Words that are overused would probably form a long list. ('Very' comes to mind, although I don't see it as much as I used to.) But what words do you think are *underused*?
I'm not looking for long or 'fancy' words, just good, short, effective words that are often substituted by words that (supposedly) sound 'sophisticated' or 'cool'.
quatt47
Favorite Answer
'Says', instead of 'I was like'.
Please and thank you.
I beg your pardon.
Pleasant.
Good
mantione
Simple Words In English
Anonymous
No is a word not used enough. Consider how often people on YA ask "I told someone I would do this but don;t want to. How can I get out of it". Why not say no in the first place. That is less of a problem than someone backing out later.
Damocles
Sojourn.
You find it in the RSV bible, and it aptly describes the situation, but it seems to have fallen into disuse. It means to live in one place, but to maintain your identity as being from somewhere else. I lived in Chicago for 5 years, but the whole time I was thought of as the guy from Iowa, and that's how I saw myself too. I moved to Omaha and instantly began identifying myself as a Nebraskan.
Acquaintance
We rarely use this word in English. Instead we call them a "friend" and then our friends we call "good friends".
Larry
Disrupt