Let’s face it, we’re all guilty of using some words over and over again in our day-to-day written communication. Maybe it’s due to a force of habit or something we’ve grown comfortable with. But it can get boring for your readers. If you’re looking to change it up, here are alternatives to some of the most overused adjectives we all use.
Good
Using “good” is like drinking lukewarm water − it does the job in terms of keeping you hydrated, but it’s just mediocre, bleh. Instead, try using alternatives such as “excellent” or “decent” in response to a text or question.
Important
This word has been used so much that its impact has been lost. If you want to ensure your readers’ eyes don’t glaze over, try grabbing their attention with descriptions like “essential”, “critical” or “vital”.
Interesting
We tend to use this word as a placeholder word − when we’re unsure how to describe something or when another adjective doesn’t come to mind. In lieu of this, consider using “captivating” or “thought-provoking” to indicate something that truly captures your interest.
Spice up your texts and emails with these strong, specific adjectives to encourage your recipients to take notice.
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Sustainability has emerged as the new corporate buzzword these days in light of the devastating impact of climate change. Beyond looking at a company’s profitability, investors nowadays are increasingly making hard-nosed decisions based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations. That is, what companies are doing to foster sustainability. From the United States to Europe, and Hong Kong to Singapore, several bourses around the world have implemented sustainability reporting.
They say variety is the spice of life. Well, it certainly applies to writing too! Varying the length of your sentences not only creates rhythm, but also builds drama. In today’s time-starved world, short sentences are generally preferred over long ones. However, making every sentence simple and brief makes it monotonous for your readers.
The recently-concluded World Cup saw many meme-morable memes as the world was gripped by football fever. Usually in the form of short videos or photographs accompanied by a clever caption, memes allow brands to connect with their consumers on social media. Some of these memes have gone viral and been shared by millions of soccer fans around the globe.
A blend between the words “advertisement” and “editorial”, advertorials are advertisements disguised as a regular article in a newspaper, magazine or website. A good advertorial devotes about 70% of it to good content, while the remaining 30% comprises promotion of your product.
Growing up in an electronics-filled world, millennials developed a creative lingo that reflects their way of communicating in a digital age. Comprising a range of shorthand, conjoined words, abbreviations and phrases, this slang is used by those born between the early 1980s and 2000s. It emerged as this generation was searching for words that are not only convenient, but take less time to type. The result? A sometimes confusing hodgepodge of acronyms or phrases that can seem like gibberish to the outsider. Want to try your hand at decoding some of these phrases?
Whether you’re working with Millennials or managing a team of them, this guide could definitely come in handy in deciphering their exclusive lingo.