows you are not precise, actual and correct.
It makes your article sounds somehow stammering, like a kid stammering.
“Then I saw the hat right there. Then the man took it. Then he went. Then another.... ”
That’s how it is. Kids are those who speak this way. You can tell.
9. Somehow
This is another word of doubt. It means you are not exact in what you’re trying to say, highlight or shade more light about.
I hope you’ve once visited a doctor, right?
Imagine that time you go to the doctor and heard him saying “this is somehow a symptom of (this) or somehow a symptom of (this) or somehow a symptom of (that)”
I mean, the doctor saying words that shows he wasn’t sure of his words. How would you feel?
Would you let the doctor prescribe drugs to you? To intake into your stomach?
Nooooo, I know you won’t.
And that’s the same when it comes to your writing, the more confirmational words you use, the more your readers will have faith in you.
And guess what?
The more faith they have in you, the more you’d gain and yield more results from them. And the more landing to your pockets $$$.
Recap
Here’s the words to avoid in details:
- I think
- Maybe
- Very very
- Just
- Really
- So much
- In my opinion
- Then
- Somehow
NOTE: This set of words I raised above doesn’t means (and will not mean) you should erase them entirely from your writing. At least, stop using them frequently. Repeatedly in your writing.
Wanna meet me personally and talk? Freelance work? writing advice? Collaboration? DM?
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