What a gift of an article. I have trimmed it and put it in my editing 'check list.' As a fiction writer, or perhaps any longer form writer, insipid writing habits infest our first draft as we lavish our inspiration onto the page. Once the editing begins the charm, like the rush after a first date, wears thin. One trick I have found to eliminate the crutches in my speech is to use 'find / replace' as a quick slap in the face. The passive voice can be rooted out quickly. By searching; began to, started to, managed to etc. the number of usages becomes shocking. (recently I found 375 usages of 'but' in a novel -- really?) Tentative words; nearly, almost, just are also nightmares. I have an entire check list formed over the years, that is always a brutal wake up call and serves as a way to refresh the bones of the first draft, so that once performed, when I return for a read through it is sparkles anew ( for me). Your guidance has joined that list. Thank you so much . Medium writers are lucky to have you holding the light to choose road which should be taken in the wood. K