Every writer has them... high-frequency or "crutch" words, if you will. If you're anything like me, they tend to change with each unique work. Words like "before," and "then," for example. With a little help from 34 Editing, the editor who made my Daughter of Perdition Series pretty, we decided to provide you all with several alternatives to some of the more frequent over-used words in fiction.
For handy bonus graphics that correlate with some of the ideas listed in this blog post, skip to the High-Frequency Word Alternatives for Writers Pinterest Board!
First
Prime/primary/primarily
primitive/primitively
initial/initially
basic/basically
lead/leading
original/originally
pioneer/pioneering
cardinal/cardinally
principal/principally
inaugural/inaugurally
Then/Suddenly
abruptly
thereupon
swiftly
formerly
later
at once
at that moment
in that instant
without warning
Now
pronto
momentarily
directly
immediately
presently
straightaway
in an instant/this instant
right now/away
at once
While
accompanying
coexistent
synchronous
amid
throughout
during
although
at the same time
in the midst
in the course of
concurrent
However
despite
nonetheless
for all that
though
all the same
howbeit
regardless/without regard
notwithstanding
Little/Small
bitty
dainty
slim
diminutive
slight
undersized
weensy
teeny
teensy
minute
microscopic
puny
Say
speak
state
rebut
declare
nag
assert
explain
vow
babble
allege
roar
exclaim
cry
taunt
demand
Great
wondrous
spectacular
precious
exceptional
worthy
commendable
phenomenal
stupendous
valuable
considerable
Very
especially
exceeding
chief
notable
vast
immense
dreadful
unique
serious
undoubted
Since
after all
considering
inasmuch/insomuch as
in view/consideration of
by reason of
seeing as/that
Like
resembling
comparable
parallel
uniform
compatible
homogenous
duplicate
carbon-copy
clone
double
equal/equal to
corresponding
akin
similar
Always
ever
forever
perpetual
unceasing
constant
eternal
everlasting
consistent
Just
simply
purely
quite
seemly
almost
hardly
barely
scarcely
marginally
ineptly
slightly
imperceptibly
somewhat
not quite
That
since
considering
given
such
in particular
specific/specifically
said
such
the mentioned/aforementioned
assumed
forenamed
Before
earlier
previous/previously
former/formerly
preliminary/preliminarily
ahead
precedently
past
afore
sooner
prior to
There you have it -- several high-frequency word alternatives to get you started. Check out my High-Frequency Word Alternatives for Writers Pinterest Board to access the bonus graphics that correlate with some of the ideas listed in this blog post!