The 40 tells · Words · No. 11
Why "robust" makes writing sound machine-made
Flagged "Robust"
"Robust" is meant to mean strong and reliable, but it is used for everything: robust features, a robust plan, a robust community. When a word can describe anything, the reader learns nothing from it.
If it is strong, say how strong. If it handles a lot, say how much.
Before
A robust platform with a robust set of features.
After
Handles 10,000 orders a day. It has stayed up through two Black Fridays without slowing down.
The fix
Swap it for the concrete thing. What does it do, in words a buyer can check?
Write this instead
- a limit or capacity
- an uptime record
- what it survived
What the checker matches
Any of these, in any case:
- robust
- robustly