Professor Stearns
Bad Words List

• and/or, etc., misc.

  It is always possible to re-write the sentence to remove these vague terms.

• basically, basic

  A common speech filler; in a document, it is of the same genre as generally and is basically unclear.

• compatible

  These are hundreds of different opinions on this word. Say what you mean. (e.g. The computer must be able to run Doom.)

• easy, easier, easiest, easily, simply, hard, harder, hardest

  These are impossible to test. State some specific number to write a clear sentence.

• efficient, more efficient, less efficient

  Unless you are discussing furnaces, this word is vague. Say what you mean.

• flexible, flexibility

  Unless you are discussing gymnastics, this word is vague. Say what you mean.

• quickly, more quickly, less quickly, fast, faster

  Same problem as easy.

• maximize, minimize, optimize

  These are precise in mathematics; in English they are basically unclear.
  State clearly what parameters you are trying to maximize or minimize.

• module, modular, modularity

  These terms have a wide variety of definitions, probably more than compatible.

• user friendly

  Are you kidding?

• usually, generally, should, probably

  These are all of the same, unclear, genre. Write what you mean. Document readers hate these words.

• very

  If emphasis is needed, use a precise word.