essay words to replace

Overused Words And Alternatives To Use Instead

Being a creative writer can be a lot of fun. Whether you’re writing novels, short stories, fan fiction, or even poetry, you can create worlds. Unfortunately, being a creative writer can also be really challenging. It’s not just difficult to imagine new things all the time—coming up with new and interesting ways to say things is also part of the challenge.

There are some words in creative writing that are terribly overused and common. Luckily, a good dictionary and thesaurus can work wonders on strengthening your writing.

So, we’ve rounded up some of the words writers most often use over and over. We’re not saying you should never use these words, but there are more interesting alternatives you might want to consider next time you sit down to write.

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Writing strong dialogue can be difficult. Not only is it hard to write as people talk, it’s hard to incorporate dialogue naturally into a narrative.

Writers typically default to the straightforward verb said to indicate dialogue. This is not always a problem; readers tend to skim over the word without noticing its overuse. However, said isn’t always the only (or best) word you can use. For example:

He said, “She is really smart.”

She said, “No, she is not.”

He said, “Yes, she is.”

Zzzz … snoozefest.

There are lots of good alternatives for said to make dialogue a lot more dynamic and engaging. For example, you could substitute said with a verb like:

• articulated

Check out that same dialogue (from above) with our new words:

He asserted, “She is really smart.”

She retorted, “No, she is not.”

He concluded, “Yes, she is.”

OK, still not the most exciting dialogue ever, but you get the point.

Another verb that can be quickly overused in creative writing is moved .

It’s the most bread-and-butter word to express that a character is doing some kind of action. But, like said , it can get really boring. Not only that, it’s not as descriptive as some alternative verbs, such as:

The word moved can serve an important purpose, but if you find yourself using it too many times, try one of these instead.

Amazing is an amazing word. And it’s  so amazing how many amazing uses it has.

Is your head spinning yet? Do you really understand what we’re trying to say?

Amazing has the distinction of being not only an overused word in creative writing, but also in daily life.

While amazing initially referred to something that causes astonishment or wonderment, now it is used to refer to anything a notch up from “just OK.”

If you find yourself reaching for this adjective, try to drill down and really think about what you’re trying to express. Some alternatives are:

• unbelievable

Very is a modifier that we use all the time in daily life, no problem-o. On the page, though, very is kind of flat. It’s an adverb that’s used for emphasis, but if it’s overused it loses some of its punch.

Instead of using very a hundred million times in your creative writing (and definitely don’t use it more than once in a row, like “this is very, very, very boring”), there are tons of other alternatives you can use for emphasis. Some of our favorites adverbs are:

That said, sometimes it’s enough to let the narrative speak for itself. If you’re tempted to use a modifier for emphasis, go back over the sentence and ask yourself if it’s truly necessary. Sometimes a light touch, like  very , can actually be best.

Love is a wonderful thing. We love love. Who doesn’t?

But love is a word whose meaning is notoriously hard to pin down. When you’re writing about feelings of great affection, romantic or otherwise, love might seem like an obvious word to use. But we recommend using the word love sparingly, like nutmeg. Or salt. Love can be either a noun or a verb. If you’re using love as a noun, such as “I felt a strong feeling of love,” consider some of the following alternatives:

• infatuation
• appreciation

If you’re using love as a verb, as in “I love you,” we recommend some of these alternatives:

• be attached to

There’s nothing wrong with the classic love , but consider some of these options next time you put pen to paper.

Look is another basic verb that is often overused, similar to said and moved . In boring writing, characters are always just looking, whether at objects or each other.

But there are so many more exciting ways to describe someone experiencing something via sight.

For example, there are verbs like:

fAh, thing. We’ve saved the worst for last. No offense to The Thing , thing is like a lead balloon in the middle of a story.

We have an entire thesaurus (and dictionary of course) full of thousands of vibrant, specific, interesting words to replace the imprecise, overworked noun thing .

Next time you find yourself describing something as a thing , take another pass at it. Dig in deep and use a word that really conveys what you’re talking about. Consider if the thing you’re referring to is an emotion, a particular object, or an idea and, then, name it.

The thesaurus is your friend. Don’t hesitate to pull it up and take a look around to find the bon mot , the just-right word or expression, to take the place of thing .

Ways To Say

Synonym of the day

• November 8, 2019

Overused Words to Replace in Your English Writing

Communication is great, but sometimes it gets just a little predictable. That’s because, despite the thousands upon thousands of words we could use to express ourselves, we keep on insisting on using the same ones.

You may feel a little restricted with the words you can use because of the requirement for simple, plain and inoffensive language. But that doesn’t mean you have to be predictable and, well, dull. 

Without further ado (so), let’s start now by identifying some of the main culprits, and looking at suitable alternatives to make your English writing just that little bit more interesting:

When it comes to quantifying something, some just doesn’t get the job done. Can you be more specific? And that is the point. This type of vague language only succeeds in frustrating the reader, who cannot say, with any great conviction, how many you are actually talking about.

Alternatives : couple, several, dozens, one, two, three, four etc.

This has to be the worst adjective in English. Okay, maybe not quite, but it’s certainly the most overused, and the one that describes the least. Think of a surly teenager who doesn’t want to reveal any information about anything, but at the same time doesn’t want to give the impression that anything is wrong. Good tells us nothing. It is so undescriptive, it is laughable. There’s really no good reason to use it (well-spotted!).

Alternatives : interesting, informative, enjoyable, uplifting, eye-opening (depending on the context).

Great is good ’s slightly less annoying, but more excitable big brother. We know that it’s better than good , but it’s also a word that fails to deliver the idea that it really should. No one can get excited about great , even though that is exactly the feeling that great should convey.  But when it comes to attaching a value to something, instead of using a word such as great , which really means nothing, seek to use a word that is more descriptive and explicit, or go for something which makes a valid comparison.

Alternatives : even better than the last time, incredibly rewarding, of magnificent value.

Other is a word that is incredibly practical, so it’s not as annoying as something like good , which really has no value at all. The problem with other is that it just turns up too frequently in writing, so here you just need to think about repetition, and go for something a little different each time.

Alternatives : additional, alternative, further, supplementary.

More . This word even sounds dull. But it’s similar to other , both in meaning, and in that it is incredibly practical. Instead just look for those nicer sounding alternatives.

Alternatives : additional, alternative, further, supplementary, extra.

This word is horrible for two reasons. Firstly, because a lot of the time, it just isn’t true. We live in a society now where everything is brilliant or terrible. Everything is either the best or the worst, ever! But it actually isn’t, is it? What you are saying is a massive overstatement. So, avoid using such superlatives when they do not apply. Secondly, it’s all about opinion anyway, so just because it is the best for you, is it really the best for others? Scrap this word! 

Alternatives : the most suitable, the most fitting, the most practical, one of the most…

Everything is important . Or nothing is. It all depends who you are talking to, or what you are talking about. And what is important for one person isn’t important for another (see best ). And another thing, important doesn’t mean best in English: this is a false translation from other languages.

Alternatives : crucial, essential, vital.

Like is a word that is shockingly overused in speech, but it is also creeping in more and more to English writing, which is a cause of major frustration to language purists, and those who like language to be clear. Because like just isn’t. Like has multiple meanings, but almost all of them can be better expressed in other ways. Here are some examples:

I like it. = I think it is an interesting proposition. It was like last time. = It was similar to the previous occasion. It feels like you have misunderstood… = You have misunderstood…

Does it really feel similar to that? Or is that how it feels? Stop stepping around the issue, and SAY WHAT YOU MEAN!

Alternatives : as above.

A pro tip : Linguix allows you learning new words while writing. The Linguix Grammar Checker and paraphraser (here is our Chrome extension ) have a built-in AI-fueled synonyms-selection engine. This feature allows you to see synonyms of English words. Just hold down the Alt button and double-click on a word to see a list of its synonyms. 

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument. Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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Communication

18 common words that you should replace in your writing.

It’s a familiar scene: you’re slumped over your keyboard or notebook, obsessing over your character. While we tend to agonize over everything from structure to backstory, it’s important to weigh how you write something too. A perfectly constructed world is flat on the page if you use feeble, common words. When you’re finished constructing your perfectly balanced world, do your writing a favor and take another pass to weed out these 18 haggard words.

High on any list of most used English words is “good.” While this word may appear to be the perfect adjective for nearly anything, that is precisely what makes it so vague. Try getting more specific. If something’s going well, try “superb,” “outstanding” or “exceptional.”

Another of the common words in English is “new.” “New” is an adjective that doesn’t always set off alarm bells, so it can be easy to forget about. Give your writing more punch by ditching “new” and using something like “latest” or “recent” instead.

Much like “new,” “long” is spent, yet it doesn’t always register as such while you’re writing. Instead of this cliché phrase, try describing exactly how long it is: “extended,” “lingering” or “endless,” for example.

“Old” is certainly one of those common words that means more to readers if you’re specific about how old a subject is. Is it “ancient,” “fossilized,” “decaying” or “decrepit”?

