{"id":3087,"date":"2025-08-01T05:06:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T04:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novlr.org\/?p=3087"},"modified":"2025-07-31T17:06:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T16:06:24","slug":"5-crutch-words-to-eliminate-from-your-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/5-crutch-words-to-eliminate-from-your-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Crutch Words to Eliminate From Your Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you ever read back something you\u2019ve written and felt like it\u2019s not as strong as you\u2019d like? We all have crutch words we overuse that both bulk up the word count and weaken the prose. While crutch words can have a place in your writing, especially for scene-setting or character development, generally, an over-reliance on these words can make your writing seem repetitive or lacking in depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a crutch word?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A crutch word is a word a writer uses unconsciously. They usually don&#8217;t need them, and they don\u2019t add to the story. If someone is speaking, you\u2019ll recognise a crutch word as a pause, or if the speaker uses \u201cum\u201d or \u201cah\u201d a lot. It essentially gives the speaker time to think before they move on to the next idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For writers, crutch words operate in much the same way, but instead of a pause, it\u2019s a filler word we unconsciously use because we haven\u2019t thought the sentence through enough. They\u2019re words that are easy. They flow naturally into the space that could easily be occupied by a slight reworking of a sentence, or a different word choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to eliminate crutch words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you know what crutch words are, the question is, how do you eliminate them? It\u2019s not always easy to pick up on your own writing quirks, so it might take a bit of diligence to find out what yours are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next time you sit down to read over your manuscript or story, look carefully for repeated words or phrases. Highlight them so they\u2019re easy to find later. Look at both an old and a new piece of writing and compare the two. Are there phrases or words you use a lot that are common to both? If yes, then you\u2019ve found your crutch words!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll probably find you use common ones, but there may be words that only you use a lot. I, for instance, tend to use common Australian slang as crutch words in my first drafts that I then need to go through and delete during my first edit. An example is that I use &#8220;all up&#8221; if I&#8217;m writing about something in totality, which isn&#8217;t appropriate for a wider audience unless it&#8217;s specific to a character&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve identified your crutch words, they\u2019re easy to edit out later. But don\u2019t be afraid if you find them in your first draft. Eliminating those words is exactly what revision is for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" data-src=\"http:\/\/wp.novlr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/pexels-pixabay-278887-1024x731.jpg\" alt=\"jumbled letters - Photo by Pixabay for Pexels\" class=\"wp-image-5332 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/pexels-pixabay-278887-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/pexels-pixabay-278887-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/pexels-pixabay-278887-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/pexels-pixabay-278887-800x571.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/pexels-pixabay-278887.jpg 1280w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/731;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Crutch Words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Just<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Just\u2019 is one of the most common crutch words. It\u2019s meant to denote simplicity, but can be completely removed with no loss of meaning in most cases. Using the word occasionally can emphasise the idea of simplicity, but overuse makes it redundant. Often, removing the word \u2018just\u2019 can make a sentence read more impactfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The exception to this is when <a href=\"https:\/\/novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/tips-for-writing-dialogue-reading\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing dialogue<\/a>. Just as writers use crutch words unconsciously, so do characters. A carefully placed \u2018just\u2019 at the beginning of a cry of exasperation, for instance, can actually emphasise their mental distress and add to the overall picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trick is to use \u2018just\u2019 sparingly and consciously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Quite\u2019 is a qualifier with no real strength behind it. It\u2019s an ambiguous adverb, meant to suggest the possibility of more than one interpretation. The problem is that most people use it for emphasis, resulting in prose that comes off as a little wishy-washy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot has been said about <a href=\"https:\/\/novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-adverbs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">avoiding adverbs<\/a>, but understanding how specific ones are used can help determine why they should be avoided and when they can be used to strengthen your writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a character is genuinely uncertain about something, then \u2018quite\u2019 can be a valid choice, but you still need to ask yourself whether another word might be stronger in that context. Instead of saying, \u201cshe wasn\u2019t quite sure,\u201d you could instead reframe that idea with more descriptive words like \u2018trepidation,\u2019 or \u2018uncertainty.