A Cure for the Common Word

By K. D. Sullivan

Your brain holds an impressive vocabulary of more than 20,000 words, but chances are you only use a small fraction of them. That fraction is usually filled with worn-out oldies that have lost their impact, such as interesting, good, and nice. Inside, you’ll find more than fifteen alternatives for each of the one hundred most commonly overused words in the English language. Along with a list of synonyms, each common word is accompanied by definitions, sample sentences, witty quotes, explanations of why the word fails to communicate, and much more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Untreed Reads
• Release date: Dec 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781949135138

Book preview

fun!

Common Word #1

absolutely (adverb)

positively; certainly; having no restriction, exception, or qualification

example: Katherine is absolutely the right person for the job.

Diagnosis

Katherine is certainly a good choice for the job, but absolutely doesn’t provide precise information on why and how the assessment was made.

Remedies

Substitute an alternative remedy for absolutely:

Katherine is ________ the right person for the job.

Additional Cures for the Common Word

CURED!

Frodo: You’re late. Gandolf: "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to." J. R. R. Tolkien

Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit. Napoleon Hill

Common Word #2

activity (noun)

a specific deed, action, or function

example: Caper’s afterschool activity takes up a lot of his time.

Diagnosis

Activity doesn’t indicate what Caper is doing, if it’s something recreational, related to work, or something else.

Remedies

Substitute an alternative remedy for activity:

Caper’s afterschool ________.takes up a lot of his time.

Additional Cures for the Common Word

CURED!

Defining and analyzing humor is a pastime of humorless people. Robert Benchley

There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method. Herman Melville

Common Word #3

affect (verb)

to produce a material influence upon or alteration in

example: Your decision will affect the outcome.

Diagnosis

Affect doesn’t characterize in what way(s) your decision will influence the outcome, positively or negatively, for you or others.

Remedies

Substitute an alternative remedy for affect:

Your decision will ________ the outcome.

Additional Cures for the Common Word

CURED!

We write frankly and freely but then we "modify" before we print. Mark Twain

Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun. Pablo Picasso

Common Word #4

amazing (adjective)

causing great surprise or sudden wonder

example: Gizmo the magician performed amazing tricks.

Diagnosis

Amazing doesn’t illustrate the quality of the reaction—if the tricks were intellectually clever, emotionally pleasing or shocking, or perhaps disappointingly dull.

Remedies

Substitute an alternative remedy for amazing:

Gizmo the magician performed ________ tricks.

Additional Cures for the Common Word

CURED!

I deny the lawfulness of telling a lie to a sick man for fear of alarming him. You have no business with consequences; you are to tell the truth. Samuel Johnson

Love is the only shocking act left on the face of the earth. Sandra Bernhard

Common Word #5

awesome (adjective)

very impressive; inspiring; terrific, extraordinary

example: Soccer superstar Taevin is also an awesome writer.

Diagnosis

Awesome is high praise, but doesn’t adequately express how Taevin’s writing so positively affects us.

Remedies

Substitute an alternative remedy for awesome:

Soccer superstar Taevin is also a(n) ________ writer.

Additional Cures for the Common Word