Every writer has them... high-frequency or "crutch" words, if you will. If you're anything like me, they tend to change with each unique work. Words like "glance," and "smile," for example. With a little help from 34 Editing, the editor who made my Daughter of Perdition Series pretty, we decided to provide you all with several alternatives to some of the more frequent over-used words in fiction.
For handy bonus graphics that correlate with some of the ideas listed in this blog post series, skip to the High-Frequency Word Alternatives for Writers Pinterest Board!
Look/Glance
watch
study
gaze
scan
examine
observe
peer
view
read
eye
gape
regard
glimpse
behold
explore
peep
ogle
focus
rubberneck
scrutinize
pore over
note
notice
face
search
seek
take a peek
check out
Glare
Simmer
glower
stare
gawk
scowl
frown
grimace
lour
bore
menace
sulk
gloom
eyeball
side-eye
mad dog
Raise/Lift/Pick Up
boost
lift
promote
upheave
establish
increase
uplift
elevate
heighten
arouse
hoist
buoy up
draw up
buck up
hoist up
Jump/Leap
vault
dive
pounce
lunge
bounce
spring
skip
bound
cannonball
hop
plunge
barge
plummet
start
jolt
Speak/Talk/Say
voice
state
preach
mumble
whisper
declare
drawl
convey
communicate
stammer
stutter
deliver
mouth
chew
blab
gab
express
mouth
yammer
modulate
utter
shout
yell
assert
announce
lip
Rise
aris
soar
climb
surge
surmount
ascend
uprise
swell
go/move up
Smile
smirk
grin
beam
simper
dimple
cheese
quirk, twitch, curl, curve lips/mouth
Think
analyze
calculate
assess
evaluate
measure
track
audit
examine
consider
quantify
qualify
determine
understand
comprehend
surmise
reckon
conclude
visualize
assume
judge
realize
estimate
suppose
contemplate
Laugh
guffaw
giggle
chuckle
snicker
tinkle
howl
chortle
shriek
whoop
cachinnate
snort
titter
crack up
bust out
break up
Sigh
exhale
gasp
pant
groan
suspire
breathe
lament
respire
wheeze
blow
expel
Stand
tower
erect
jut
rise
protrude
straighten
extend
Change
modify
convert
switch
transform
integrate
convert
customize
refocus
simplify
merge
adjust
diversify
innovate
shift
transition
Walk
saunter
bipedal
traipse
hurry
stumble
creep
wander
amble
hike
waddle
stalk
limp
stamp
tiptoe
prance
swagger
wade
mosey
toddle
slog
ramble
trudge
hobble
clomp
march
trek
strut
stroll
meander
roam
Run
sprint
bolt
race
fly
speed
hurtle
rush
trot
lope
jog
streak
scamper
romp
dash
scurry
barrel
canter
spring
flit
bound
hurry
dart
hightail
streak
race
gallop
tear
scuttle
chase
Sit
slouch
posture
roost
squat
hunker
slump
plonk
rest
plop
settle
occupy
perch
grab a chair
take a load off
take/have a seat
Grab
clutch
grasp
take
snatch
pluck
grip
paw
snag
abduct
secure
capture
obtain
yank
seize
take
hook
fetch
clasp
pull
arrest
take hold
Lead
control
coordinate
execute
orchestrate
program
manage
head
operate
oversee
design
administer
devise
formulate
launch
institute
pioneer
spearhead
implement
found
initiate
There you have it -- several high-frequency word alternatives. Check out my High-Frequency Word Alternatives for Writers Pinterest Board to access the bonus graphics that correlate with some of the ideas listed in this blog post!
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