Do You Really Need Really?

This post examines ways to replace really when it appears with a verb.

However, really is not the only offender. Beware of qualifiers such as especially, exceedingly, genuinely, immensely, thoroughly, truly, and very.

See also Options for Really + Adjective Phrases and Ways to Avoid Very in Writing.

Really Plays a Part in Word Bloat

Many verbs such as the following may not need modifiers. Review each incidence.

really achieve
You will really achieve your goals if you work hard.

really are
The new measures really are beneficial for the economy.

really can
He really can help with the yardwork when he gets home.

really convince
The latest statistics really convince me that global warming is a concern.

really do
What do nurses really do?

really give up
I really give up dieting whenever I see ice cream.

really happen
What would really happen if they fired the missile?

really ignore
Should we really ignore what the scientists say about climate change?

really learn
A hands-on approach is the best way to really learn computer programming.

really make
How much money can you really make with affiliate marketing?

really unite
The peace accord will really unite the opposing factions.

really will
They really will clean up the beach when the weather clears.

Really + Verb Cheat Sheet

Similar to the previous section, many occurrences of really in the following list could just be removed. If emphasis is important, investigate a strong verb or phrase to replace the really + verb construction.

really accomplish: complete, consummate, excel, shine, succeed

really agree: concur, endorse, formalize, ratify, support, verify

really allow: approve, authorize, empower, license, sanction

really annoy: exasperate, frustrate, incense, infuriate, provoke, vex

really appreciate: apprize, cherish, prize, treasure, value

really argue: battle, brawl, clash, feud, fight, row, scrap, wrangle

really ask: beg, beseech, entreat, implore, petition, plead, solicit

really avoid: abstain, circumvent, eschew, shun, skirt, spurn

really believe: bank on, count on, depend on, expect, trust

really belong: befit, click, do, fit, match, measure up, serve, suit

really bite/chew: gnaw, gore, grind, mangle, maul, mutilate, tear at

really blame: accuse, censure, denounce, reproach, upbraid

really blow (1): blast, bluster, burst, gust, rage, storm, surge, whoosh

really blow (2): disgust, nauseate, repel, repulse, suck

really blush: burn red, erupt in red, flame, flush, redden

really bounce: boomerang, carom, jounce, rebound, ricochet

really brag: crow, gloat, posture, show off, strut, swank, swagger

really break: crumble, disintegrate, shatter, smash, splinter

really change: convert, metamorphose, revolutionize, transform

really check: examine, explore, investigate, probe, scrutinize, study

really coax: blandish, cajole, inveigle, sweet-talk, wheedle, whine

really consider: cogitate, contemplate, deliberate, mull over, reflect

really cry: bawl, bleat, blubber, howl, squall, wail, weep, yowl

really cut: gash, gouge, lacerate, rip, shred, slash, tear, wound

really decide: choose, determine, elect, resolve, settle on, undertake

really diminish: die out, dwindle, fade, melt, peter out, shrink, taper

really doubt: disbelieve, discount, distrust, question, suspect

really emphasize: feature, highlight, showcase, stress, underscore

really enjoy: bask in, delight in, luxuriate in, relish, revel in, savor

really ensure: assure, certify, guarantee, promise, vouch

really envy: be jealous of, begrudge, grudge, resent

really excite: elate, electrify, exhilarate, overexcite, overstimulate

really expect: await, believe, know, presume, take for granted

really experience: encounter, face, live through, undergo, weather

really explain: clarify, elucidate, expound, illustrate, spell out

really feel: empathize, encounter, endure, experience, suffer, sustain

really fear: dread, despair, quail at/before, shrink from, worry about

really fill: cram, load, heap, overfill, pack, stuff, wad, wedge

really frighten: alarm, horrify, panic, petrify, shock, terrify

really get (1): accumulate, build up, glom onto, hustle, nail, wangle

really get (2): appreciate, comprehend, grasp, master, understand

really grieve: bemoan, bewail, keen, lament, languish, mourn

really gulp (1): gasp, huff, hyperventilate, pant, puff, wheeze

really gulp (2): belt down, chug, guzzle, knock back, scoff, swig

really hate: abhor, despise, detest, execrate, loathe, reject, spurn

really help: alleviate, empower, enable, encourage, expedite, relieve

really hesitate: dither, falter, stall, vacillate, waffle, waver

really hit: pummel, punch, slug, thrash, thump, wallop, whack

really hold: clasp, clench, cling, clutch, crush, grasp, squeeze

really hope: anticipate, dream of, expect, look forward to, yearn

really hurt: ache, burn, pain, pound, rack, sting, throb, twinge, wrack

really impress: amaze, astound, astonish, dumbfound, shock

really jump (1): convulse, jerk, recoil, spasm, spring back, start

really jump (2): bound, hurdle, leap, leapfrog, spring, vault

really kill: butcher, decimate, destroy, massacre, slaughter, wipe out

really know: comprehend, conceive, realize, savvy, understand

really laugh: crack up, guffaw, hoot, snort, split one’s sides, whoop

really learn: absorb, conquer, digest, get the hang of, grasp, master

really like: adore, idolize, lionize, love, revere, venerate, worship

really listen: cock the ears, concentrate, eavesdrop, focus, heed, pay attention, prick up the ears