“Right” is also among the common words that tends to slip through our writer filters. If somebody is correct, you could also say “exact” or “precise.” Don’t let habit words like “right” dampen your writing.

Here’s another adjective that falls a bit flat for readers, but can also easily be improved by getting more specific. Saying something is “odd” or “uncommon” is very different than saying it is “exotic” or “striking.”

“Small” is another adjective that is too generic for writing as good as yours. Use “microscopic,” “miniature” or “tiny” instead. Even using “cramped” or “compact” is more descriptive for your audience.

Just like relying too much on “small,” we tend to describe large things as, well, “large.” Specificity is a big help with this one too: could your subject be “substantial,” “immense,” “enormous” or “massive”?

Whenever we describe something coming “next,” we run the risk of losing our readers. Good options to make your reading more powerful include “upcoming,” “following” or “closer.”

Another case of being too generic is what makes “young” a problematic adjective. If you want your writing to be more captivating, try switching “young” out for “youthful,” “naive” or “budding.”

“Never” is also among common words to use sparingly. Not only is it a common, stale descriptor, it’s also usually incorrect. For something to never happen, even one instance makes this word inaccurate. Try “rarely,” “scarcely” or “occasionally” instead.

“Things” is another repeat offender when it comes to worn out words. Another word where specificity is the key, try replacing “things” with “belongings,” “property” or “tools.”

Just like “never,” “all” is an encompassing, absolute term. Not only is “all” unoriginal, it’s not usually factual. Try using “each” and “copious” instead.

“Feel” is also in the company of common English words. Try using “sense,” or “discern” instead. You can also move your sentence into a more active tense: “I feel hungry” could become “I’m famished,” for example.

“Seem” is bad habit word we are all guilty of using. Regardless of how well you think your sentence is constructed, try switching “seem” out for “shows signs of.” “Comes across as” is another good option to give your writing more power.

Another easy adjective to let slip by, “almost” is a wasted opportunity to engage your readers. “Almost” is more interesting if you say “practically,” “nearly” or “verging on” instead.

“Just making” it or “just barely” affording something isn’t very descriptive. To truly grab a reader, we must do better. Try “narrowly,” “simply” or “hardly” to give your phrasing more weight.

Last but not least, avoid using the common word “went” to describe your subject. “Went” is a word that lacks traction. Try using “chose,” “decided on” or “rambled” to truly grab your readers.

Featured photo credit: Angie Garrett via flickr.com

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Words to Use in an Essay: 300 Essay Words

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

Words to use in the essay introduction, words to use in the body of the essay, words to use in your essay conclusion, how to improve your essay writing vocabulary.

It’s not easy to write an academic essay .

Many students struggle to word their arguments in a logical and concise way.

To make matters worse, academic essays need to adhere to a certain level of formality, so we can’t always use the same word choices in essay writing that we would use in daily life.

If you’re struggling to choose the right words for your essay, don’t worry—you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of over 300 words and phrases to use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essay.

The introduction is one of the hardest parts of an essay to write.

You have only one chance to make a first impression, and you want to hook your reader. If the introduction isn’t effective, the reader might not even bother to read the rest of the essay.

That’s why it’s important to be thoughtful and deliberate with the words you choose at the beginning of your essay.

Many students use a quote in the introductory paragraph to establish credibility and set the tone for the rest of the essay.

When you’re referencing another author or speaker, try using some of these phrases:

To use the words of X

According to X

As X states

Example: To use the words of Hillary Clinton, “You cannot have maternal health without reproductive health.”

Near the end of the introduction, you should state the thesis to explain the central point of your paper.

If you’re not sure how to introduce your thesis, try using some of these phrases:

In this essay, I will…

The purpose of this essay…

This essay discusses…

In this paper, I put forward the claim that…

There are three main arguments for…

Example: In this essay, I will explain why dress codes in public schools are detrimental to students.

After you’ve stated your thesis, it’s time to start presenting the arguments you’ll use to back up that central idea.

When you’re introducing the first of a series of arguments, you can use the following words:

First and foremost

First of all

To begin with

Example: First , consider the effects that this new social security policy would have on low-income taxpayers.

All these words and phrases will help you create a more successful introduction and convince your audience to read on.

The body of your essay is where you’ll explain your core arguments and present your evidence.

It’s important to choose words and phrases for the body of your essay that will help the reader understand your position and convince them you’ve done your research.

Let’s look at some different types of words and phrases that you can use in the body of your essay, as well as some examples of what these words look like in a sentence.

Transition Words and Phrases

Transitioning from one argument to another is crucial for a good essay.

It’s important to guide your reader from one idea to the next so they don’t get lost or feel like you’re jumping around at random.

Transition phrases and linking words show your reader you’re about to move from one argument to the next, smoothing out their reading experience. They also make your writing look more professional.

The simplest transition involves moving from one idea to a separate one that supports the same overall argument. Try using these phrases when you want to introduce a second correlating idea:

Additionally

In addition

Furthermore

Another key thing to remember

In the same way

Correspondingly

Example: Additionally , public parks increase property value because home buyers prefer houses that are located close to green, open spaces.

Another type of transition involves restating. It’s often useful to restate complex ideas in simpler terms to help the reader digest them. When you’re restating an idea, you can use the following words:

In other words

To put it another way

That is to say

To put it more simply

Example: “The research showed that 53% of students surveyed expressed a mild or strong preference for more on-campus housing. In other words , over half the students wanted more dormitory options.”

Often, you’ll need to provide examples to illustrate your point more clearly for the reader. When you’re about to give an example of something you just said, you can use the following words:

For instance

To give an illustration of

To exemplify

To demonstrate

As evidence

Example: Humans have long tried to exert control over our natural environment. For instance , engineers reversed the Chicago River in 1900, causing it to permanently flow backward.

Sometimes, you’ll need to explain the impact or consequence of something you’ve just said.

When you’re drawing a conclusion from evidence you’ve presented, try using the following words:

As a result

Accordingly

As you can see

This suggests that

It follows that

It can be seen that

For this reason

For all of those reasons

Consequently

Example: “There wasn’t enough government funding to support the rest of the physics experiment. Thus , the team was forced to shut down their experiment in 1996.”

When introducing an idea that bolsters one you’ve already stated, or adds another important aspect to that same argument, you can use the following words:

What’s more

Not only…but also

Not to mention

To say nothing of

Another key point

Example: The volcanic eruption disrupted hundreds of thousands of people. Moreover , it impacted the local flora and fauna as well, causing nearly a hundred species to go extinct.

Often, you'll want to present two sides of the same argument. When you need to compare and contrast ideas, you can use the following words:

On the one hand / on the other hand

Alternatively

In contrast to

On the contrary

By contrast

In comparison

Example: On the one hand , the Black Death was undoubtedly a tragedy because it killed millions of Europeans. On the other hand , it created better living conditions for the peasants who survived.

Finally, when you’re introducing a new angle that contradicts your previous idea, you can use the following phrases:

Having said that

Differing from

In spite of

With this in mind

Provided that

Nevertheless

Nonetheless

Notwithstanding

Example: Shakespearean plays are classic works of literature that have stood the test of time. Having said that , I would argue that Shakespeare isn’t the most accessible form of literature to teach students in the twenty-first century.

Good essays include multiple types of logic. You can use a combination of the transitions above to create a strong, clear structure throughout the body of your essay.

Strong Verbs for Academic Writing

Verbs are especially important for writing clear essays. Often, you can convey a nuanced meaning simply by choosing the right verb.

You should use strong verbs that are precise and dynamic. Whenever possible, you should use an unambiguous verb, rather than a generic verb.

For example, alter and fluctuate are stronger verbs than change , because they give the reader more descriptive detail.

Here are some useful verbs that will help make your essay shine.

Verbs that show change:

Accommodate

Verbs that relate to causing or impacting something:

Verbs that show increase:

Verbs that show decrease:

Deteriorate

Verbs that relate to parts of a whole:

Comprises of

Is composed of

Constitutes

Encompasses

Incorporates

Verbs that show a negative stance:

Misconstrue

Verbs that show a positive stance:

Substantiate

Verbs that relate to drawing conclusions from evidence:

Corroborate

Demonstrate

Verbs that relate to thinking and analysis:

Contemplate

Hypothesize

Investigate

Verbs that relate to showing information in a visual format:

Useful Adjectives and Adverbs for Academic Essays

You should use adjectives and adverbs more sparingly than verbs when writing essays, since they sometimes add unnecessary fluff to sentences.

However, choosing the right adjectives and adverbs can help add detail and sophistication to your essay.

Sometimes you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is useful and should be taken seriously. Here are some adjectives that create positive emphasis:

Significant

Other times, you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is harmful or ineffective. Here are some adjectives that create a negative emphasis:

Controversial

Insignificant

Questionable

Unnecessary

Unrealistic

Finally, you might need to use an adverb to lend nuance to a sentence, or to express a specific degree of certainty. Here are some examples of adverbs that are often used in essays:

Comprehensively

Exhaustively

Extensively

Respectively

Surprisingly

Using these words will help you successfully convey the key points you want to express. Once you’ve nailed the body of your essay, it’s time to move on to the conclusion.

