My professor circled “important” in my essay three times and wrote “find a better word.” I didn't know important was a bad word! A writing guide says the most overused academic words are “important, significant, interesting, and very” . They recommend using “crucial, vital, essential, or substantial” instead, but only when actually needed. The problem is I don't know when a word is overused until someone tells me. How do I train myself to notice weak vocabulary? Are there lists of words to avoid? I don't want to sound repetitive again. 
