5 weak words that make your writing less effective

5 weak words that make your writing less effective5 weak words that make your writing less effectiveI cant stand frail, weak writing. And neither can you. You know when youve read content that compels you to do something that matters and when something bores you to tears. You may just elend know exactly why.And you need to be able to identify those words that weaken your writing so that you can stamp them out of your vocabulary.Words are the lifeblood of your writing. Theyre what you use to build credibility or diminish it.Words matter. Theyre what make your arguments mora compelling, your prose stronger, and your craft more captivating.Untrained writers can be careless with their words. It takes discipline to use these tools well. Here are five lazy words that make your writing weaker and how to fix themStuffStuff is a lazy word. Only use it sparingly when youre intentionally trying to be informal.Instead, use a more descriptive noun.ThingsThings is another lazy word. People often o veruse it. While not always inappropriate, it also should be used on rare occasions.Things is nondescript and can often be replaced with much better nouns, such as reasons or elements or issues and so onGotGot is a terrible verb. It means obtaining something or can also be used as a helping verb like have. More often than not, got can usually go away.Instead of saying I got up, say I woke up.Instead of saying, I got a baseball, say, I have a baseball or I found a baseball.Not only is got a lazy word it is also vague. In the last sentence does got mean found or have?Was/Is/Are/AmOften people will say something like, I was there or We were at the party.In these cases, the writers are using different versions of the verb to be when they could be employing better action words.For example, you could instead say, I stood silently in the kitchen or My wife and I arrived late to the party.WentWent is like are. There are a hundred other verbs that you could exchange for went.Instead of sayin g, I went to the store, you could say, I walked to the store or, I drove my car to buy some groceries at the store.Went is a lame word - vague, boring, lackluster.As are am, got, stuff, and things. Here are a few more words and phrases to use sparinglyveryallimportantused toeveryneverfeelseemthinkoftenalmostbigsmallhave gotjustStop using them in your writing.Or at very least, think twice before whipping out a simplistic, overused word like are.Words lose their meaning when we use them carelessly. Take your time, carefully considering how you will utilize the best words possible.When you write, your copy wields great potential. Dont squander it.This article first appeared on Medium.