The conclusion of your paper is important for synthesizing the arguments you’ve laid out and restating your thesis.

In your concluding paragraph, try using some of these essay words:

In conclusion

To summarize

In a nutshell

Given the above

As described

All things considered

Example: In conclusion , it’s imperative that we take action to address climate change before we lose our coral reefs forever.

In addition to simply summarizing the key points from the body of your essay, you should also add some final takeaways. Give the reader your final opinion and a bit of a food for thought.

To place emphasis on a certain point or a key fact, use these essay words:

Unquestionably

Undoubtedly

Particularly

Importantly

Conclusively

It should be noted

On the whole

Example: Ada Lovelace is unquestionably a powerful role model for young girls around the world, and more of our public school curricula should include her as a historical figure.

These concluding phrases will help you finish writing your essay in a strong, confident way.

There are many useful essay words out there that we didn't include in this article, because they are specific to certain topics.

If you're writing about biology, for example, you will need to use different terminology than if you're writing about literature.

So how do you improve your vocabulary skills?

The vocabulary you use in your academic writing is a toolkit you can build up over time, as long as you take the time to learn new words.

One way to increase your vocabulary is by looking up words you don’t know when you’re reading.

Try reading more books and academic articles in the field you’re writing about and jotting down all the new words you find. You can use these words to bolster your own essays.

You can also consult a dictionary or a thesaurus. When you’re using a word you’re not confident about, researching its meaning and common synonyms can help you make sure it belongs in your essay.

Don't be afraid of using simpler words. Good essay writing boils down to choosing the best word to convey what you need to say, not the fanciest word possible.

Finally, you can use ProWritingAid’s synonym tool or essay checker to find more precise and sophisticated vocabulary. Click on weak words in your essay to find stronger alternatives.

There you have it: our compilation of the best words and phrases to use in your next essay . Good luck!

Good writing = better grades

ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of all your assignments.

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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Transitional Words and Phrases

One of your primary goals as a writer is to present ideas in a clear and understandable way. To help readers move through your complex ideas, you want to be intentional about how you structure your paper as a whole as well as how you form the individual paragraphs that comprise it. In order to think through the challenges of presenting your ideas articulately, logically, and in ways that seem natural to your readers, check out some of these resources: Developing a Thesis Statement , Paragraphing , and Developing Strategic Transitions: Writing that Establishes Relationships and Connections Between Ideas.

While clear writing is mostly achieved through the deliberate sequencing of your ideas across your entire paper, you can guide readers through the connections you’re making by using transitional words in individual sentences. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between your ideas and can help your reader understand your paper’s logic.

In what follows, we’ve included a list of frequently used transitional words and phrases that can help you establish how your various ideas relate to each other. We’ve divided these words and phrases into categories based on the common kinds of relationships writers establish between ideas.

Two recommendations: Use these transitions strategically by making sure that the word or phrase you’re choosing matches the logic of the relationship you’re emphasizing or the connection you’re making. All of these words and phrases have different meanings, nuances, and connotations, so before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely, and be sure that it’s the right match for your paper’s logic. Use these transitional words and phrases sparingly because if you use too many of them, your readers might feel like you are overexplaining connections that are already clear.

Categories of Transition Words and Phrases

Causation Chronology Combinations Contrast Example

Importance Location Similarity Clarification Concession

Conclusion Intensification Purpose Summary

Transitions to help establish some of the most common kinds of relationships

Causation– Connecting instigator(s) to consequence(s).

accordingly as a result and so because

consequently for that reason hence on account of

since therefore thus

Chronology– Connecting what issues in regard to when they occur.

after afterwards always at length during earlier following immediately in the meantime

later never next now once simultaneously so far sometimes

soon subsequently then this time until now when whenever while

Combinations Lists– Connecting numerous events. Part/Whole– Connecting numerous elements that make up something bigger.

additionally again also and, or, not as a result besides even more

finally first, firstly further furthermore in addition in the first place in the second place

last, lastly moreover next second, secondly, etc. too

Contrast– Connecting two things by focusing on their differences.

after all although and yet at the same time but

despite however in contrast nevertheless nonetheless notwithstanding

on the contrary on the other hand otherwise though yet

Example– Connecting a general idea to a particular instance of this idea.

as an illustration e.g., (from a Latin abbreviation for “for example”)

for example for instance specifically that is

to demonstrate to illustrate

Importance– Connecting what is critical to what is more inconsequential.

chiefly critically

foundationally most importantly

of less importance primarily

Location– Connecting elements according to where they are placed in relationship to each other.

above adjacent to below beyond

centrally here nearby neighboring on

opposite to peripherally there wherever

Similarity– Connecting to things by suggesting that they are in some way alike.

by the same token in like manner

in similar fashion here in the same way

likewise wherever

Other kinds of transitional words and phrases Clarification

i.e., (from a Latin abbreviation for “that is”) in other words

that is that is to say to clarify to explain

to put it another way to rephrase it

granted it is true

naturally of course

finally lastly

in conclusion in the end

to conclude

Intensification

in fact indeed no

of course surely to repeat

undoubtedly without doubt yes

for this purpose in order that

so that to that end

to this end

in brief in sum

in summary in short

to sum up to summarize

Improving Your Writing Style

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Clear, Concise Sentences

Use the active voice

Put the action in the verb

Tidy up wordy phrases

Reduce wordy verbs

Reduce prepositional phrases

Reduce expletive constructions

Avoid using vague nouns

Avoid unneccessarily inflated words

Avoid noun strings

Connecting Ideas Through Transitions

Using Transitional Words and Phrases

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List of 47 Phrasal Verbs and Their One-Word Substitutions

Published on April 23, 2015 by Shane Bryson . Revised on July 23, 2023.

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Inseparable, other interesting articles.

As you look through the substitutions, be aware that phrasal verbs (like other verbs ) often have more than one definition and more than one context of proper use.

This flexibility means that although these substitutions work for the examples given, and although the examples are common uses of phrasal verbs, a suggested replacement will not cover every possible use of its phrasal verb.

Note: If it uses a pronoun, the separable phrasal verb must be separated (e.g. “He added up the number” but “He added it up ”).

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60+ Ways to Replace “That”: A Word List for Writers

This post continues my series about the most repeated words in writing. Today’s culprit is that .

If that is a word that plagues your WIP, I’m here to tell you that there are methods that you can use to cure that plague.

The That vs. Which Controversy

One way to trim a few occurrences is to replace that with which .

You may have encountered the following guideline: If a clause is restrictive (vital), use that ; if it’s non-restrictive (optional), use which followed by a comma.

The parcels that are marked “Fragile” go into the third bin.

Not just any parcels go into the third bin, but the fragile parcels. Without the underlined portion, the sentence would refer to all parcels — a considerable change in meaning.

The parcels, which were received this morning , go into the third bin.

All the parcels go into the third bin. The underlined portion provides optional information about the parcels, but if it’s left out, it doesn’t change the fundamental meaning.

Vi T al: T hat

O pt I onal: [c O mma] wh I ch

Writers from Great Britain might dispute this. However, keep it in mind if you’re a UK writer with a global audience.

Another Controversy: That vs. Who

Although some sources disagree, it’s recommended that writers select who when referring to

• other sentient beings (such as AIs in science fiction, Ents in The Lord of the Rings , or talking animals in fantasy fiction)

How many occurrences of that could you remove from your WIP if you were to adopt this approach?

The woman that who thought of this is a genius.

The alien that who piloted the third ship in the fleet turned purple when the star exploded.

The emergency medical hologram that who served on USS Voyager sometimes saved the crew from disaster.

The dog that who won the race was my dog, Swifty. I never doubted him for a second.

See also: “That” or “Who”? Which Word Is Correct?

Some Verbs May Not Require That

You can often remove that after these bridge verbs and their relatives.

A to W assume, believe, claim, comment, decide, declare, establish, feel, figure, hear, hope, imagine, insist, know, posit, remark, report, respond, say, suggest, suppose, think, understand, write

Read the sentences below out loud, with and without that . Does deletion make an appreciable difference?

He believed that he could write the book in a month.

The patient claimed that he was no longer ill.

I figured that it was the best way to proceed.

The shoppers heard that there was a sale.

I imagine that the parcel will arrive on Saturday.

He insisted that he was fit to drive, even though I saw a dozen empty beer cans in the back seat.

The tech knew that nobody would understand the complex algorithm but tried to explain it anyway.

He said that nobody showed up.

I suggest that you go to bed before your father gets home!

I suppose that you expect a surprise party.

He thinks that he can string her along even though he’s dating three other women.

I understand that you’re upset, but let me explain why I did it.

Sometimes rewording is the best approach.

he was unaware of the fact that he didn’t know about

I wonder why that is. Why?

in spite of the fact that although, even if, even though

owing to the fact that because, since

Why did she try to keep something like that from her doctor? Why did she try to keep such a thing from her doctor?

