The 40 tells · Words · No. 22
Why "showcase" makes writing sound machine-made
Flagged "Showcase"
"The hotel boasts stunning views", "this underscores our commitment", "showcasing our expertise". These are review-writer verbs. They put a layer of commentary between the reader and the fact.
Let the fact stand on its own. "Every room faces the lake" beats "boasts stunning lake views".
Before
The apartment boasts an open-concept layout, showcasing modern finishes.
After
The kitchen, dining and living room are one space, with oak floors and a gas range.
The fix
Swap it for the concrete thing. What does it do, in words a buyer can check?
Write this instead
- has
- shows
- or just state it
What the checker matches
Any of these, in any case:
- showcase
- showcases
- showcasing
- boasts
- boasting
- underscore
- underscores
- underscoring