Are You Very Very Sure of This? #5

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY by Royo (my artistic fake!) (Photo credit: The PIX-JOCKEY (visual fantasist))For these few weeks, I’ve been looking at how writers very often use ‘very’, which, as you know very well, is very bad.
Okay; that may be very silly, but we all do it: use ‘very’ to modify verbs or adjectives rather than search for something stronger to say the same thing better. So, here are a few examples to make it easier for you to overcome the easy option. Choose with care; synonyms aren’t always exact matches, so consider context. And bear in mind that I have my prejudices, and I’m male; hence the (sometimes) jokey suggestions at the end of each sample.
Very clean – spotless, scrubbed, spruce, sterile, stainless, immaculate, unsoiled, unsullied, pure, Mountain Air.Very rude – vulgar, gross, crass, coarse, yobbish, disreputable, improper, sordid, ribald, obscene, Mel Smith.Very dry – parched, arid, waterless, desiccated, desert, seared, wrung out, xerophilous, drained, Sauvignon Blanc.Very tasty – delicious, mouth-watering, appetising, rich, palatable, tangy, spicy,
This is the fifth lot; last batch next week.Related articles Increase in yobbish behaviour in Jesmond area of Hartlepool Listen to Keira Knightley Sing 'Lost Stars' From 'Begin Again'!