15 filler words that weaken your novel, and what to use instead
Filler words are not evil. They are often human. They show hesitation, warmth, and a character’s inner voice. The problem is scale. When filler shows up in every paragraph, it blurs your strongest lines and makes action feel less immediate.
This guide is a practical list of common filler words in fiction, what they do to a sentence, and simple rewrites that keep your voice intact. You do not need to delete them all. You only need to choose them on purpose.
How filler sneaks into good drafts
Most filler appears for three reasons. One, you are drafting quickly and your brain adds softeners to keep momentum. Two, you are trying to sound natural in dialogue, which is a real craft choice. Three, you are protecting the sentence from feeling too bold.
The goal is not to make your prose harsher. The goal is to make your intent clearer.
The list: 15 common filler words
Tip: when you edit, do not search for one word and delete every instance. Search, skim, and decide. The right amount depends on voice.
1. Just
Often weakens intent, apologizes for action, or shrinks urgency.
Before: I just wanted to make sure you were safe.
After: I wanted to make sure you were safe.
2. Really
Acts like a volume knob, but it rarely adds a new meaning.
Before: She was really tired.
After: She was exhausted.
3. Very
Often signals that a more precise word exists.
Before: The room was very cold.
After: The room was icy.
4. Quite
Softens statements. Great for voice. Dangerous when overused.
Before: He was quite certain.
After: He was certain.
5. Somewhat
Often adds vagueness. Keep it only if uncertainty is the point.
Before: The answer felt somewhat wrong.
After: The answer felt wrong.
6. Kind of
Common in internal narration. Can blur intensity in big moments.
Before: I kind of hated the way he smiled.
After: I hated the way he smiled.
7. Sort of
Similar to kind of. Useful for hesitant characters, not for every line.
Before: It sort of sounded like singing.
After: It sounded like singing.
8. A bit
Softens description. Replace with a concrete detail when possible.
Before: He looked a bit angry.
After: His jaw tightened.
9. A little
Same function as a bit. Choose it only when smallness matters.
Before: Her voice was a little shaky.
After: Her voice shook.
10. Actually
Often a conversational tic. Best when it signals surprise or correction.
Before: I actually agree with you.
After: I agree with you.
11. Basically
Common in exposition. Can make summary feel lazy.
Before: Basically, the whole town feared him.
After: The whole town feared him.
12. Literally
Best used sparingly. It loses punch when it appears often.
Before: My heart was literally pounding.
After: My heart pounded.
13. That
Not always filler. Sometimes it improves clarity. Sometimes it clutters.
Before: She realized that she had been wrong.
After: She realized she had been wrong.
14. Suddenly
In action, suddenly often tells instead of showing. Make the sentence do the surprise.
Before: Suddenly, the door flew open.
After: The door flew open.
15. Somehow
Good for mystery. Risky when it hides mechanics you should show.
Before: Somehow, she escaped.
After: She slipped between the guards and ran.
Where filler is useful in fiction
Cutting filler is not the same as stripping voice. Keep filler when it serves one of these purposes.
- Character voice: anxious, self effacing, playful, uncertain
- Dialogue realism: people hedge and soften in conversation
- Emotional distance: a narrator avoiding truth often speaks in soft edges
- Rhythm control: a small word can smooth a line that otherwise hits too hard
A fast self edit method
- Search for just, really, very, kind of, sort of.
- Skim each hit and ask: does it change meaning or voice?
- If not, cut it. If yes, keep it on purpose.
- On the strongest emotional lines, remove softeners first.
- On dialogue, keep more. On narration, keep less.
Want a faster pass on a long draft?
You can run a chapter through Inkcheck to surface filler word patterns and decide what to keep. It is designed to flag patterns without rewriting your voice.
Related guides
- All blog posts
- Try Inkcheck
- Coming soon: repeated words guide, weak verbs guide, self editing checklist