90+ Unnecessary Words to Avoid in Writing: A Simple Guide

Words to avoid in formal writing include vague intensifiers (very, really), filler adverbs (basically, literally), filter verbs (felt, thought), empty subjects (there is), slang, exaggerations, and redundant phrases. These patterns weaken clarity and precision. In academic writing, remove anything that adds length without adding meaning. Use specific nouns, active verbs, and direct structure instead.

In this article, you will find more than 90 examples of the words you should avoid in academic writing, along with a quick cheat sheet you can download and reference.

Reference List

If you’re short on time, use this free words to avoid in academic writing PDF you can quickly reference.

Words to Avoid in Writing

Words to Avoid in Writing

What Words to Avoid in Academic Writing

We provide a list of common words to watch for, but the issue goes beyond individual terms. Entire categories of language can weaken your writing unless you use them deliberately. The sections below outline the main groups that you should remove as you write your essay.

Intensifiers

Intensifiers are weak words to avoid in writing because they stretch a sentence without adding anything of substance. Words such as very, really, quite, and absolutely often signal that the adjective is doing too little work. Instead of strengthening your point, they dilute it. Academic readers expect accuracy, so if something is significant, explain why. If results are strong, show the data. Clear writing replaces exaggeration with evidence and specific description.

Filter Words

Filter words insert a narrator between the reader and the information. Words such as felt, saw, heard, and thought shift focus away from the claim. When you write your essay, professors want direct statements that you support with proof. Once you remove filter words, your arguments become more confident, and the meaning of your sentence also becomes sharper.

Vague and Filler Words

Vague words to avoid in writing include terms such as stuff, thing, literally, and perhaps. These filler words blur the meaning of the sentence. When your wording stays general, your reader has to guess what you mean. Strong language choices in writing require you to name the concept, define the action, and support the claim. In clear academic writing, you avoid unnecessary words and replace them with exact, meaningful terms.

Informal or Conversational Language

Informal phrasing weakens your authority, especially when you try to make your essay sound academic. Expressions such as sort of, kind of, a lot, and a couple of are more than okay in a conversation, but not in formal analysis. Some of the most common words to avoid in drafts often include those casual phrases that soften your claims. Academic writing expects measurable detail and clear reasoning from you, so your writing gains credibility when you choose precise descriptions.

Absolutes and Exaggerations

Absolute language further damages credibility. Words such as always, never, none, and nobody make sweeping claims that are difficult to defend. Most research findings exist within limits and probabilities; that's why academic writing depends on evidence. When you avoid absolute phrasing, you create room for accuracy.

Clichés and Redundancies

Clichés are commonly overused words in writing that drain your originality. Phrases such as at the end of the day or generally inflated descriptions that dramatize simple reactions add length without insight. Words to avoid in writing include expressions that waste space or repeat ideas already implied.

Subjectivity and Emotional Language

Emotional adjectives don't belong in academic writing because they rely on subjectivity instead of evidence. Words such as beautiful, wonderful, and hideous tell the reader what to feel instead of showing what is happening. That shifts the focus away from analysis, when in reality, academic readers expect description grounded in evidence. When you remove emotional judgment, your claim has the strength to stand on its own.

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Jargon

Jargon often sounds impressive, but it leads to a lack of understanding. Technical terms belong in academic work when they are accurate and necessary, not when they are used in place of a simple explanation. An average reader should not need professional knowledge to follow your point, so define specialized vocabulary and use plain language when it can communicate the same meaning. Dense, complicated wording without explanation doesn't suggest clarity, but rather the opposite.

Gender-Biased Language

Gendered language reflects assumptions that do not belong in formal tone. Inclusive phrasing keeps the focus on the argument. Gender-biased words to avoid in your writing include job titles and pronouns that assume identity. Academic standards expect neutrality. When you choose inclusive language, you respect your reader and protect the credibility of your work. Clear wording avoids distraction and keeps attention on the subject itself.

Slang

Slang belongs in casual speech. Academic writing requires controlled language, and informal wording quickly weakens your authority and distracts the reader. For example, in rhetorical analysis essays, tone influences interpretation, and slang here sounds vague and exaggerated. Once you replace it with precise language, you can communicate your points directly.

Redundant Words and Phrases

Redundant expressions lengthen a sentence without improving meaning. Such words and phrases to avoid in writing include constructions that repeat what is already clear. Academic writing values efficiency, so you have to remove repetition and state the claim directly. All extra wording will do here is increase the word count without adding insight. Good writing keeps the argument focused and easier to follow.

Empty Subjects and Wordy Constructions

An empty subject is a placeholder that fills the grammatical subject position without naming the real actor. Words such as there and it often serve this function when they appear at the beginning of a sentence, yet they do not perform the action. The true subject is revealed later, and that delay weakens clarity. Empty openings push important information further into the sentence and slow the reader’s understanding.

Uncertain Words

Arguably, the most important thing in academic writing is authority, which uncertain words will immediately compromise. Useless words to avoid in writing an essay include seems, maybe, and probably when they appear without support. Academic writing allows nuance, yet nuance requires explanation. If a claim reflects probability, show why, and replace hesitation with reasoning.

Tips to Improve Your Academic Writing

Strong academic writing develops through choices that train you to recognize patterns and identify the words to avoid when writing. Use the list below to spot these patterns quickly and strengthen your writing during revision:

• Show evidence instead of naming emotion. Do not write “he was very nervous.” Write “his hands shook as he opened the envelope” so the action shows what happens instead of telling the reader what to feel.
• Use active verbs. Replace “the committee made a decision to approve the proposal” with “the committee approved the proposal.” Active verbs make the claim direct and remove unnecessary wording that weakens the sentence.
• Delete unnecessary “that.” Review each sentence and remove “that” when it does not affect meaning, since unnecessary connectors add no value.
• Replace general nouns with specific ones. Avoid words like “thing” or “stuff” and name the exact concept instead, because precise nouns clarify your argument and prevent confusion.
• Remove empty openings. Revise phrases such as “there is” or “it is” by placing the real subject at the beginning of the sentence, which strengthens structure and improves clarity.
• Search for weak patterns. Identify repeated words such as “very,” “just,” or “seems,” then replace or delete them in groups so the draft becomes more controlled and focused.
• Cut excess phrasing. Remove language that increases length without adding substance, since concise writing improves readability and strengthens academic tone.
• Review sentences one by one. Examine each sentence for precision and verb strength, and rewrite any line that relies on filler or vague wording.

Final Word

Academic writing works when the language is exact. Using more words doesn't always mean specificity. Avoid using intensifiers and choose precise adjectives supported by evidence. Replace filler phrases with direct claims that state exactly what the data shows. Remove filter words and present conclusions without commentary about who noticed or thought them. When you see empty openings, move the real subject to the front of the sentence and use a strong verb to carry the idea. Swap vague nouns for specific terms that define your point clearly. This approach will help you build authority, so your writing is more controlled and credible.