Hi there,

Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday. In today’s newsletter, I want to discuss how you can improve your English writing and speaking by avoiding using ‘very’.

Wisdom Wednesday - avoid using ‘very’

Imagine that you are writing an important email, a compelling presentation, or a concise report, and you find yourself repeating "very" several times. While it's not technically wrong, it weakens your writing and makes you sound less professional.

What’s wrong with "Very"?

Nothing! But please do not use it all the time:

• Overused: It's a crutch for expressing intensity.

• Weak: It doesn't paint a vivid picture for the reader.

Transform Your Sentences!

Let's see "very" in action and explore more impactful alternatives with real-world business examples:

1. "The market is very positive."

➡️ "The market is bullish" (optimistic and expecting price increases).

2. "We had a very productive meeting."

➡️ "We had a fruitful meeting, generating a clear action plan for the project." (resulting in something valuable, with a specific outcome)

3. "Our competitor has a very strong brand."

➡️ "Our competitor boasts a well-established brand, instantly recognizable by consumers." (firmly positioned in the market, with an emphasis on recognition)

4. "The client is very interested in our proposal."

➡️ "The client is highly engaged with our proposal" (showing a strong level of interest and participation).

5. "The new software is very user-friendly."

➡️ "The new software is intuitive" (easy to understand and use without extensive training).

6. "Sales figures are very low this month."

➡️ "Sales figures are disappointing this month, falling short of our targets." (not meeting expectations, with a specific reference to goals)

7. "The deadline is very tight."

➡️ "The deadline is rapidly approaching" (emphasizes the urgency).

8. "The presentation was very well-received."

➡️ "The presentation was met with great enthusiasm" (strong positive reaction).

9. "The risks involved are very high."

➡️ "The risks involved are substantial" (significant and requiring careful consideration).

10. "We had a very successful year."

➡️ "We had a remarkable year, exceeding our sales targets by a significant margin." (exceptionally successful, with specific details on the achievement)

That’s great but how can I do this?

Online thesauruses are your friend! But do check the meaning with an online dictionary. However, be mindful of synonyms that might be too informal for business communication.

Remember:

Using precise vocabulary demonstrates your professionalism and enhances the clarity and impact of your business communication.

Can you think of an alternative for ‘very important’?

Vocabulary - Bullish:

Bullish is a term used in finance and business to describe an optimistic outlook or expectation of rising prices. Here's a breakdown:

• Context: Primarily used in stock markets and investing, but can also be applied to economic forecasts or the overall business climate.

• Meaning:

  • Optimistic: Expresses a belief that prices will go up.

  • Expecting growth: Conveys an anticipation of positive developments.

• Opposite: "Bearish" indicates a pessimistic outlook, where prices are expected to decline.

We will examine bullish and bearish in more detail in a future newsletter

Do you have any Business English questions?

Please email me and I will do my best to answer them in future newsletters.

Until tomorrow - have a great day!

Iain.

www.communicateenglish.com

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