Every writer has favourite crutch words—those little terms we reach for when we are unsure, when we want to soften a statement, or when we simply are not paying close attention. These filler words, also called hedge words or weak modifiers, add length without adding meaning. They make you sound less confident and less precise.
The good news is that once you learn to spot them, you can cut most of them in seconds. Your writing will be tighter, clearer, and more persuasive. Below are the ten most common culprits, why they weaken your writing, and what to use instead.
The Filler Word Replacement Table
Here is a quick-reference table you can bookmark and return to whenever you edit. For each filler word, you will find a stronger alternative and a real-world example.
| Filler Word | Stronger Replacement | Example (Before → After) |
|---|---|---|
| Very | Use a precise adjective | Very tired → Exhausted |
| Really | Truly, genuinely, or remove | Really impressed → Impressed |
| Just | Only, simply, or remove | Just wanted to ask → I wanted to ask |
| Actually | In fact, or remove entirely | Actually, it works → It works |
| Basically | Remove; state the point directly | Basically, we need more data → We need more data |
| Quite | Rather, fairly, or remove | Quite difficult → Difficult |
| Literally | Remove or use a precise word | Literally the best day → The best day |
| Sort of / Kind of | Remove or be specific | Sort of interesting → Intriguing |
| Totally | Completely, absolutely, or remove | Totally agree → Agree |
| Honestly | Remove; let your words speak | Honestly, I think → I think |
1. Very
Why it weakens writing. “Very” is the most overused intensifier in English. It adds emphasis through sheer repetition, not through meaning. When you write “very tired,” you are describing fatigue vaguely. When you write “exhausted,” you paint a specific picture. The word “very” has become a crutch that prevents you from searching for the precise adjective your sentence deserves.
What to use instead. Choose a stronger adjective. If “very big” feels right, the word you actually want is probably “enormous,” “massive,” or “colossal.” If “very small,” try “tiny” or “minute.”
Before: The presentation was very good and the client was very happy.
After: The presentation was compelling and the client was delighted.
2. Really
Why it weakens writing. “Really” is the younger sibling of “very.” It appears constantly in spoken English and migrates into writing unchecked. It signals uncertainty and adds no concrete information. Compare “It was really hot” with “The thermometer read 38 degrees Celsius.” The second version gives the reader real data.
What to use instead. In most cases, simply delete “really” and let the adjective stand. If you need extra emphasis, use “genuinely” or “truly” sparingly, or better yet, provide evidence that supports your claim.
Before: We are really excited about the new product launch.
After: We are excited about the new product launch.
3. Just
Why it weakens writing. “Just” is a diminisher. It downplays the importance of what you are saying. Writers use it to apologise in advance, as in “I just wanted to check in” or “Just a quick note.” This makes you sound hesitant and less authoritative. In many cases, “just” is a form of verbal shrinking—you are making your message smaller before anyone else can.
What to use instead. Delete it. State your message directly. Instead of “I just wanted to see if you received the report,” write “Did you receive the report?” This is clearer, more confident, and more respectful of the reader’s time.
Before: I am just following up on the proposal I sent last week.
After: I am following up on the proposal I sent last week.
4. Actually
Why it weakens writing. “Actually” signals a correction or a revelation, but most of the time it introduces information that does not need the fanfare. It is a conversational tic that pads sentences. Worse, it can sound mildly condescending, as if you are correcting a misconception the reader did not have.
What to use instead. In almost every case, the sentence reads better without it. If you genuinely need to indicate a contrast, use “in fact” or “however,” but only when the logic demands it.
Before: Actually, the meeting is scheduled for Thursday, not Wednesday.
After: The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, not Wednesday.
5. Basically
Why it weakens writing. “Basically” signals that you are about to simplify a complex idea, which can be useful in speech. In writing, though, it often precedes a statement that is not actually simpler—it is just a padded version of the main point. It tells the reader “I am about to summarise,” which wastes their time.
What to use instead. State the simplified point directly. If the concept is genuinely complex and needs an introductory frame, use “in short” or “to summarise,” but only when the context truly requires it.
Before: Basically, the algorithm sorts the data by relevance score.
After: The algorithm sorts the data by relevance score.
6. Quite
Why it weakens writing. “Quite” is a hedge word that has two contradictory meanings: it can mean “completely” (quite right) or “moderately” (quite good). This ambiguity weakens your message. Readers are never sure how much emphasis you intend.
What to use instead. If you mean “completely,” say that. If you mean “moderately,” use “fairly” or “rather.” Better yet, choose a more precise adjective and skip the modifier altogether.
Before: The results were quite impressive.
After: The results were impressive.
7. Literally
Why it weakens writing. “Literally” has been misused so often as a general intensifier that its original meaning—“in a literal sense”—has been diluted. When someone writes “I literally died laughing,” the reader knows they did not die. The word has become a reflexive emphasiser, not a meaningful one.
What to use instead. If you mean something literally, the context should make that clear. If you are using it for emphasis, delete it and find a stronger verb or adjective.
Before: I literally checked my email a hundred times.
After: I checked my email repeatedly.
8. Sort of / Kind of
Why it weakens writing. These phrases signal uncertainty and imprecision. They tell the reader “I am not fully committed to this statement.” While that can be appropriate in casual conversation, in writing it makes you appear uninformed or hesitant.
What to use instead. Either commit to the statement or qualify it precisely. Instead of “It was kind of difficult,” say “It was challenging but manageable.” Specificity builds trust.
Before: The interface is sort of confusing.
After: The interface requires a learning curve.
9. Totally
Why it weakens writing. “Totally” is an informal intensifier that has the same problem as “very” and “really”—it adds heat but not light. It is common in spoken English and social media, but in professional writing it sounds juvenile.
What to use instead. In formal writing, delete it. If you need emphasis, use “completely” or “absolutely,” but check whether the emphasis is truly needed.
Before: I totally understand your concern.
After: I understand your concern.
10. Honestly
Why it weakens writing. “Honestly” is a trust-signalling word. When you start a sentence with “Honestly,” you imply that the rest of what you say is more truthful than your other statements. This creates a subtle problem: it suggests that your unadorned statements might not be honest.
What to use instead. Delete it. Let your words and arguments convey honesty on their own. If you need to emphasise sincerity, demonstrate it through specificity and evidence rather than claiming it.
Before: Honestly, I think this is the best option we have.
After: I think this is the best option we have.
How to Eliminate Filler Words in Your Own Writing
Eliminating filler words is a habit, not a one-time fix. Here are three practical strategies you can use starting today:
Search and Destroy
Use your word processor’s Find feature to locate every instance of “very,” “really,” “just,” and the other words on this list. For each instance, ask: does this word add meaning? If the answer is no, delete it. If you are unsure, delete it and read the sentence again. You will almost always find it reads better without.
Read Your Writing Aloud
Filler words often slip past our eyes but get caught by our ears. When you read your draft aloud, you will hear the “justs” and “actuallys” that your brain silently skipped during the first pass.
Let It Rest, Then Edit
Filler words are most common in first drafts. After you finish a draft, let it sit for a few hours (or overnight). When you return, you will see the padding with fresh eyes and cut it more ruthlessly.
Writing without filler words feels vulnerable at first. You may worry that your text sounds too blunt or too direct. But readers do not miss the padding. What they notice is the clarity, the confidence, and the respect for their time. That is a trade worth making every time.