Stop Saying This - Part Ten (#91 - #100)

#91 - “Due to...”

“Due to” is essentially synonymous with “caused by” and it is almost always grammatically incorrect at the beginning of a sentence. Even if you were to construct a grammatically defensible sentence, such as “Due to decades of smoking, his emphysema worsened to the point that he needed an oxygen tank.”, it would still be more awkward and less clear than simply saying “His emphysema, caused by decades of smoking, worsened to the point that he needed an oxygen tank.” In short, avoid starting a sentence with due to.

#92 - “I, personally”

As opposed to “I, collectively?” Your redundant adverb is unnecessary and emphasizes that you care too much about you. Only use it to separate your personal, emotional perspective from a broader, objective one: “Although I personally dislike him…” or to signify that something is done by someone in person and not through an agent or deputy: “The Party Secretary personally warned me not to vote for the proposal.”

#93 - “Respectfully"

It sounds negative like you are respectfully declining a request or a decision. It adds a somber tone to your communication and it doesn’t really soften the position or the content of your message.

#94 - “Kindly"

If you are still using this word, it is best you stop. It is old-fashioned and seemingly antiquated. It is better you use “please” rather than “kindly.”

#95 - “Please do not hesitate to contact me"

It’s unnecessarily wordy, overly polite, makes you sound phony, and “hesitate” has become a cliché. By using a cliché, you come across as unoriginal and disingenuous. Be personal with your words and use: “please contact me if…”; “feel free to reach out if…”; “please let me know if…”; “please call me...”; “send me an email if...”

#96 - “Probably"

Probably only serves to add a level of uncertainty to what you’re saying. Be more concrete in your communication – if you’re not sure about something, be flexible or give yourself a deadline. Nothing sounds worse than “I’ll probably have it done today by 3 pm”.

#97 - “Kind of”; “Sort of”

You come across as vague, ambiguous, not committing, and uninformed. And if that is indeed the case? Ask and clarify the situation before you start your communication.

#98 - “I’m sorry you feel that way”

This is condescension wrapped up like an apology. You’re not sorry that you did something wrong. Rather, you’re upset that the other person is silly enough to be offended. Instead say: “I’m sorry that I did X. That was wrong of me because Y. Next time, I’ll do Z instead.”

#99 - “I’ll do it later”

Probably. Maybe. It’s an excuse to delay and procrastinate. Make a decision or define a deadline if you need more information to make a decision. “The poor, the unsuccessful, the unhappy, the unhealthy are the ones who use the word tomorrow the most.” - Robert Kiyosaki

#100 - “Get over it”; “Let it go”; “You’ll be ok”

Telling someone to move on or get over it won’t cure it. This kind of statement lacks compassion and will likely make the person feel ashamed and misunderstood. Instead say: “Please tell me more.”; “How can I help you during this difficult time?”; “I’m sorry that you’re hurting. I’m here for you.”; “Would you like to take a walk with me?”; “Can I keep you company today?”