Wake Up Your Word Choice
If you’re creating content or copy every day, it’s easy to get into a rut, relying on the same words too often. I see this most commonly in short writing like social media captions. It may seem counterintuitive, but short writing usually takes longer to produce. It’s annoying but true. How can you say what you mean quickly and compellingly? How can you keep the human spark in your voice that differentiates you from your competitors (and from the robots, let’s be honest)?
One way is to force yourself to skip the most obvious word in favor of a more accurate, more energized word. I’m not talking about pulling up thesaurus.com, picking a synonym at random, and boom. A different word doesn’t always mean a better word. Same goes for big, fancy pants vocab. A five-dollar word plopped in the middle of an otherwise casual sentence is going to sound awkward unless you’re some kind of surfer/philosophy professor, and even then. The idea is to zero in on the truest, most vivid language so you can express yourself more confidently and connect more fully with your audience.
I’ve taken 10 of the most overused words I see online and brainstormed alternatives to shake up your writing rut.
Fun (to describe an experience): refreshing, nourishing, adrenaline-pumping, a laugh a minute, unforgettable, wild, chill, bonding, not your average ____, easygoing, comfort zone stretching
Awesome (to describe a person): talented, bighearted, intuitive, life-changing, loyal, rare, self-assured, inspiring, witty, a star, in a class of their own, unofficial mayor of _______, nerdy-cool, King/Queen of _______
Cute (to describe a thing or a place): storied, nostalgic, detailed, handcrafted, whimsical, imaginative, childlike, irresistible, squeal-inducing, boop-able
Happy: content, at peace, all smiles, worry-free, relaxed, in a good place, balanced, not too shabby, comfortable, deep-down joyful, unbothered, transcendent
Creative: original, smart, inventive, perception-changing, generative, experimental, productively messy, out there, curious, has tinkerer vibes, intuitive, in the flow
Innovative: ingenious, uncommon, unconventional, forward-thinking, daring, bold, risk-taking, mind-bending, future making, visionary, world-building
Beautiful: stunning, striking, wow-worthy, jaw-dropping, next-level, well-crafted, singular, unmatched, elegant, royalty vibes, wondrous, awe-inspiring,
Excited: thrilled, counting down the days, like kids waiting for Christmas, beyond, enthused, pumped, jazzed, amped, hyped, 11/10, giddy, might pee a little
Love (as in, “We love the latest collection from so and so”): adore, gaga for, slightly obsessed, we know more about _____ than the average person, our lives revolve around _______, ______’s biggest fan, got lost down a _______ rabbit hole
Perfect: chef’s kiss, so me, just what I’d hoped, what my heart wants more than anything, a thing of wonder, a glory to behold, a treasure, a true gem
What words do you find yourself leaning on a little too much? Have more suggestions? Add them in the comments. Group effort is encouraged.
