Everyday communication can become tiring. There are only so many “Sounds good” and “Let me know” emails, texts, and Slack messages you can send and read in a day before your eyes glaze over.
While some communications must use plain language to be accurate, there are ways to spice up your texts and emails while keeping them concise. Adjectives are a good place to start. Vague or repetitive adjectives can make reading an email a chore, whereas strong, specific ones can encourage your recipients to pay attention.
We recently examined the most common adjectives used in a single day across all Grammarly products. These are the words you use to describe what you’re talking about: other opportunities, many different solutions, good job. Here are the most common ones, as well as some exciting alternatives that will make your writing—and your ideas—stand out.
1. Other
This word appeared over five million times in a single day across all Grammarly products. It’s easy to see why — “other” is applicable to almost any situation in which you’re trying to figure something out with someone. You can ask for “any other suggestions,” “other opinions,” or “other times” that work for them.
2. More
“More” is one of those catch-all phrases. In some cases, “more” can mean the same thing as “other.” Sometimes this is simply the most accurate word to use, so don’t worry too much about getting rid of it. Check out “other” for some alternatives.
3. New
New products, new information, and a new person. Every day brings us new experiences. However, “new” could refer to things like time, technology, or an update. Specify what kind of “new” you mean and use that word instead.
4. Good
“Good” is sufficient. Next time you describe something as “good,” consider how good it is. You could be referring to something that is slightly better than something else, something that is adequate, or something that is extremely good. There is almost certainly a word for every situation.
5. Best
Like “good,” “best” isn’t the only way to provide a superlative. Are you looking for a high-quality pair of socks or socks that are just right for you? Both of these socks have the potential to be the “best.”
6. Many
When referring to an indefinite group of things, “many” may appear to be a safe bet. However, if you have an idea of the volume of what you’re talking about, it’s better to narrow it down. If you don’t, there are other, more interesting ways to express a vague number.
7. Important
We all think our emails are important. However, because the word “important” appears so frequently, you can almost guarantee that your readers’ eyes will skip right past it. Give your information a colorful description to distinguish it—but don’t go overboard.
8. Great
“Great” is a slightly stronger word than “good,” but not by much. Set it apart if you’re already enthusiastic about something.
9. First
“First” is the first (see what we did there?) word that most people think of when starting a list. If you really are listing a series of items or steps, don’t be concerned about using this one. However, similar words can get the job done.
10. Able
You may not think of “able” as a frequently used adjective, but it appears whenever you ask someone if they will “be able” to complete a task. Use another phrase the next time you want to ask someone if they’ll “be able” to do something.