It was that that made the difference. [A specific incident] made the difference.

It’s something that we should all do. We should all [provide details].

The cake wasn’t that bad. The cake wasn’t so bad.

That was the last straw. [A specific incident] was the last straw.

On that matter, he refuses to compromise. On [specific issue], he refuses to compromise.

She insisted that she should pay the tab. She insisted on paying the tab.

If that ’s all you have to say, we can get to the point. If you’re finished babbling, we can get to the point.

After that , everyone smiled and clapped. After [specific incident], everyone smiled and clapped. Afterward, everyone smiled and clapped.

Following that , he broke the vase. Following [specific incident], he broke the vase. [Next, then] he broke the vase.

Nouns or Pronouns + That

On your search-and-destroy mission, scrutinize sentences like the following. Does deletion of that change the meaning?

The rumor that the virus is no more deadly than the flu has been disproved.

The wonder that the woman displayed was contagious. Everyone fell to their knees .

My doctor told me that I have to self-isolate for another week.

There’s no doubt that the polar icecaps are melting at an unprecedented rate.

This isn’t the coat that I wore last week.

This is the package that he’s been expecting.

The book that I just published is a romantic comedy.

Adjectives + That

These senteces demonstrate how you can often remove that after adjectives.

It’s obvious that he’s lying.

I’m disappointed that she didn’t show up.

It’s tragic that the parachute didn’t open.

It’s unfortunate that he rejected the evidence.

She was afraid that the medication wouldn’t work.

The stew was so salty that no one would eat it.

His report card was so good that his parents gave him a computer.

Clichés, Idioms, and Trite Phrases

Stale expressions sometimes creep into writing. One here, another there … and soon they overtake a page or chapter. Although they may function well in dialogue, consider rewording when appropriate.

All that glitters is not gold: Appearances may be misleading. Don’t trust everything you see

at that point in time: next, subsequently, then

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt: Ditto. Likewise. Me too.

Can’t say that I have: No, I haven’t. I’ve never [specific incident].

Do you kiss your mother with that mouth ? Do you have to be so vulgar? Why are you so crude?

for all that: however, nevertheless, nonetheless, still

I’ll drink to that: Agreed. Certainly. Definitely. Indeed. Of course.

in the event that: every time, if, whenever

Is that a fact? Is that so? Are you sure? Really?

living proof that: confirmation of, corroboration of, verification of

Sorry to hear that: I sympathize. I regret what happened.

that said, having said that: even so, however, nevertheless

That’s a fact: Beyond doubt. Clearly. It’s true. Literally.

That’s a likely story: You’re lying. I don’t believe you.

That’s easy for you to say: [Specific incident] is difficult for me.

That’s fine by me: All right. I agree. OK. Sure.

That goes without saying: Certainly. Obviously. Of course.  Undoubtedly.

That’s news to me: I didn’t know; I had no idea

That’s that! I’m done. [Specific noun or pronoun] is finished. [Specific proper noun or pronoun]’s word is final

the straw that broke the camel’s back: the breaking point, the last straw, the final indignity, the limit

To bite the hand that feeds you: criticize, disparage rebuff, reject, turn against [an ally, a benefactor, a Good Samaritan, a patron, a provider]

with a face that would stop a clock: hideous, repulsive, revolting, ugly

When in Doubt

Read your work out loud. If omitting that sounds awkward, leave it in or reword your sentence.

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22 thoughts on “ 60+ Ways to Replace “That”: A Word List for Writers ”

I am reminded that English is a flawed language every time i am forced to use “that that” in a sentence. All the good faith that i had had had had no effect on the outcome of that sentence.

“I’m sorry” and “I apologize” mean the same thing, except when you’re at a funeral. See also: “Have a nice day” and “Enjoy the next 24 hours” don’t mean the same thing.

I had to look up the difference between “nobody” and “no one”. While it feels like there should be a difference, they appear to be synonyms.

Some days I think there’s an imp who invents new ways to make English funnier, more difficult, and even more exasperating. 😉

I found this information very informative and useful for my writing. Could you do one like this for wasn’t, couldn’t and other words like that

Thanks, Brixton.

How about this one? https://kathysteinemann.com/Musings/negativity/

Great help! Thank you, Kathy.

My pleasure, Marina. Thanks for stopping by!

Great explanations with great examples. 🙂

Thanks, Debby!

Thanks, Kathy. Always great information.

Glad to do it, Frank. Thanks for stopping by again.

This makes me so happy. 🙂 As a home school mom, I tell my kiddos to search for “that” in their paper & see if it can be eliminated. You gave some excellent suggestions here. Now I need to put it to use in my manuscript. 😉

Good luck with the kiddos, Barb. I’m glad that I was able to help. 😉

“That” gives me the most headaches when writing so this was enormously helpful.

Thanks, Michael. I’m glad you found it useful.

I use ‘that’ a lot – my brain is lazy when writing, and reaches for the easiest way to say something.

You wouldn’t want to read this version.

Rigorous self-editing – after Autocrit presents me with the tally of that and that’s and I blanch – and we’re back to something palatable.

A lot of your examples also shorten and tighten the sentences – useful and good.

Note: the dash is sometimes useful for ‘that.’

Thanks, Alicia. An em dash instead of that? I could see it work in some sentences, although I try to eliminate as many em dashes as possible. They cause unexpected formatting issues.

I wish I discovered your series earlier. Until recently, I would have written that sentence as “I wish that I discovered your series earlier.” Thanks for the concrete examples. You’ve simplified the “that” and “which” dilemma for me too.

Thanks, Pete. I’m so glad I was able to help!

‘That’ is an insidious little word that creeps unnoticed into our writing. (See, there’s one there that just crept in. Oh! And another!)

Heh heh. Ain’t that the truth!

This was my most over used word in my first book – 565 times in an 85K manuscript! The editing was excruciating! LOL!

That sounds like that would have been a monumental task that would have taken a long time to fix. 🙂

• Testimonials

How to replace is, are, am, was, were, be, been and to be.

The hardest skill students learn is how to replace the verb “to be.”  Yet is it the single most important skill for improving the verbs in their writing.

The problem is that the verb “to be” rarely has strong synonyms. As a linking verb it can sometimes be replaced with another linking verb.  “He is sick” can become “He looks sick” or “He feels sick” or “He seems sick.”  But none of those replacements is much stronger than the original verb, “is.”

An excerpt of a third grader’s revised essay.

Even harder is when the verb identifies something that exists.  How do you restate, “That dog is mine.”  “That dog was mine,” changes just the verb tense; it is the same verb.  “That dog becomes mine,” changes the meaning.

What I tell my students is that usually they will need to replace not just the verb, but the whole sentence.  I ask them to tell me what the sentence means, using other words.  For the sentence, “He is sick,” I ask how they know he is sick.  What does he look like that would let me know he is sick?  They might say, “His face is red and he has a fever.”  I might say, “That’s good, but you are still using the word is.  How can you tell me that his face is red and that he has a fever without using the word ‘is’”?  Usually they are stumped, so I offer suggestions.  “His mother placed an ice bag on his flushed forehead.”  Or, “’Wow!  101 degrees,’ said his mother shaking the thermometer.”   Or, “The feverish boy lay down on the cold tile floor, moving every few seconds to chill his hot body.”

The trick is to let the reader see, hear, touch, smell or taste (usually see) what the writer saw in his mind before he wrote, “He is sick.”  “He is sick” is a conclusion based on certain facts.  What are the facts that led the writer to conclude that “He is sick”? Those facts are what the reader needs to know so that the reader can come to his own conclusion that “He is sick.”

We’ll have more blogs on changing the verb “to be” in the future because it is such a vital part of improving writing, yet such a difficult skill to master.  For now, we’ll move on to the next blog about sentence beginnings.

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2 responses to “ How to replace is, are, am, was, were, be, been and to be. ”

Hi, I’m looking for a writing tutor for my 10 year old daughter. One who could grow in the language arts especially in writing. I like your edited writing excerpt, even though i know english as my second language. My deepest desire is to see my daughter Laura to excel in language arts learning. Do you think i could hrar from you? We live in Ventura.

Excellent article……simply outstanding

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33 Transition Words and Phrases

Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one.

Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that “this follows logically from the preceding” include accordingly, therefore, and consequently . Words that mean “in addition to” include moreover, besides, and further . Words that mean “contrary to what was just stated” include however, nevertheless , and nonetheless .

as a result : THEREFORE : CONSEQUENTLY

The executive’s flight was delayed and they accordingly arrived late.

in or by way of addition : FURTHERMORE

The mountain has many marked hiking trails; additionally, there are several unmarked trails that lead to the summit.

at a later or succeeding time : SUBSEQUENTLY, THEREAFTER

Afterward, she got a promotion.

even though : ALTHOUGH

She appeared as a guest star on the show, albeit briefly.

in spite of the fact that : even though —used when making a statement that differs from or contrasts with a statement you have just made

They are good friends, although they don't see each other very often.

in addition to what has been said : MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE

I can't go, and besides, I wouldn't go if I could.

as a result : in view of the foregoing : ACCORDINGLY

The words are often confused and are consequently misused.

in a contrasting or opposite way —used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous statement or presents a differing interpretation or possibility

Large objects appear to be closer. Conversely, small objects seem farther away.

used to introduce a statement that is somehow different from what has just been said

These problems are not as bad as they were. Even so, there is much more work to be done.

used as a stronger way to say "though" or "although"

I'm planning to go even though it may rain.

in addition : MOREOVER

I had some money to invest, and, further, I realized that the risk was small.

in addition to what precedes : BESIDES —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

These findings seem plausible. Furthermore, several studies have confirmed them.

because of a preceding fact or premise : for this reason : THEREFORE

He was a newcomer and hence had no close friends here.

from this point on : starting now

She announced that henceforth she would be running the company.

in spite of that : on the other hand —used when you are saying something that is different from or contrasts with a previous statement

I'd like to go; however, I'd better not.

as something more : BESIDES —used for adding information to a statement

The city has the largest population in the country and in addition is a major shipping port.

all things considered : as a matter of fact —used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement

He likes to have things his own way; indeed, he can be very stubborn.

for fear that —often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension

He was concerned lest anyone think that he was guilty.

in addition : ALSO —often used to introduce a statement that adds to and is related to a previous statement

She is an acclaimed painter who is likewise a sculptor.

at or during the same time : in the meantime

You can set the table. Meanwhile, I'll start making dinner.

BESIDES, FURTHER : in addition to what has been said —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

It probably wouldn't work. Moreover, it would be very expensive to try it.

in spite of that : HOWEVER

It was a predictable, but nevertheless funny, story.

in spite of what has just been said : NEVERTHELESS

The hike was difficult, but fun nonetheless.

without being prevented by (something) : despite—used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

Notwithstanding their youth and inexperience, the team won the championship.

if not : or else

Finish your dinner. Otherwise, you won't get any dessert.

more correctly speaking —used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said

We can take the car, or rather, the van.

in spite of that —used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

I tried again and still I failed.

by that : by that means

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.

for that reason : because of that

This tablet is thin and light and therefore very convenient to carry around.

immediately after that

The committee reviewed the documents and thereupon decided to accept the proposal.

because of this or that : HENCE, CONSEQUENTLY

This detergent is highly concentrated and thus you will need to dilute it.

while on the contrary —used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different

Some of these species have flourished, whereas others have struggled.

NEVERTHELESS, HOWEVER —used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way

It was pouring rain out, yet his clothes didn’t seem very wet.

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Word Choice

What this handout is about.

This handout can help you revise your papers for word-level clarity, eliminate wordiness and avoid clichés, find the words that best express your ideas, and choose words that suit an academic audience.

Introduction

Writing is a series of choices. As you work on a paper, you choose your topic, your approach, your sources, and your thesis; when it’s time to write, you have to choose the words you will use to express your ideas and decide how you will arrange those words into sentences and paragraphs. As you revise your draft, you make more choices. You might ask yourself, “Is this really what I mean?” or “Will readers understand this?” or “Does this sound good?” Finding words that capture your meaning and convey that meaning to your readers is challenging. When your instructors write things like “awkward,” “vague,” or “wordy” on your draft, they are letting you know that they want you to work on word choice. This handout will explain some common issues related to word choice and give you strategies for choosing the best words as you revise your drafts.

As you read further into the handout, keep in mind that it can sometimes take more time to “save” words from your original sentence than to write a brand new sentence to convey the same meaning or idea. Don’t be too attached to what you’ve already written; if you are willing to start a sentence fresh, you may be able to choose words with greater clarity.

For tips on making more substantial revisions, take a look at our handouts on reorganizing drafts and revising drafts .

“Awkward,” “vague,” and “unclear” word choice

So: you write a paper that makes perfect sense to you, but it comes back with “awkward” scribbled throughout the margins. Why, you wonder, are instructors so fond of terms like “awkward”? Most instructors use terms like this to draw your attention to sentences they had trouble understanding and to encourage you to rewrite those sentences more clearly.

Difficulties with word choice aren’t the only cause of awkwardness, vagueness, or other problems with clarity. Sometimes a sentence is hard to follow because there is a grammatical problem with it or because of the syntax (the way the words and phrases are put together). Here’s an example: “Having finished with studying, the pizza was quickly eaten.” This sentence isn’t hard to understand because of the words I chose—everybody knows what studying, pizza, and eating are. The problem here is that readers will naturally assume that first bit of the sentence “(Having finished with studying”) goes with the next noun that follows it—which, in this case, is “the pizza”! It doesn’t make a lot of sense to imply that the pizza was studying. What I was actually trying to express was something more like this: “Having finished with studying, the students quickly ate the pizza.” If you have a sentence that has been marked “awkward,” “vague,” or “unclear,” try to think about it from a reader’s point of view—see if you can tell where it changes direction or leaves out important information.

Sometimes, though, problems with clarity are a matter of word choice. See if you recognize any of these issues:

• Misused words —the word doesn’t actually mean what the writer thinks it does. Example : Cree Indians were a monotonous culture until French and British settlers arrived. Revision: Cree Indians were a homogenous culture.
• Words with unwanted connotations or meanings. Example : I sprayed the ants in their private places. Revision: I sprayed the ants in their hiding places.
• Using a pronoun when readers can’t tell whom/what it refers to. Example : My cousin Jake hugged my brother Trey, even though he didn’t like him very much. Revision: My cousin Jake hugged my brother Trey, even though Jake doesn’t like Trey very much.
• Jargon or technical terms that make readers work unnecessarily hard. Maybe you need to use some of these words because they are important terms in your field, but don’t throw them in just to “sound smart.” Example : The dialectical interface between neo-Platonists and anti-disestablishment Catholics offers an algorithm for deontological thought. Revision : The dialogue between neo-Platonists and certain Catholic thinkers is a model for deontological thought.
• Loaded language. Sometimes we as writers know what we mean by a certain word, but we haven’t ever spelled that out for readers. We rely too heavily on that word, perhaps repeating it often, without clarifying what we are talking about. Example : Society teaches young girls that beauty is their most important quality. In order to prevent eating disorders and other health problems, we must change society. Revision : Contemporary American popular media, like magazines and movies, teach young girls that beauty is their most important quality. In order to prevent eating disorders and other health problems, we must change the images and role models girls are offered.

Sometimes the problem isn’t choosing exactly the right word to express an idea—it’s being “wordy,” or using words that your reader may regard as “extra” or inefficient. Take a look at the following list for some examples. On the left are some phrases that use three, four, or more words where fewer will do; on the right are some shorter substitutes:

Keep an eye out for wordy constructions in your writing and see if you can replace them with more concise words or phrases.

In academic writing, it’s a good idea to limit your use of clichés. Clichés are catchy little phrases so frequently used that they have become trite, corny, or annoying. They are problematic because their overuse has diminished their impact and because they require several words where just one would do.

The main way to avoid clichés is first to recognize them and then to create shorter, fresher equivalents. Ask yourself if there is one word that means the same thing as the cliché. If there isn’t, can you use two or three words to state the idea your own way? Below you will see five common clichés, with some alternatives to their right. As a challenge, see how many alternatives you can create for the final two examples.

Try these yourself:

Writing for an academic audience

When you choose words to express your ideas, you have to think not only about what makes sense and sounds best to you, but what will make sense and sound best to your readers. Thinking about your audience and their expectations will help you make decisions about word choice.

Some writers think that academic audiences expect them to “sound smart” by using big or technical words. But the most important goal of academic writing is not to sound smart—it is to communicate an argument or information clearly and convincingly. It is true that academic writing has a certain style of its own and that you, as a student, are beginning to learn to read and write in that style. You may find yourself using words and grammatical constructions that you didn’t use in your high school writing. The danger is that if you consciously set out to “sound smart” and use words or structures that are very unfamiliar to you, you may produce sentences that your readers can’t understand.

When writing for your professors, think simplicity. Using simple words does not indicate simple thoughts. In an academic argument paper, what makes the thesis and argument sophisticated are the connections presented in simple, clear language.

Keep in mind, though, that simple and clear doesn’t necessarily mean casual. Most instructors will not be pleased if your paper looks like an instant message or an email to a friend. It’s usually best to avoid slang and colloquialisms. Take a look at this example and ask yourself how a professor would probably respond to it if it were the thesis statement of a paper: “Moulin Rouge really bit because the singing sucked and the costume colors were nasty, KWIM?”

Selecting and using key terms

When writing academic papers, it is often helpful to find key terms and use them within your paper as well as in your thesis. This section comments on the crucial difference between repetition and redundancy of terms and works through an example of using key terms in a thesis statement.

Repetition vs. redundancy

These two phenomena are not necessarily the same. Repetition can be a good thing. Sometimes we have to use our key terms several times within a paper, especially in topic sentences. Sometimes there is simply no substitute for the key terms, and selecting a weaker term as a synonym can do more harm than good. Repeating key terms emphasizes important points and signals to the reader that the argument is still being supported. This kind of repetition can give your paper cohesion and is done by conscious choice.

