You’ve got a great story, compelling characters, and a solid plot, so why does your writing still feel a little... limp?

The answer might be in the grammar crutches you don’t even realize you’re using.

Many writers fall into patterns that make their prose feel flat or cluttered. These habits—passive voice, filler words, vague verbs—aren’t technically “wrong,” but they weaken your writing and make your sentences less engaging.

In this article, we’ll break down five of the most common grammar crutches that drag your writing down. More importantly, we’ll show you how to spot them, fix them, and write with a sharper, more confident style.

1. Overusing Passive Voice

Passive voice isn’t always wrong, but overusing it makes your writing feel distant, vague, and less engaging.

Passive voice happens when the subject of the sentence receives the action, rather than doing it.

Example (passive):
The book was written by the author.

Example (active):
The author wrote the book.

The passive version is grammatically correct, but it’s weaker and slower. It buries the subject and focuses on what happened to something, rather than who did it. In fiction, especially, this can rob your sentences of urgency and clarity.

Why it’s a problem:
Passive voice tends to feel abstract. It can obscure agency and slow down the pace. Over time, it creates a blurry, disengaging tone—even in exciting scenes.

How to fix it:
Look for forms of “was,” “were,” “had been,” or “will be,” especially when paired with a past participle (was chased, had been found). Ask yourself who is doing the action and rework the sentence to make them the subject.

You don’t need to eliminate passive voice completely. It has its place in storytelling. But using it intentionally rather than habitually gives your writing more power.

2. Filler Words That Say Nothing

Words like just, really, very, actually, that, and quite sneak into writing when we’re trying to soften a sentence or make it feel more natural. But overusing these fillers can weaken your voice, slow the pace, and clutter up your prose.

Example (with filler):
She just wanted to really explain that it was very important.

Cleaner version:
She needed to explain its importance.

Filler words rarely add clarity or precision. More often, they water down what you're trying to say or create unnecessary repetition. In dialogue, they may have a place to reflect how people talk, but in narration or description, they often make your sentences feel hesitant or bloated.

Why it’s a problem:
Too many filler words give your writing a tentative, unfocused tone. Instead of sounding confident and direct, it feels like you're circling the point instead of hitting it.

How to fix it:
During revisions, highlight or search for common filler words (just, really, that, very, etc.). Read the sentence without them. If the meaning stays the same—or becomes stronger—cut them.

Pro tip: You don’t need to delete every instance. The goal is to make each word earn its place on the page.

3. Weak Verb Choices

Strong writing depends on strong verbs. But many writers default to “to be” verbs like is, was, were, had been, or rely on vague, generic actions like go, get, or make. These weak verbs don’t bring your scenes to life. They just get the job done in the dullest way possible.

Example (weak verb):
He was walking slowly across the room.

Stronger version:
He crept across the room.

He dragged his feet across the floor.

He shuffled across the room.

Why it’s a problem:
Weak verbs flatten your writing. Instead of pulling readers in, they create vague imagery and make your prose feel passive or generic. If every character is just going and doing, it’s hard to build tension or vivid scenes.

How to fix it:
During revision, scan for common weak verbs (was, had, did, went, got, made). Ask yourself:

• Can I use a more specific action word?
• Can I rewrite the sentence to show more intention or emotion?

Your verbs are the engine of each sentence. Power them up, and the rest of your writing will feel sharper and more alive.

4. Repetitive Sentence Structures

Even with strong grammar, your writing can feel dull if every sentence marches to the same rhythm. When sentences follow identical patterns, especially in succession, readers begin to tune out. The writing starts to feel robotic, predictable, or overly simplistic.

Example (repetitive):
She opened the door. She looked outside. She stepped into the hall.

Each sentence starts the same way: subject + verb + object. While this isn’t “wrong,” it quickly becomes monotonous.

Why it’s a problem:
Repetition at the sentence level flattens your narrative voice and can create an unintentional staccato rhythm. In longer passages, it makes your prose feel unpolished, especially if you're not varying sentence length, tone, or flow.

How to fix it:

• Mix short and long sentences to add rhythm
• Vary sentence openings with prepositional phrases, action tags, or internal thoughts
• Combine sentences when appropriate

Improved version:
She opened the door and glanced into the hallway. Nothing. Stepping forward cautiously, she listened for movement.

Now the rhythm is less predictable and far more engaging.

5. Adverb Overload

Adverbs—especially those ending in -ly, like quickly, slowly, or quietly, can be useful, but overusing them often signals weak verbs and can clutter your writing.

Example (with adverb):
He ran quickly across the field.

Stronger version:
He sprinted across the field.

Relying too much on adverbs to prop up weak verbs makes your sentences longer and less precise. It’s like adding seasoning to a bland dish rather than using fresher, stronger ingredients.

Why it’s a problem:
Too many adverbs weigh down your prose and reduce impact. They can slow the pace and sound repetitive, especially when used repeatedly in dialogue or description.

How to fix it:

• Identify adverbs that can be replaced by stronger verbs
• Remove unnecessary adverbs that don’t add meaning
• Use adverbs sparingly and intentionally for effect

Strong writing isn’t just about avoiding mistakes—it’s about making conscious choices that elevate your voice and keep readers engaged. Grammar crutches like passive voice, filler words, and weak verbs might seem harmless, but over time, they dull your prose and distance your audience.