Getting Rid of Crutch Words

by Elizabeth S. Craig

Crutch words are a funny thing. When I first started seriously writing, in the early 2000s, the overused words I leaned on were different from the ones I have now. Kind of shocking to me is the fact that I still use them at all. I’ve been writing long enough that you’d think I’d recognize what I’m doing as soon as I type one. But it rarely happens, probably because I’m in the zone and pushing words forward.

When I’m editing my books, I notice most of my crutch words seem to occur when I’m grasping for the right word or phrase. It’s like a written um. Which also surprises me. You’d think I’d simply stop typing and sit there until the word came to me.

My usual crutch words are a little, just, that, had, started and some. After my first draft, I eliminate a good number of them.  And my betas and editor slash the others.

I’ve gotten sensitive enough to the words that I notice them in other writers’ books, too. They stand out to me like neon signs and take me out of whatever book I’m reading.

If you’re having a tough time identifying your crutch words, there are a couple of good ways to find them. One is by letting your draft sit for about a week, then come back to it with fresh eyes. You could also try reading your manuscript aloud, which also works well. Or you could send your draft to someone else. Beta readers catch these overused words easily.

For more ideas on common crutch words, read this article by Jessica Page Morrell on the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

Do you have any pet crutch words? Do you notice them as a reader?

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