stop using the words "just," "actually" and "really" for at least one month

I still use the forbidden words occasionally, but they don’t litter every sentence anymore. I think it’s cleaned up my writing in general.

the word “really” even more than I already was. So I’ve added it to the list of forbidden words. I admit, I let a “just” get through in an email this morning. I’ve caught about three more in posts here and at work.

Note to self: no overuse of italics to make up for lost adverbs!

Not using “just” is much harder. It’s interesting how this has sharpened my writing overall, at least at work. Here, I still babble on and on and on without restraint. I’m starting to see how simplifying my written speech makes me come across as more confident, not more boring.

I don’t know where I picked up the worry that I’m boring. It’s become habitual. That’s a habit that I DEFINITELY need to break. I can be calm and interesting. No need to choose.

I’ve had to delete “just” several times today and I know that some still slipped through when I wasn’t paying attention. It turns out that “actually” isn’t as much of a problem. If I was really crazy committed to streamlining my writing style, I’d give up all adverbs for a month. I will keep an eye on the breeding beasties.

I’m a decent writer and speaker but using these words so often actually makes me sound like I’m just not confident about what I’m saying. Feel free to harass me if I slip up and use them in my entries here. The one exception to the rule is using the expression, “I’m just saying,” which has a certain raisedeyebrowity to it that I like.

EDIT; Ha! The right side quote as I wrote this was: “We are made out of oppositions; we live between two poles. You don’t reconcile the poles, you just recognize them.” Orson Welles is trying to tempt me down the wicked road of Just!