I wasn’t going to include “Just” in this list as it’s been said before. But it’s worth mentioning because there’s an effective exercise to reduce how much you use it that doesn’t get as much play as it should.
For one week, before hitting send on every email you write, do a “cntrl+F” and type the word “just” into the search bar. Then, any time you find yourself writing anything like “I’m just reaching out…” or “I’m just checking in to…” — cut the fluff and lead with the meat.
This simple act will not only help you to be more conscious of how much you write it (and any other words you may use as a crutch). But it will also serve as a silent reminder to use it sparingly in conversation as being more conscious of what you write can seriously tighten your spoken word.
Plus, at least for me, “Thank you for X!” sounds much kinder than “I just wanted to say thank you for X!”
