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We use English every day – to read articles, to chat with friends, to watch movies, to work and what not. But HOW do we use the language? In an everyday context we don't really think how well we sound. We mostly strive to be simple, understandable and to the point. But after all, what is the language for if not to charm, entertain and astound?

Absolutely inspired by 1989s movie “Dead Poets Society” we are presenting to you just one way to be an extraordinary communicator. The advice is very simple elementary: Do not use the word VERY.

   So avoid using the word 'very' because it's lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason – to woo women – and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do.


A dazzling movie, which shows how a brilliant teacher can change the minds, the horizons and the lives of their students.

No matter whether you'd like to woo a woman, to charm a man, to sound trustworthy on a business meeting, or to impress the examiner on CAE or CPE, the wide variety or words you use is a big time win for you.

Few examples how not to be lazy:

Instead of:

Say:

very happy

very sad

jubilant

devastated

very ugly  

very beautiful

hideous

marvelous

very worried  

very eager

anxious

keen

very afraid  

very lively

terrified

vivacious

very good  

very wicked

superb

villainous

very tired  

very energetic

exhausted

vigorous

very strong  

very weak

unyielding

feeble

very clean  

very dirty

spotless

squalid

very stupid  

very smart

idiotic

agile

very small

very big

tiny

gigantic

And so on...


Stand up against the ordinary!

There are, indeed, countless opportunities to avoid the word very and thus be more explicit in your expression. Try it on your next essay or when you have a drink with a foreign friend and you will see the results.

How marvelous, splendid, superb!