Words...

[fajrdrako]

The road to hell is paved with adverbs. - Stephen King.

My downfall is the word 'very'. I put the word into everything I write, maybe every paragraph. Then I go back and take it out again.

There is no instance where the sentence isn't better without 'very'.

Comments

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

My downfall is "totally", which is used as an intensifier for "very". You're right about it improving any sentence.

Jack Harkness is sexy.
Jack Harkness is very sexy.
Jack Harkness is totally sexy!

My paycheck is pathetic.
My paycheck is very pathetic.
My paycheck is totally pathetic!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Totally - oh, yes! Different letters, same thing. Very bad. Totally bad. Bad!

Jack Harkness is sexy.
Jack Harkness is very sexy.
Jack Harkness is totally sexy!

All of the above. Absolutely! ...Just because a phrase is inelegant, doesn't mean it isn't also true.

[dejla.livejournal.com]

Mine is and. I have to watch and then go back through and pare.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. I overuse 'and'. And 'but'. And I use commas as if they were wholesale.

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

There is no instance where the sentence isn't better without 'very'.

Which by its own rule should read There is no instance where the sentence isn't better without.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

"There is no sentence which isn't improved by the exclusion of that dratted word."

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

I use "just" a lot. I have to go through and prune it out after I type anything.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness, yes - 'just' is another offender, particularly in dialogue.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

There is no instance where the sentence isn't better without 'very'.

I take that as a challenge, and when I'm not so sleepy I'll see if I can find you some exceptions.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Go for it!