stop using the word very

45 ways to stop using the word ‘very’

Think you’ve got what it takes to take on a very engaging and very interesting task? It’s very hard and very easy to slip up. Okay, you ready?

See if you can stop using the word ‘very’ when speaking to others.

Why? You ask? Because it will challenge your mind to dig deeper and utilize a sort of secondary vocabulary that better explains what you’re really trying to explain. In other words, you can swap out the word ‘very’ with more fitting words that get your point across.

45 Ways To Stop Using The Word ‘Very’

It’s challenging but would be an absolutely worthwhile undertaking for a classroom or anyone else looking to up their vocabulary. Check out the visual below for a few examples to help get you started on this challenging but rewarding task. It’s from the Writers Write website which has a bunch of other fun projects and lessons that are great for primary and secondary classrooms.

In case you didn’t know, this is from the film Dead Poets Society which features this fantastic quote:

“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

Written by Jeff Dunn



Jeff is an education and technology lover who has worked in far too many industries to count. Okay, like maybe 5 or 6. Jeff can indeed count that high but it’s not recommended. Jeff also likes to write bios in the third-person.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply