Filler Words to Cut from your Writing
start / begin ➙ they either do or don't do an action, even if it is interrupted
somehow ➙ find a way to describe it or, if it matters that they don't know how something happened, make it its own sentence. somehow is very lackluster
that ➙ if the sentence makes sense after you remove it, do it
useless modifiers (really, very, certainly, probably, actually, quite, ...) ➙ emphasis on useless: many can be helpful, but many are not
dialogue tags ➙ don't cut them always, but you can leave them out or replace them with action tags for more variety
down / up ➙ often times they are not needed (I sat down vs. I sat)
wonder, think, realize, understand, feel ➙ especially in narration, these are signs of telling, not showing. Instead of "I wondered where he was." you can write "Where was he?"
"There is/was..." ➙ very formulaic and getting rid of as many as possible will make for more variety in sentence structures
Find your own! Every writer will have individual habits, so when you are proofreading your stuff, try to notice your own patterns. Feel free to add onto this post :)
Disclaimer: these words definitely can be very useful when they are used intentionally, especially if they are not overused. When I say to "cut" these words, I mean to question whether they are strengthening or weakening the sentence in every instance.
[Prompt Calender: July 23rd, International Yada, Yada, Yada Day]
