Phrases Not to Use
1. I believe, I
feel, I think, I know It is your
essay—a compilation of thoughts—so I already assumed these are your beliefs,
feeling, thoughts, and knowledge. Do not insult my intelligence!
2. And also This is
often redundant.
3. And/or Outside of
the legal world, most of the time this construction is used, it is neither
necessary nor logical. Try using one word or the other.
4. As to whether
The single word whether will suffice.
5. Basically, essentially, totally These words seldom add anything useful to a sentence. Try
the sentence without them and, almost always, you will see the sentence
improve.
6. Being that
or being as These words are a non-standard substitute for because.
Being that Because I was the youngest child, I always wore
hand-me-downs.
7. Considered to be
Eliminate the to be and, unless it's important who's doing the
considering, try to eliminate the entire phrase.
8. Due to the fact that
Using this phrase is a sure sign that your sentence is in trouble. Did you mean
because? Due to is acceptable after a linking verb (The team's
failure was due to illness among the stars.); otherwise, avoid it.
9. Each and every
One or the other, but not both.
10. Now and days One
or the other, but not both.
11. Equally as
Something can be equally important or as important as, but not equally
as important.
12. Etc. This
abbreviation often suggests a kind of laziness. It might be better to provide
one more example, thereby suggesting that you could have written more, but
chose not to.
13. He/she is a
convention created to avoid gender bias in writing, but it doesn't work very
well and it becomes downright obtrusive if it appears often. Use he or she
or pluralize (where appropriate) so you can avoid the problem of the
gender-specific pronoun altogether.
14. Firstly, secondly, thirdly, etc. Number things with first, second, third, etc.
and not with these adverbial forms.
15. Got Many writers
regard got as an ugly word, and they have a point. If you can avoid it
in writing, do so. I have got to must begin studying right away.
I have got two pairs of sneakers.
16. Had ought
or hadn't ought. Eliminate the auxiliary had. You hadn't
ought not to pester your sister that way.
17. Interesting
One of the least interesting words in English, the word you use to describe an
ugly baby. If you show us why something is interesting, you're doing
your job.
18. In terms of
See if you can eliminate this phrase.
19. Irregardless
No one word will get you in trouble with the boss faster than this one.
20. Kind of or sort
of. These are OK in informal situations, but in formal academic prose,
substitute somewhat, rather or slightly. We were kind of
rather pleased with the results.
21. Literally
This word might be confused with literarily, a seldom used adverb
relating to authors or scholars and their various professions. Usually, though,
if you say it's "literally a jungle out there," you probably mean figuratively,
but you're probably better off without either word.
22. Lots or lots
of In academic prose, avoid these colloquialisms when you can use many
or much. Remember, when you do use these words, that lots of something
countable are plural. Remember, too, that a lot of requires three words:
"He spent a lot of money" (not alot of).
23. Just Use only
when you need it, as in just the right amount.
24. Nature See if you
can get rid of this word. Movies of a violent nature are probably just violent
movies.
25. Necessitate
It's hard to imagine a situation that would necessitate the use of this word.
26. Of Don't write would
of, should of, could of when you mean would have,
should have, could have.
27. On account of
Use because instead.
28. Only Look out for
placement. Don't write "He only kicked that ball ten yards"
when you mean "He kicked that ball only ten yards."
29. Orientate
The new students become oriented, not orientated. The same thing applies
to administrate -- we administer a project.
30. Per Use according
to instead. We did it per your instructions? Naah. (This word is
used frequently in legal language and in technical specifications, where it
seems to be necessary and acceptable.)
31. Plus Don't use
this word as a conjunction. Use and instead.
32. Point in time
Forget it! At this time or at this point or now will do
the job.
33. Previous as in
"our previous discussion." Use earlier or nothing at all.
34. So as to Usually, a
simple to will do.
35. Suppose to, use to.
The hard "d" sound in supposed to and used to
disappears in pronunciation, but it shouldn't disappear in spelling. "We used
to do that" or "We were supposed to do it this way."
36. The reason why is because. Deja vu all over again!
37. Thru This
nonstandard spelling of through should not be used in academic prose.
38. 'Til Don't use
this word instead of until or till, even in bad poetry.
39. Try and Don't try and
do something. Try to do something.
40. Thusly Use thus
or therefore instead.
41. Utilize Don't use
this word where use would suffice. (Same goes for utilization.)
42. Very, really, quite (and other intensifiers) Like basically, these words seldom add anything
useful. Try the sentence without them and see if it improves.
www.materlakes.org/ourpages/auto/2013/10/3/.../dead-word-list.doc