In contrast, if you find yourself frustrated, tiredly repeating the same nouns, verbs, or adjectives, or making the same point over and over, you are probably being redundant. In this case, you are swimming aimlessly around the same points because you have not decided what your argument really is or because you are truly fatigued and clarity escapes you. Refer to the “Strategies” section below for ideas on revising for redundancy.

Building clear thesis statements

Writing clear sentences is important throughout your writing. For the purposes of this handout, let’s focus on the thesis statement—one of the most important sentences in academic argument papers. You can apply these ideas to other sentences in your papers.

A common problem with writing good thesis statements is finding the words that best capture both the important elements and the significance of the essay’s argument. It is not always easy to condense several paragraphs or several pages into concise key terms that, when combined in one sentence, can effectively describe the argument.

However, taking the time to find the right words offers writers a significant edge. Concise and appropriate terms will help both the writer and the reader keep track of what the essay will show and how it will show it. Graders, in particular, like to see clearly stated thesis statements. (For more on thesis statements in general, please refer to our handout .)

Example : You’ve been assigned to write an essay that contrasts the river and shore scenes in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. You work on it for several days, producing three versions of your thesis:

Version 1 : There are many important river and shore scenes in Huckleberry Finn.

Version 2 : The contrasting river and shore scenes in Huckleberry Finn suggest a return to nature.

Version 3 : Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

Let’s consider the word choice issues in these statements. In Version 1, the word “important”—like “interesting”—is both overused and vague; it suggests that the author has an opinion but gives very little indication about the framework of that opinion. As a result, your reader knows only that you’re going to talk about river and shore scenes, but not what you’re going to say. Version 2 is an improvement: the words “return to nature” give your reader a better idea where the paper is headed. On the other hand, they still do not know how this return to nature is crucial to your understanding of the novel.

Finally, you come up with Version 3, which is a stronger thesis because it offers a sophisticated argument and the key terms used to make this argument are clear. At least three key terms or concepts are evident: the contrast between river and shore scenes, a return to nature, and American democratic ideals.

By itself, a key term is merely a topic—an element of the argument but not the argument itself. The argument, then, becomes clear to the reader through the way in which you combine key terms.

Strategies for successful word choice

• Be careful when using words you are unfamiliar with. Look at how they are used in context and check their dictionary definitions.
• Be careful when using the thesaurus. Each word listed as a synonym for the word you’re looking up may have its own unique connotations or shades of meaning. Use a dictionary to be sure the synonym you are considering really fits what you are trying to say.
• Under the present conditions of our society, marriage practices generally demonstrate a high degree of homogeneity.
• In our culture, people tend to marry others who are like themselves. (Longman, p. 452)
• Before you revise for accurate and strong adjectives, make sure you are first using accurate and strong nouns and verbs. For example, if you were revising the sentence “This is a good book that tells about the Revolutionary War,” think about whether “book” and “tells” are as strong as they could be before you worry about “good.” (A stronger sentence might read “The novel describes the experiences of a soldier during the Revolutionary War.” “Novel” tells us what kind of book it is, and “describes” tells us more about how the book communicates information.)
• Try the slash/option technique, which is like brainstorming as you write. When you get stuck, write out two or more choices for a questionable word or a confusing sentence, e.g., “questionable/inaccurate/vague/inappropriate.” Pick the word that best indicates your meaning or combine different terms to say what you mean.
• Look for repetition. When you find it, decide if it is “good” repetition (using key terms that are crucial and helpful to meaning) or “bad” repetition (redundancy or laziness in reusing words).
• Write your thesis in five different ways. Make five different versions of your thesis sentence. Compose five sentences that express your argument. Try to come up with four alternatives to the thesis sentence you’ve already written. Find five possible ways to communicate your argument in one sentence to your reader. (We’ve just used this technique—which of the last five sentences do you prefer?)Whenever we write a sentence we make choices. Some are less obvious than others, so that it can often feel like we’ve written the sentence the only way we know how. By writing out five different versions of your thesis, you can begin to see your range of choices. The final version may be a combination of phrasings and words from all five versions, or the one version that says it best. By literally spelling out some possibilities for yourself, you will be able to make better decisions.
• Read your paper out loud and at… a… slow… pace. You can do this alone or with a friend, roommate, TA, etc. When read out loud, your written words should make sense to both you and other listeners. If a sentence seems confusing, rewrite it to make the meaning clear.
• Instead of reading the paper itself, put it down and just talk through your argument as concisely as you can. If your listener quickly and easily comprehends your essay’s main point and significance, you should then make sure that your written words are as clear as your oral presentation was. If, on the other hand, your listener keeps asking for clarification, you will need to work on finding the right terms for your essay. If you do this in exchange with a friend or classmate, rest assured that whether you are the talker or the listener, your articulation skills will develop.
• Have someone not familiar with the issue read the paper and point out words or sentences they find confusing. Do not brush off this reader’s confusion by assuming they simply doesn’t know enough about the topic. Instead, rewrite the sentences so that your “outsider” reader can follow along at all times.
• Check out the Writing Center’s handouts on style , passive voice , and proofreading for more tips.

Questions to ask yourself

• Am I sure what each word I use really means? Am I positive, or should I look it up?
• Have I found the best word or just settled for the most obvious, or the easiest, one?
• Am I trying too hard to impress my reader?
• What’s the easiest way to write this sentence? (Sometimes it helps to answer this question by trying it out loud. How would you say it to someone?)
• What are the key terms of my argument?
• Can I outline out my argument using only these key terms? What others do I need? Which do I not need?
• Have I created my own terms, or have I simply borrowed what looked like key ones from the assignment? If I’ve borrowed the terms, can I find better ones in my own vocabulary, the texts, my notes, the dictionary, or the thesaurus to make myself clearer?
• Are my key terms too specific? (Do they cover the entire range of my argument?) Can I think of specific examples from my sources that fall under the key term?
• Are my key terms too vague? (Do they cover more than the range of my argument?)

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Cook, Claire Kehrwald. 1985. Line by Line: How to Improve Your Own Writing . Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Grossman, Ellie. 1997. The Grammatically Correct Handbook: A Lively and Unorthodox Review of Common English for the Linguistically Challenged . New York: Hyperion.

Houghton Mifflin. 1996. The American Heritage Book of English Usage: A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English . Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

O’Conner, Patricia. 2010. Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English , 3rd ed. New York: Penguin Publishing Group.

Tarshis, Barry. 1998. How to Be Your Own Best Editor: The Toolkit for Everyone Who Writes . New York: Three Rivers Press.

Williams, Joseph, and Joseph Bizup. 2017. Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace , 12th ed. Boston: Pearson.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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18 Common Words That You Should Replace in Your Writing

It’s a familiar scene: you’re slumped over your keyboard or notebook, obsessing over your character. While we tend to agonize over everything from structure to backstory, it’s important to weigh how you write something too. A perfectly constructed world is flat on the page if you use feeble, common words. When you’re finished constructing your perfectly balanced world, do your writing a favor and take another pass to weed out these 18 haggard words.

High on any list of most used English words is “good.” While this word may appear to be the perfect adjective for nearly anything, that is precisely what makes it so vague. Try getting more specific. If something’s going well, try “superb,” “outstanding” or “exceptional.”

Another of the common words in English is “new.” “New” is an adjective that doesn’t always set off alarm bells, so it can be easy to forget about. Give your writing more punch by ditching “new” and using something like “latest” or “recent” instead.

Much like “new,” “long” is spent, yet it doesn’t always register as such while you’re writing. Instead of this cliché phrase, try describing exactly how long it is: “extended,” “lingering” or “endless,” for example.

“Old” is certainly one of those common words that means more to readers if you’re specific about how old a subject is. Is it “ancient,” “fossilized,” “decaying” or “decrepit”?

“Right” is also among the common words that tends to slip through our writer filters. If somebody is correct, you could also say “exact” or “precise.” Don’t let habit words like “right” dampen your writing.

Here’s another adjective that falls a bit flat for readers, but can also easily be improved by getting more specific. Saying something is “odd” or “uncommon” is very different than saying it is “exotic” or “striking.”

“Small” is another adjective that is too generic for writing as good as yours. Use “microscopic,” “miniature” or “tiny” instead. Even using “cramped” or “compact” is more descriptive for your audience.

Just like relying too much on “small,” we tend to describe large things as, well, “large.” Specificity is a big help with this one too: could your subject be “substantial,” “immense,” “enormous” or “massive”?

Whenever we describe something coming “next,” we run the risk of losing our readers. Good options to make your reading more powerful include “upcoming,” “following” or “closer.”

Another case of being too generic is what makes “young” a problematic adjective. If you want your writing to be more captivating, try switching “young” out for “youthful,” “naive” or “budding.”

“Never” is also among common words to use sparingly. Not only is it a common, stale descriptor, it’s also usually incorrect. For something to never happen, even one instance makes this word inaccurate. Try “rarely,” “scarcely” or “occasionally” instead.

“Things” is another repeat offender when it comes to worn out words. Another word where specificity is the key, try replacing “things” with “belongings,” “property” or “tools.”

Just like “never,” “all” is an encompassing, absolute term. Not only is “all” unoriginal, it’s not usually factual. Try using “each” and “copious” instead.

“Feel” is also in the company of common English words. Try using “sense,” or “discern” instead. You can also move your sentence into a more active tense: “I feel hungry” could become “I’m famished,” for example.

“Seem” is bad habit word we are all guilty of using. Regardless of how well you think your sentence is constructed, try switching “seem” out for “shows signs of.” “Comes across as” is another good option to give your writing more power.

Another easy adjective to let slip by, “almost” is a wasted opportunity to engage your readers. “Almost” is more interesting if you say “practically,” “nearly” or “verging on” instead.

“Just making” it or “just barely” affording something isn’t very descriptive. To truly grab a reader, we must do better. Try “narrowly,” “simply” or “hardly” to give your phrasing more weight.

Last but not least, avoid using the common word “went” to describe your subject. “Went” is a word that lacks traction. Try using “chose,” “decided on” or “rambled” to truly grab your readers.

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15 responses to “18 common words that you should replace in your writing”.

Thanks for this, I realized that I often substitute for those words but it is nice to read it – Also I enjoy reading your blog 🙂

Thank you for the comment, Crystel. Words like that make my day. Cheers!

It’s superb of you to give us a latest way to write after such a lingering time. After all, the decrepit language that is English cannot possibly be used the way is. I know that language changes, and we should look for exotic words to use in our writing instead of being concise. Following, you will most likely tell us that youthful words such as “meh” and “woot” will scarcely be accepted as proper tools. After each, they just don’t sense right, or maybe they show signs of a language verging on change. I don’t know, I it’s a matter of opinion I suppose. And yes, I rambled there.

Short, strong, good, English words, pack feeling, show worth, and strength.

Abbreviated, substantial, sufficient, English utterances, convey sentiment, demonstrate significance, including fortitude.

Did I write the same thing twice? 😉

In other words, use Anglo-Saxon words for clarity; use French and Latin derived words to express subtle nuances.

Great comment, thank you!

No!! “Upcoming”, never! Use forthcoming. It has the virtue of being correct English. The word given is a neologism.

wscottling has a good point. Strunk and Wagnall’s Little Book warns against use of pretentious words when simple ones will get the job done.

Did you mean Strunk and White?

I took a good, long look at all the different things listed here. I feel that when I was a young writer, I may have used a lot of these words. Now that I’m relatively old, I have found new terms to add to my vocabulary. That vocabulary has grown fairly large as I’ve progressed. The change seems small to me, and whether it’s right or not, I don’t want to say never to any word in language. I almost just went out to buy a new dictionary after reading this. I will keep this in mind when I’m writing in the future.

(I attempted to use all 18 words in my missive.)

An informative and educational must-read for writers, this article is wonderful. I’m definitely bookmarking it, because I lean on those 18 words too hard when I write.

Thank you for taking the time to write and share this!

And to be annoying, please delete THAT in your tittle.

I admit that certain words would do better in certain instances, however, if that is not the way your character speaks, would it not be alright to use the latter??

I’m not a supporter of replacing good short words with more elaborate and not exactly synonymous substitutes, especially if the only reason is that some may think them overused. The word one uses should be the word that best does the job.

I love this article .Even many such that are relevant to English .These kind of my subject matter boost my inner confidence .I really thankful for the concerned resource persons for continously inspiring us .Hope in future they also guide us .Excellent work!…

Thank you for adding new words to my vocabulary range. Now i could sound more intelligible.

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English for Professionals

Upgrade Your Writing By Replacing These 10 Overused English Words

Learn how to replace overused English words in your academic and business writing.

Repetition is not always boring. 

It is a useful writing technique if you want to stress something or remind the reader of what has been said.

But if you repeat certain words, again and again, your writing gets unclear. Your text will even sound boring.

Avoid Repetition and Monotony By Using Synonyms in English

Writing well in English means using the right words: the right words for what you mean and including interesting and varied words. 

I have written a lot about English vocabulary and presented new words and overused words to you. 

Learn more Business English vocabulary

Synonyms are words with similar meanings.

Challenge yourself to use a variety of words to describe the situation better. 

This technique is useful when you write, speak, give presentations, when you talk on the phone or in video calls, when you give your opinion in meetings, or create emails. 

As a result, your writing will be more specific and interesting .

The readers will understand you better.

Replace 10 Overused English Words With These Alternatives

So, where do you start if you want to write better? 

What are the most overused words to look out for?

Let’s start by learning to identify and replace ten words that are often repeated in English. 

Here are ten English words that are often overused at work.

In addition, I suggest more fitting alternatives for each word that you can use instead.

This little word is very useful. It is an intensifying modifier . 

We use it before an adjective or adverb to give it a stronger meaning or to stress it. 

For example, a very good presentation is better than a good presentation .

You can often find ‘very’ in front of a more common word, such as ‘good,’ ‘necessary,’ ‘interesting,’ or ‘important.’

But if you use it too much, the meaning can be lost. 

In addition, it can make your writing and speaking seem boring and repetitive . 

Try to use more descriptive English words instead of very to sound more precise and convincing in English.

Read more to find which words you can use instead of ‘very’

2) GOOD 

We use the English adjective ‘good’ to describe something or someone as positive . 

Because this adjective is used so frequently, the positive meaning of ‘good’ can be lost if you use it all the time. 

Instead, you want to use more precise words .

Here is a list of words that you can use to describe something positive in more detail:

English words to say instead of ‘good’

The adjective ‘bad’ means the opposite of ‘good.’ However, we should not use it too much in business because it can sound too direct and negative . 

It is a good idea to know a few alternatives to say that something is not good.

Words to say instead: 

• poor : a poor performance
• unacceptable: His behavior during the meeting was unacceptable .
• unpleasant: Today’s meeting had an unpleasant atmosphere.
• could be improved: I think the report could be improved.
• of low quality: The products we received are of low quality.
• serious: We have a serious problem.
• unsuccessful: Her attempt to present the new marketing plan was unsuccessful.

More synonyms for ‘bad’

4) IMPORTANT

Here is another adjective that we often use at work: the adjective ‘important’ is one of the 100 most commonly used English words in writing.

Example: Our customers are very important to us.

Does this sentence sound interesting or convincing? Not really.

If we use ‘important’ too much, our writing becomes boring and people stop believing us.

Try using different words with similar meanings when possible. It will make your writing sound much more convincing.

Words you can say instead of ‘important’  

The English word ‘but’ is a conjunction, so we use it to connect and contrast two different ideas.

This example shows how we use ‘but’ to link two different statements: 

We need to hire a new IT assistant, but it will be difficult to find the right person for the job.

‘But’ is such a useful and easy word. 

However, when you write English professionally , it is helpful to know a few different ways to say but .

What to say instead of ‘but’

We use the English word ‘because’ as a conjunction to connect two sentences. This means that the second sentence part is the result of the first. 

Example: The entire team understood the problem because her presentation was clear.

Conjunctions make your ideas and writing flow.

Still, if we repeat the word ‘because’ too often, our writing sounds boring and monotonous. 

Therefore, it is wise to know and use different conjunctions with similar meanings.

What to say instead: 

• due to: We can’t attend the meeting due to our flight schedule.
• therefore: The company did not make enough profit this year. Therefore, seven employees had to leave.
• as: As the team missed the deadline, Andrew decided to finish alone.
• since: She believed in the product, since it solves a real problem.

Find more synonyms for ‘because’

In informal emails or chats, the English adjective ‘happy’ is a great word to express enthusiasm. 

Example: I’m happy to report that we achieved our targets this month.

Still, sometimes it is better to use a more professional or formal word instead.

• glad: John was glad that I joined the meeting.
• content: I am content with my work.
• thrilled: The board is thrilled to announce the new CEO.
• delighted: We are delighted with the new addition to our team.
• pleased: I am pleased to hear that the production is going well.
• satisfied: We are satisfied with our employees’ performance.

More synonyms for ‘happy’

This is the only verb in our list of overused words. We often use the verb ‘to look’ in writing. 

However, your writing will sound more professional if you sometimes use synonyms for this verb.

• observe: She looked around the room to observe the team members’ reactions.
• study: We really need to study the data before we make any decisions.
• review: That’s okay! I will review your draft later.
• glance: During his presentation, Phil glanced at the clock.

More synonyms for the verb ‘look’

It is great to be able to say something positive about something or someone. 

‘Nice’ is an adjective that describes people or things, e.g. the weather.

While it is positive, it can sound vague. 

We should all know a few positive adjectives in English that we can use instead of ‘nice.’

• pleasant: Working with him on the team has been a pleasant experience.
• lovely: What a lovely office!
• correct: Everything about it is correct.
• likeable: She is such a likeable person and a great team player.

