Original Source
‘Very’
“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” ― Mark Twain
- Examples:
| Redundant | Concise |
|---|---|
| very able | proficient |
| very boring | tedious |
| very confused | baffled |
| very dirty | filthy |
| very easy | effortless |
| very funny | hilarious |
| very glad | overjoyed |
| very good | Excellent |
| very happy | ecstatic |
| very hard | difficult |
| very interesting | fascinating |
| very joyful | exuberant |
| very kind | compassionate |
| very large | huge |
| very mad | demented |
| very nasty | obnoxious |
| very old | ancient |
| very old | aged |
| very old | elderly |
| very painful | excruciating |
| very quiet | hushed |
| very rude | boorish |
| very shy | timid |
| very tired | exhausted |
| very ugly | hideous |
| very vicious | malicious |
| very wicked | evil |
| very xenophobic | jingoistic |
| very young | juvenile |
| very zen | meditative |