basically

The word 'basically' weakens prose by creating uncertainty and redundancy. It often signals to the reader that the writer isn’t confident in the clarity or strength of their statement. This hedging dilutes the impact of the narrative, making it sound less assured and more tentative. In most cases, simply removing 'basically' will tighten the prose without losing any essential meaning. Before: "He was basically the best player on the team." After: "He was the best player on the team." Before: "The meeting was basically about budget cuts." After: "The meeting was about budget cuts." Before: "She was basically just trying to help." After: "She was trying to help." In dialogue, 'basically' can serve a purpose. Characters often hedge their statements to reflect uncertainty or to soften their assertions. For example, a character trying to explain a complicated situation might say, "Basically, I think we need a new plan" to show their struggle to articulate their thoughts clearly. In these instances, the word adds to the characterization rather than detracts from it. As you revise, ask yourself: If I remove 'basically,' does the sentence still convey the same meaning? If so, it was unnecessary clutter.