“So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys – to woo women – and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do. It also won’t do in your essays.”
― N.H. Kleinbaum, Dead Poets Society
I’ve always thought that lazy writers are worse than “bad” writers – writers who just need to hone their craft. If we were to live by the quote above, I suppose I just revealed how I think of myself as a writer – at times, at least.
There is no point in denying it – I use “very” more than I should.
How about you? Are you aware of how often you use the word? [Read more…]