Write Strong (Not Very Strong) Prose

This common intensifier actually weakens your text

After I finish a long piece of writing, I give myself a quiz. I open a search bar in my document and type very, with a leading space, then hit return. The leading space is important, because otherwise the search finds words like every and discovery and bravery and livery. I’m looking only for very, and I’m glad when I don’t find it.

Very is a contradiction. It’s designed to strengthen but in practice weakens, draining energy from neighboring words. It clutters, creating an obstacle to trip over en route to the point. Over the years I’ve taught myself to write without it, although it’s slippery, sneaking into copy unbidden. Re-writing, I ferret it out.