45 ways to avoid using the word “very”
Three Telling Quotes About “Very”
1. “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the
writing will be just as it should be.” ~
Mark Twain
2. “ ‘Very’ is the most useless word in the English language and can always come out. More than
useless, it is treacherous because it invariably weakens what it is intended to strengthen.”
~
Florence King
3. “So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy.
A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t
use
very sad, use morose. Language
was invented for one reason, boys—to woo women—and, in
that endeavor, laziness will not do. It also won’t do in your essays.” ~
N.H. Kleinbaum
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