10 Most Overused Words in English You Should Avoid

Any English speaker can write English content or perform a translation, but the quality of writing is what makes your translation or content stand out or shrink. As a translator, the vocabulary you use in writing should be diverse in addition to your skills to adequately convey the meanings of ideas.

Unfortunately, English speakers overuse some words unintentionally either in translation or in conversation despite that they have an average of 20,000 words from which they can select new words every day. There are many reasons behind this and the following are some of them:

1. Some people have restricted social activities and do not have chance to hear various words.
2. The filler words that you add in your pauses between sentences such as like, er, well, so and um have become invaluable due to overuse.
3. We all know that marketing campaigns rely on catchy words like incredible, unique, great, interesting, and amazing that entice people and spice up the marketing content. These words have become boring over time.

Because of the above reasons, you should learn how to avoid using repetitive words that make your translation sound boring and straightforward.

Torjoman’s team of translators are equipped with splendid subject matter expertise that allows them to use the right words in every context.

Now, have a look at the following most common worn-out words in the English language.

Good

We usually evaluate things, persons, or situations by saying “good” or “bad”. However, have you ever asked how far this person or this situation is good?

You have to select the word that best describes the meaning.

Check the following suggested alternatives:

• Fine
• Decent
• Worthy
• Fruitful
• Perfect
• Ideal
• Model

Important

It is one of the words that we see every day in emails, speeches, or even in marketing campaigns. Overusing it definitely decreases its value. Instead, you can consider using crucial, essential, principal, and foremost.

Like

This word has more than one meaning as it is used as a verb, conjunction, noun, preposition, and adjective. Despite its varied uses, people usually use it as a filler word which makes it meaningless. Alternatively, you can employ the following words:

Verb

• Admire
• Enjoy
• Fancy

Adjective

• Similar
• Resembling
• Alike

Preposition

• Such as
• For example
• For instance

Interesting

This is one of the words that is often used to grab excitement, especially in marketing. However, people use it if there is something they do not understand or when they have no interest in what is being said. Synonyms such as compelling, enthralling, and captivating can work effectively.

Many

We use “many” in most cases to refer to the multiplicity of something. If you know the number of things you are dealing with, you may consider using another word especially if the number is not that big to refer to as “many”. Yet, if the number is unknown to you, you can use the words: “countless”, “numerous”, and “a great deal of (something)”.

Literally

The word describes a situation that has actually happened. However, it has started to lose its meaning as people use it to exaggerate or emphasize what they are saying. They can use words such as really, truly, positively, and certainly.

Able

When you question the ability of someone to do something, the go-to option will be the word “able” such as “Are you able to do the job”. You can use the following substitutive phrases:

• Are you qualified to do the job?
• Are you ready for the job?
• Do you have the required competency to do the job?

Bad

When things go wrong, you most commonly use the word “bad”. If you are stuck in a jam while going to an important interview, you will describe this saying “I had a bad day”. Still, many similar words can have more impact on your readers or listeners. Use the following:

• Unpleasant
• Awful
• Poor
• Deficient
• Nasty
• terrible

Angry

“Angry” is one of the words that describes human feelings and emotions. Avoid using it a lot in your writing by replacing it with the below adjectives:

• Irritated
• Resentful
• Outraged
• Furious

Incredible

It is one of the too-often words that people use to describe how something is extraordinary. Replace it with the following:

• Marvelous
• Spectacular
• Fantastic
• Unbelievable

How to Avoid Overused Words?

The more you enrich your vocabulary, the more your translation will sound credible and adequate. Here are some tips to avoid overused words:

1. Search for the synonyms of any overused word that comes to your mind.
2. Make more social connections to enlarge your vocabulary.
3. Read books, newspapers, and blogs.
4. Apply the new words you learn in writing and conversations.
5. Play word games and subscribe to websites that send you “word of the day”.

If you are looking for reliable translation services, Torjoman is here to help. Talk to us today!