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there is a binary difference in what is being observed, then \u2018quite\u2019 can be cut out entirely. For instance, if a character is hiding something in their hand, then saying someone \u201ccouldn\u2019t quite see\u201d sounds noncommittal and doesn\u2019t accentuate the scene as much as a definitive statement like &#8220;they couldn&#8217;t see it&#8221; would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Really<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve got to feel a little sorry for the word \u2018really\u2019 as the problem is, in essence, that it\u2019s completely unremarkable. It\u2019s meant to show that something is more or less of something than average, but is such a flaccid description that you may as well not have qualified it at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are very few examples in prose where the word \u2018really\u2019 would fit better than a more emphatic word. Saying something is \u201creally good\u201d isn\u2019t punchy or interesting\u2014it\u2019s weak. The best thing to do is to commit to one end of the spectrum or the other. Make it \u2018breathtaking\u2019 or \u2018fabulous.\u2019 Make it \u2018disappointing\u2019 or \u2018lacklustre.\u2019 Whatever side you choose, just make sure your words commit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, like most writing rules, there are exceptions. \u2018Really\u2019 works well if your character is voicing sarcasm. \u201cYeah, it\u2019s really great,\u201d carries a tonal meaning that the word communicates well. You might also have characters who use it as slang. For instance, in Australia, we often use \u201creally great\u201d or \u201cpretty good\u201d to mean amazing, or excellent, so it works if you\u2019re trying to show a character\u2019s cultural background through their speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-src=\"http:\/\/wp.novlr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/annie-spratt-4A1pj4_vClA-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"woman editing and eliminating crutch words - Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash\" class=\"wp-image-5333 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/annie-spratt-4A1pj4_vClA-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/annie-spratt-4A1pj4_vClA-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/annie-spratt-4A1pj4_vClA-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/annie-spratt-4A1pj4_vClA-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/annie-spratt-4A1pj4_vClA-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/annie-spratt-4A1pj4_vClA-unsplash.jpg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Literally<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Literally\u2019 is one of the most famously derided crutch words, particularly because it\u2019s often used incorrectly. It\u2019s entered the English language as a statement of hyperbole and emphasis, whereas its true meaning is incredibly definitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem is that \u2018literally\u2019 is worn out. Because it\u2019s so often misused, people love to argue about it (\u201cdo you <em>mean<\/em> literally, or did you actually mean <em>figuratively<\/em>?\u201d usually said with a know-it-all smirk), and because they love to argue about it, people are sick of hearing and reading it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the time when a writer uses literally, it can be replaced with something else or left out with absolutely no change to the meaning of a sentence. And while sometimes, \u2018literally\u2019 could be the exact word you mean, it\u2019s the one word I\u2019d say you should avoid as much as possible. It comes with so much baggage that it\u2019s not worth the trouble. Literally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A lot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018A lot\u2019 is often both misused and misspelt. (If you haven\u2019t seen Hyperbole and a Half\u2019s amazing <a href=\"http:\/\/hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com\/2010\/04\/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">webcomic <\/a>about \u2018a lot,\u2019 then you should definitely check it out). It\u2019s one of those words that sounds like emphasis but is so overused that it\u2019s lost its meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018A lot\u2019 is meant to show an abundance of something, but due to its overuse, it comes across as reductive. It\u2019s also often used when people mean \u2018much\u2019 or \u2018many\u2019. This can change the tone of your writing and come across as poorly constructed or lazy. Especially since \u2018a lot\u2019 is functionally meaningless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using \u2018a lot\u2019 gives no indication of size or scope. It doesn\u2019t carry the same weight as describing something as \u2018grand,\u2019 \u2018massive,\u2019 \u2018myriad,\u2019 or \u2018surplus.\u2019 It can be fine to use if you\u2019re keeping a colloquial tone, or you want to show that something is reductive, but \u2018a lot\u2019 is, without a doubt, one of the most important crutch words to avoid in the bulk of your prose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By learning what crutch words you use and knowing how to eliminate them, you\u2019ll take your revising to the next level. Here are some other common crutch words you might want to look out for: super, awesome, excellent, basically, actually, felt, look, appear to, wonder, somehow, probably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Have you found crutch words that you use a lot in your prose? Have any tips for how to eliminate them? Let us kn<\/em>ow!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever read back something you\u2019ve written and felt like it\u2019s not as strong as you\u2019d like? We all have crutch words we overuse that both bulk up the word count and weaken the prose. While crutch words can have a place in your writing, especially for scene-setting or character development, generally, an over-reliance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":9288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"1280","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-3087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing-tips","tag-writing-tips","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5 Crutch Words to Eliminate From Your Writing | The Novlr Reading Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By learning what crutch words you use and knowing how to eliminate them, 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