{"id":600,"date":"2025-07-29T08:33:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/?p=600"},"modified":"2025-07-29T09:18:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T15:18:16","slug":"why-every-author-needs-a-swear-jar-for-overused-words-and-how-to-fix-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/?p=600","title":{"rendered":"Why Every Author Needs a \u2018Swear Jar\u2019 for Overused Words (And How to Fix Them)\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You know that friend who says \u201cliterally\u201d in every sentence? The one who \u201cactually\u201d can\u2019t stop saying \u201cactually\u201d? Congrats\u2014you might be that friend in your writing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overused words are the junk food of prose: addictive, empty, and guaranteed to bloat your manuscript. But fear not! Let\u2019s turn your bad habits into a game (with a side of shame). Enter: The Author\u2019s Swear Jar. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Problem: Your Manuscript\u2019s Secret Crutch Words<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We all have them\u2014those sneaky words we lean on like a caffeine IV during a deadline. They slip into sentences, repeat like a broken record, and scream \u201camateur hour\u201d to agents and readers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Top Offenders:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u201cVery\u201d: \u201cThe dragon was very angry\u201d \u2192 Yawn. Try \u201cseething\u201d or \u201capoplectic.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u201cJust\u201d: \u201cShe just wanted to leave\u201d \u2192 Delete it. Now.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u201cSuddenly\u201d: \u201cSuddenly, the door exploded!\u201d \u2192 Let the action speak for itself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u201cReally\u201d: \u201cHe was really tired\u201d \u2192 \u201cHe resembled a zombie who\u2019d marathon-watched The Office.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; \u201cBegan\/Started\u201d: \u201cShe began to run\u201d \u2192 \u201cShe bolted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Cure: How the \u2018Swear Jar\u2019 Works<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. Download a \u201cCrutch Word Hit List\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0 Tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/prowritingaid.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ProWritingAid<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autocrit.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AutoCrit<\/a> will scan your manuscript and flag overused offenders. Print the list. Tape it to your monitor. Embrace the shame.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. Assign Fines&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp; Every time you spot a crutch word, drop a dollar (or a coffee pod, if you\u2019re broke) into a jar. Pro tip: Use a clear jar for maximum guilt.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. Reward Your Progress&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp; Empty the jar monthly and treat yourself to something not related to writing (wine, hockey tickets, a nap).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to Fix Your Verbal Tics (Without Quitting Writing)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. The Synonym Shuffle&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0 Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.powerthesaurus.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Power Thesaurus<\/a> to swap generic words for vivid ones.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp; &#8211; \u201cHe walked slowly\u201d \u2192 \u201cHe lumbered\/lurched\/meandered.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. Murder Your Darlings&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0 If the word doesn\u2019t add meaning, delete it. \u201cShe whispered quietly\u201d \u2192 \u201cShe whispered.\u201d (Where else would she whisper? Beside a jet engine?)\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. Read It Aloud\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp; Your ears will catch repetitions your eyes glaze over. Bonus: Neighbors will think you\u2019re rehearsing for a one-person play.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4. Embrace Silence&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0 Not every sentence needs an adverb. \u201cHe yelled angrily\u201d \u2192 \u201cHe slammed his fist on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><br>When All Else Fails: Hire a Hitman (Editor)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes you need a mercenary. A good editor will:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2014Circle your crutch words in red pen (like a vengeful grammar god).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2014Force you to justify every \u201cvery\u201d and \u201creally.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2014Charge you $50\/hour to do what the swear jar does for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Your<\/strong> <strong>Homework<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. Dig up an old chapter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. Search for \u201cvery.\u201d Replace it 90% of the time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. Marvel at how much sharper your writing feels.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>My Final Thoughts: Your crutch words are like hockey penalties\u2014they happen, but too many and you\u2019ll spend the game in the sin bin. Clean up your prose, and your readers (and word count) will thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Personally, my issues aren\u2019t with words at all. Instead, I\u2019m guilty of overusing em dashes and ellipses. So what are your crutch words? Sound off in the comments below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You know that friend who says \u201cliterally\u201d in every sentence? The one who \u201cactually\u201d can\u2019t stop saying \u201cactually\u201d? Congrats\u2014you might be that friend in your writing.&nbsp; Overused words are the junk food of prose: addictive, empty, and guaranteed to bloat your manuscript. But fear not! Let\u2019s turn your bad habits into a game (with a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-i-write-books","category-isnt-that-interesting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=600"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":603,"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600\/revisions\/603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jewlee.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}