Six words that can ruin your sentence
Crutch words are words that we slip into sentences in order to give ourselves more time to think, or to emphasize a statement. Over time, they become unconscious verbal tics. Most often, crutch words do not add meaning of a statement.
Actually
[ak-choo-uh-lee]
Actually is the perfect example of a crutch word. It is meant to signify something that exists in reality, but it is more often used as a way to add punch to a statement (as in, “I actually have no idea”).
Literally
[lit-er-uh-lee]
This adverb should be used to describe an action that occurs in a strict sense. Often, however, it is used inversely to emphasize a hyperbolic or figurative statement: “I literally ran 300 miles today.” Literally is one of the most famously used crutch words in English.
Basically
[bey-sik-lee]
Honestly
[on-ist-lee]
Like
[lahyk]
The cardinal sinner of lazy words like is interspersed in dialogue to give a speaker more time to think or because the speaker cannot shake the habit of using the word. Like should describe something of the same form, appearance, kind, character, or amount. But, very often, it is used involuntarily in conversation, just like um. Our next and final word is not so obvious.
Obviously
[ob-vee-uhs]
This word should signify an action which is readily observable, recognized, or understood. Speakers tend to use it, however, to emphasize their point with regards to things that aren’t necessarily obvious: “Obviously he should have thrown the ball to first base.” What crutch words do you rely on?
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12 responses to “Six words that can ruin your sentence”
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Just English 
I use actually and like all of the time. I know it’s lazy, but it’s a habit that’s difficult to break. 🙂
My son says “Realistically…” more often than you can imagine possible.
I think “like”‘s the most annoying…
Paired with “you know”…
I was starting a lot of dialogue with so or oh…I had to change that :S
Adding to the list of adverbs, I hear (and unfortunately use) “definitely” and “absolutely” far too often as fillers.
Any word overused can become a hazard, but some writers create clunky workarounds to try to avoid Forbidden Words.
Moderation in all things … including moderation. 😉
I’d add “just” and “very”, but for different reasons.
I misuse “technically” all the time! Lol
The one I’ve noticed is beginning a sentence with the word “So…”, usually in response to a question.
Like, I once had this friend, John Orr, who used to use the word like, like all the time, almost like a breath pause, like when you don’t know, like what to say next. So you like like say, like.
John used to go like like — like all the time, like I’m really not kidding. But, like I have to admit that I thought it was, like, fun, the way he used to throw in a “like” like almost every other word. Like, for John, like was like a comma, like ya know — like a pause between words — Anyway, like I kinda duggit. Like it’s too bad people don’t have like the verbal agility anymore to like use “like” like they used to. Like, Long Live LIKE!
(Like it or not)
Herman Pevner
UCLA corrective speech deoartment
“Listen” is also another one