Words That Should be Abandoned by Warren Bull

Words That Should be Abandoned by Warren Bull

Image from Marten Newhall on Upsplash

I, like, don’t just mean, ya’ know, just those words that, like, get stuck into, um,

sentences for no earthly reason and have no communication value. Of course, we

would all be better off if those were wrapped in a blanket, placed in a basket, and

left on the steps of a church.

I would gladly drop off at the word Empower at the city dump. We are not jumper-cables for 

transferring power. You can act as though you are a worthy and important person. I can 

encourage you to do that. But you do not need me to act that way. You can do it on your own.

I would not throw away the following words. I would just put them on a high shelf

so you have to definitely want them and be willing to climb on a stool to get them

before putting them to use.

Very is very often very redundant. Much of the time, it could be left out of writing or

speech with very little loss of meaning. Very, very little loss.

Some is so vague that it is meaningless. How much does the doggie in the window

cost? Some amount of money. How much danger is involved in following that path

into the mysterious jungle? Some. How much do you learn from the addition of

some? Not much.

Not much, for that matter as well as a lot, also conveys no useful information. Put

them in the closet and lock it.

Available as in I reviewed all the available evidence. What? Why didn’t you review

the unavailable evidence? Why not? Was it not available? What is wrong with: I

reviewed all the evidence?

Appropriate, similar to available. Inappropriate, however, that one’s good to go.

Really is another over-used and under-useful word. Do you need it? Fair enough.

Add: Really? The implication becomes, I know you told me but I’m not sure I believe

you.

What words do you wish would vanish?