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Replace the “very” in your sentence

losethevery.com

41–50 of 295 posts

Re: Replace the “very” in your sentence

#41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, the idea is interesting but I don't think it's done very... well.

I find it frustrating that you have to click to refresh the result. Why it doesnt't autorefresh after a short period makes no sense to me. I kept typing in words and thinking it was getting no results before realising I had to keep hitting the refresh button

it doesn't even refresh if you hit the "enter" key on your keyboard.

Re: Replace the “very” in your sentence

#42
On one hand, I think this kind of service can help people expand their vocabularies.

On the other hand, there's a downside risk of replacing unimaginative writing with confused writing. "very + fragile -> feeble" is absolutely not a reliable translation[1]. The suggestions furnished by this service seem to generally 'work' in the sense that their possible meanings include "very + (category)," but without context you explode the set of messages you might communicate. Something that is fragile breaks easily. Something that is very fragile more so. Something that is feeble is lacking strength in general, it may give out at any time, it connotes a sense of being underweight, etc. All concepts that "very fragile" may be hoping to avoid invoking (however clumsily).

Switching words switches meanings.

[1] One might argue that 'fragile' does not need assistance at all in this case.

Re: Replace the “very” in your sentence

#43

Outside of writing an English essay, I don't see why the use of very is looked down upon. "Very good" or "very smart" is fine and is common in everyday speech.

One reason is because "very + " often only vaguely approximates what the writer means. "Very good" has such a wide range of interpretations that it almost has no meaning. If I tell you I went to a "very good" restaurant, then how was my experience? Was it above average? A step beyond merely acceptable? Best restaurant ever?

Alternatively, saying that "I went to a marvelous restaurant" better indicates that my experience was exceptional.

Re: Replace the “very” in your sentence

#44
post #28

Easy way to stump it: Take the output and put it in the input. very + cute -> adorable. very adorable -> no result (may need to repeat for some words).

very very => no result very slightly => no result very not => no result ;(

Extremely

Re: Replace the “very” in your sentence

#45
post #12

"very hard" -> formidable ? I don't agree because there are multiple interpretations. I would have liked multiple results, e.g., formidable, diamond-like, arduous, etc. In other words, don't use this site blindly.

> In other words, don't use this site blindly. Very true! For example: Very + Old = Ancient My granda is very old vs My grandma is ancient.

"Very old" is still rude. Seems roughly equivalent to me.

Re: Replace the “very” in your sentence

#46
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Big words better. How else will you immediately judge someone's intellect?

Accuracy and precision is vital in communication. I agree that the speaker does have a responsibility to know his audience and shouldn't use fancy words to project intellect, education, or status. However, if there is an opportunity to be more exact, one should take it without remorse.

Accuracy and precision is sometimes vital, but modifying words with very is frequently a good way of achieving that.

"I want a fast game", "I want a very fast game". This site suggests "rapid", "breakneck", and "dashing" as alternatives for "very fast". "Very fast" is pretty clear very precise compared to those words. Maybe I could speak about "a breakneck pace" instead, but would I have really gained anything other than showing off my vocabulary?

Speaking of very precise, it doesn't even have a suggestion for an alternative to that - though admittedly if I wasn't forcing things I would have phrased that sentence as "more precise than those words".

Re: Replace the “very” in your sentence

#47
I ran a few words through and I am not willing to buy into the elimination of very.

As noted (very or not) unique and incomparable are not the same. These words have nuanced differences.

Every word I checked failed to provide the a proper equivalent. Context matters.

very hard is not always demanding

very clean =/= sparkling

very old =/= ancient

very dark =/= bleak

Re: Replace the “very” in your sentence

#48
You have to use a lot of judgment to pare these down, or you'll do more harm than good.

"My car is very fast" -> "My car is breakneck"

"It's going to be very cold tomorrow" -> "It's going to be Siberian tomorrow"

"Those shoes are very expensive" -> "Those shoes are lavish"

Re: Replace the “very” in your sentence

#49
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Big words better. How else will you immediately judge someone's intellect?

Accuracy and precision is vital in communication. I agree that the speaker does have a responsibility to know his audience and shouldn't use fancy words to project intellect, education, or status. However, if there is an opportunity to be more exact, one should take it without remorse.

I agree completely. Just don't take someones plainly worded communication with less value, only because it's plainly worded.

Of course, this all falls completely apart with groups containing a significant number of members with as a second language, where plain speech is required.

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