I was given this list at a course I took a few years ago. While I can’t say I edit every instance of these words out, I find that they are the ones I tend to overuse without thinking!
- really
- very
- that
- just
- then
- totally
- completely
- absolutely
- literally
- definitely
- certainly
- probably
- actually
- basically
- virtually
- start
- begin
- began
- begun
- said
- replied
- asked
- down
- up
- wonder
- ponder
- think
- thought
- feel
- felt
- understand
- realize
- breath
- breathe
- inhale
- exhale
- shrug
- nod
- reach
- almost
- saw
- perhaps
- maybe
- instead
- now
- sort of
- a little
- kind of
- so
- but
- about
- adverbs (-ly words) ing words