Find more synonyms for ‘nice’

10) INTERESTING

Here is another word that loses its significance if you use it too often. 

Often, our texts don’t sound interesting at all even if we use the word ‘interesting.’ 

Thankfully, there are many adjectives in English with a similar meaning as ‘interesting’ that you can use in business situations.

Words you can use instead of ‘interesting’

Conclusion: Become a Better Writer by Using Synonyms

A wonderful writing technique for non-native English speakers is avoiding overused words in English. 

Read more: More words to avoid in business

Words, such as good, nice, interesting, and very , are used too often in English, so they can sound vague and uninteresting . 

Instead, try to use synonyms – words with similar meanings – whenever you can. 

As a result, your writing will be more precise and vivid .

Read more: How to remember new English words

Moreover, I encourage you to use vocabulary tools to memorize alternatives for these words. 

I recommend Quizlet or another flashcard tool to remember new English words.

Happy writing!

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Words to use instead of SAID

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Looking for a specific word? Press the Ctrl key and the F key to open up a search box.

For instructions on how to properly use the words below, click the instructions button below:

👨🏼‍🏫 Instructions

To see the list below without the definitions and examples, click the button below:

🗜️ Condensed

To quickly jump down to the category or emotion you wish to view, simply click the buttons below:

• Answering  💬
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• Purpose  ‼
• Questions  🤔
• Uncertainty  🙄
• Speech  📣
• Anger  😠
• Disgust  😝
• Embarrass  😳
• Fear  😱
• Frustrated  🤨
• Happiness  😀
• Love  💘
• Regret  🤐
• Sadness  😢
• Surprise  😲
• Tiredness  😴
• Not Assoc  🤷

The words below are classified by category

The words below are classified by emotions

Do you have a word that you think should be added to this list, or a comment? Touch the button below to send Steven P. Wickstrom an e-mail:

📬 E-mail

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To view the alphabetized list of examples of words to use instead of said, touch the button below to go the examples page.

🦉 Examples

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what can I replace for "In this essay..."

I'm in my first year of uni & they don't use phrases like the one above. I used this all throughout high school. I'm not sure what to replace it with as I'm not allowed to use this type of language in uni.

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Ways to replace "Then, ..."

I find myself writing "Then, ..." a lot. Example:

As soon as she found my letter---or rather, Kiyoshi's ---she widened her slitted eyes and pressed the letter against her chest. Then, as though she were handling a delicate glass sculpture, she opened the envelope. Mr. HSC squinted his slanted eyes at me. Then, setting down his chef hat on the counter, he said, “Look my shift’s over. How ‘bout we go to the izakaya around the corner? I answered her smile with my own. Then, receiving her apple, I asked her, "So > what now?"

How can I replace those thens? (For some reason, I feel that the sentences sound weird without them. Maybe I'm wrong?)

• creative-writing

• 1 It seems to me that you can do without the 'then's completely in the examples you give. –  storbror Commented Jun 16, 2017 at 9:55
• @storbror So, the fact that they sound weird is just misconception created by my brain? –  alex Commented Jun 16, 2017 at 10:02
• 2 I think it adds dramatic effect, and if you use it a lot, that effect will be lost and potentially replaced with a minor annoyance. In the sentences you write, it seems logical that the second sentence happens "then", so in my oppinion, you don't need it at all. –  storbror Commented Jun 16, 2017 at 10:30
• Weird is good. It gives your writing character. –  Kramii Commented Jun 19, 2017 at 6:21

4 Answers 4

Use the active voice in your sentences and replace the adverbial interjections with metaphor or simile.

Use "then" at the end of long sequences of actions to signify their final step/completion or as the transition/introduction to another set of actions with a different purpose or by another character, hopefully.

Then, as though she were handling a delicate glass sculpture, she opened the envelope. She opened the envelope, careful to handle it as though it were a delicate glass sculpture.

Then, setting down his chef hat on the counter, he said, “Look my shift’s over. How ‘bout we go to the izakaya around the corner?

He set down his chef hat and let out a long sigh. "Look..."

Then, receiving her apple, I asked her, "So > what now?"

I took the offered apple with one hand. "So what now?" I asked during the natural pause created by the gifting.

As you can see, you'll need to incorporate words that indicate simultaneous action. That and various sentence complexity combos.

• 1 Could you provide some examples? –  alex Commented Jun 16, 2017 at 10:17
• @alex See revised post –  user26439 Commented Jun 16, 2017 at 11:01
• No problem. Check out left vs right branching sentences. Mastering left branching sentences will definitely help to combat monotony in pacing at the sentence and paragraph level. –  user26439 Commented Jun 16, 2017 at 12:13
• All of the example sentences in the question already use the active voice. Are you sure this is what you meant? –  psmears Commented Jun 16, 2017 at 14:57

Just drop 'em.

...she... pressed the letter against her chest. As though she were handling a delicate glass sculpture, she opened the envelope. Mr. HSC squinted his slanted eyes at me. Setting down his chef hat on the counter, he said... I answered her smile with my own. Receiving her apple, I asked her, "So, what now?"

(Example 3 sounds better with a "then," though.)

"Then" is not really required in the examples you show. "Then" is only really required when the previous sentence or clause indicates further actions or items.

" First , the Earth cooled, then the dinosaurs came."

I also suspect you are looking at sentences to tell your story rather than complete paragraphs. Your examples can easily be re-written to avoid "then".

"After setting down his chef hat on the counter Mr. HSC squinted his slanted eyes at me. “Look my shift’s over, he said. "How ‘bout we go to the izakaya around the corner?""

"As soon as she found my letter---or rather, Kiyoshi's---she widened her slitted eyes and pressed the letter against her chest. She opened the envelope as though handling a delicate glass sculpture."

As the other answers have noted, you can rewrite the sentences to remove the need for "then" (or possibly just omit it without any rewriting at all). However, there are also a few synonyms you can use, allowing you to keep the sense of narrative flow you're after without the frequent repetition of "then".

As soon as she found my letter---or rather, Kiyoshi's ---she widened her slitted eyes and pressed the letter against her chest. A moment later , as though she were handling a delicate glass sculpture, she opened the envelope.

Mr. HSC squinted his slanted eyes at me before setting down his chef hat on the counter. “Look, my shift’s over," he said. "How ‘bout we go to the izakaya around the corner?

I answered her smile with my own. As I received her apple , I asked her, "So, what now?"

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Word Replacer

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• 🙌 5 Benefits of the Tool
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• Proofreading: The Writing Center, the University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Tips For Effective Proofreading - Writing Center, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Plagiarism: Study Skills and Training, the University of Oxford
• Academic Writing Style, Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Research Guides at University of Southern California
• What Is Academic Writing: Library at University of Leeds
• How to Write a College Essay Best Colleges: Kelly Mae Ross, Devon Haynie, and Josh Moody, US News
• Basics of Writing An Effective Essay: Becton Loveless, Education Corner

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Hillary Clinton: I’ve Debated Trump and Biden. Here’s What I’m Watching For.

By Hillary Rodham Clinton

Mrs. Clinton was the Democratic nominee for president in 2016.

Last week I had the time of my life at the Tony Awards introducing a song from “Suffs,” the Broadway musical I co-produced about the suffragists who won women the right to vote. I was thrilled when the show took home the awards for best original score and best book.

From “Suffs” to “Hamilton,” I love theater about politics. But not the other way around. Too often we approach pivotal moments like this week’s debate between President Biden and Donald Trump like drama critics. We’re picking a president, not the best actor.

I am the only person to have debated both men (Mr. Trump in 2016 and, in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary race, Mr. Biden). I know the excruciating pressure of walking onto that stage and that it is nearly impossible to focus on substance when Mr. Trump is involved. In our three debates in 2016, he unleashed a blizzard of interruptions, insults and lies that overwhelmed the moderators and did a disservice to the voters who tuned in to learn about our visions for the country — including a record 84 million viewers for our first debate.

It is a waste of time to try to refute Mr. Trump’s arguments like in a normal debate. It’s nearly impossible to identify what his arguments even are. He starts with nonsense and then digresses into blather. This has gotten only worse in the years since we debated. I was not surprised that after a recent meeting, several chief executives said that Mr. Trump, as one journalist described it, “could not keep a straight thought” and was “all over the map.” Yet expectations for him are so low that if he doesn’t literally light himself on fire on Thursday evening, some will say he was downright presidential.

Mr. Trump may rant and rave in part because he wants to avoid giving straight answers about his unpopular positions, like restrictions on abortion, giving tax breaks to billionaires and selling out our planet to big oil companies in return for campaign donations. He interrupts and bullies — he even stalked me around the stage at one point — because he wants to appear dominant and throw his opponent off balance.

These ploys will fall flat if Mr. Biden is as direct and forceful as he was when engaging Republican hecklers at the State of the Union address in March. The president also has facts and truth on his side. He led America’s comeback from a historic health and economic crisis, with more than 15 million jobs created so far, incomes for working families rising, inflation slowing and investments in clean energy and advanced manufacturing soaring. He’ll win if that story comes through.

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