LESSON 40.

How to Avoid Overusing Words

KEY WORDS: AVOID WORDS THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF TENDING TO USE REPEATEDLY.

Every person who speaks much falls into the habit of overusing certain words.

The list of such words is different for every person.

1. Notice your speech, and make a list of words that you use repeatedly.

2. Look up synonyms for such words, and practise avoiding repetitions.

3. Study the following list, which is certain to contain several of your own overused words:

Very. (The most overused word in the language. Avoid it.)

Now. (Another commonly overused word. Don't use it.)

And. (Try not to use it except between nouns or verbs.)

I. (The personal pronoun appears too much.)

So. (Better omit it.)

Then. (Don't overuse it.)

Funny. (You probably overuse this word habitually.)

Like. (Verb.) (Use synonyms freely.)

Awfully. (Use some other word.)

Claim. (You probably mean "say.")

Suppose. (Don't use it too much.)

Nice. (Why use it all the time?)

Splendid. (You should not use the word at all unless you mean "glittering.")

Get. (There are many synonyms.)

Love. (You probably mean some other word.)

Listen. (Why use it at all to attract attention?)

To begin with. (Omit the expression.)

In conclusion.

(The expression is needless.)

However. (Not needed usually.)

As a matter of fact. (It means little.)

To my mind.

(A disagreeable expression.)

As I look into your faces. (Don't use this abused expression.)

In fact. (Leave it out.)

Of course. (Not needed.)

Nevertheless. (Needed very little.)

Well. (Much overused.)

Say. (Leave it out.) ·

Fine.

(Most of the time you mean another word.)

Great. (Use synonyms.)

Lovely. (A tiresome word.)

Sweet. (The women overuse this word.)

Pretty. (There are many synonyms.)

Darling. (Use it properly.)

Dear. (Use proper synonyms.)

Immense. (It means "huge.")

These words merely indicate how many such words exist.

Make your own list if you wish the best results.

Find your one pet word, and give it up.

A favorite pet word is great.

Another is magnificent.

A third is beautiful.

A fourth is grand.

Whatever your one word is give it up.

PROBLEM.

Listen carefully to the next public speech you hear, and find the speaker's pet word. Think what words he might use in order to avoid the repetition.

LESSON 41.

How to Give a Definition

KEY WORDS: GIVE LOGICAL DEFINITIONS AS OFTEN AS CONVENIENT.

You are frequently called upon to give a definition of a word that you have used, or to tell the nature of a machine that you have mentioned.

A common way, frequently unsatisfactory, is to give a synonym.

Here is a better way. Give a logical definition.

A logical definition is a definition that consists of these steps.

1. Name the word to be defined.

"A circle

2. Name the class under which the object is placed.

3. Name the differentiae, that is, the detailed points that make this one object different from all others in the class.

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-every point of which is equally distant from a point within called the center."