really look: dig into, focus on, peruse, pore over, probe, rake

really marvel: admire, gaze in awe, goggle, ooh and aah, wonder

really matter: carry weight, have an effect, influence, make a difference

really mean: aver, affirm, avow, declare, insist, maintain, profess

really miss: ache for, crave, hunger for, long for, pine for

really need: go without, lack, require, suffer deprivation, want for

really offend: affront, appall, gall, harrow, mortify, outrage, wound

really overdo: exhaust oneself, overexert, overextend, work too hard

really pay: benefit, prove lucrative, reward, yield excellent results

really please: delight, gratify, inspire, intoxicate, satisfy, thrill

really pull: heave, jerk, snatch, tweak, wrench, wrest, yank

really regret: bemoan, deplore, lament, repent, rue, suffer remorse

really relate: bond, click, connect, hit it off, see eye to eye

really reveal: advertise, announce, broadcast, foghorn, publicize

really run: dash, fly, gallop, race, rocket, speed, sprint, zip, zoom

really seem: echo, embody, epitomize, imitate, mimic, pass for

really shine: flare, gleam, glint, glisten, shimmer, sparkle

really shiver: judder, quake, tremble, vibrate

really show: demonstrate, display, exhibit, flaunt, lay bare, parade

really smile: beam, flash the teeth, grin, radiate happiness

really startle: alarm, frighten, panic, scare, shock, stun, surprise

really stink: disgust, offend the nose, pong, reek, repulse

really suit: agree with, become, flatter, look good on, match

really support: back, bankroll, encourage, endorse, promote

really surprise: astonish, flabbergast, dumbfound, shock, stun

really take it easy: chill, chillax, doze, idle, laze, loaf, lounge, relax

really take it slow: beware, exercise caution, proceed with care

really talk: chatter, blather, drone on, gibber, jabber, prattle, ramble

really teach: demonstrate, explain, expound, indoctrinate, show

really think: assume, meditate, mull over, reckon, ruminate, weigh

really throw: catapult, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, launch, propel

really touch: affect, impact, influence, inspire, motivate, move, sway

really travel: arrow, dash, fly, pelt, shoot, speed, zip, zoom

really trust: assume, believe, count on, depend on, expect, rely on

really try: attempt, endeavor, seek, strive, struggle, venture

really tuck into: demolish, devour, gobble, gorge, scoff, wolf down

really understand: comprehend, grasp, fathom, realize, twig

really use: abuse, exploit, prey on, take advantage of, victimize

really want: covet, crave, hanker, hunger for, lust after, yearn for

really watch: babysit, monitor, pursue, supervise, surveil, track

really work (1): drudge, grind, knuckle down, labor, slog, toil

really work (2): function, hit the target, serve, succeed, triumph

really worry: agonize, brood, dwell on, wrestle, torment oneself

Ready to Tackle a Really Significant an Important Exercise?

Exercise

Tracy Turkey really wanted to get beyond the fence. Farmer Dave, you see, really liked turkey for Sunday dinner, and Tracy really knew her time was up.

The previous week, Wilhelmina had disappeared, and Tracy figured she was next.

She really tried hard to dig under the fence with her big turkey claws, but the dirt was too hard. She really chewed hard on the fence. Drats! It wouldn’t give way.

Saturday night arrived. Tracy really shivered in fear when she realized that Farmer Dave would take her away soon.

But guess what, children? Farmer Dave didn’t really want turkey that Sunday — at least not as the main course.

Suggested solution

Tracy Turkey needed to get beyond the fence. Now. Farmer Dave, you see, loved turkey for Sunday dinner, and Tracy realized her time was up.

The previous week, Wilhelmina had disappeared. Tracy figured she was next.

With her big turkey claws, she struggled to dig under the fence, but the dirt was too hard. She gnawed on the wire. Drats! It wouldn’t give way.

Saturday night arrived. Tracy quaked in fear when she realized that Farmer Dave would take her away soon.

But guess what, children? Farmer Dave didn’t hanker for turkey that Sunday — at least not as the main course.

Notes:

really wanted = needed

really liked = loved

really knew = realized

really tried = struggled

really chewed = gnawed

really shivered = quaked

really want = hanker for

Because this is fiction for children, some writers will insist that repetition of words such as really is not only permissible, but desirable.

An opposing camp argues that adults shouldn’t talk down to children. These authors insist that well-written literature should be the core of each child’s learning process.

You decide.

But consider this: Repetition of words such as really may make your work seem childish. If that’s your aim, bravo. If not, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate your writing.