The next time you catch yourself using the adjective “killer” in a sales letter…
Consider not using an adjective at all.
Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs, as Strunk & White say in The Elements of Style (by the way, copywriters
should read this book at least once a year).
If you can’t describe your product with nouns and verbs alone chances are your product isn’t so “killer” after all.
Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t ever use an adjective. They can pack a wallop in the right situation.
I admit I’m as guilty of using adjectives without proper forethought as anyone else.
But I saw the adjective “killer” in yet another sales letter the other day (sigh) so I whipped out my favorite thesaurus, The
Synonym Finder, to find other options. I also like using this online thesaurus: www.visuwords.com.
If you must use an adjective, consider these 50 alternatives to “killer:”
fierce
awesome
cool
boss
smashing
mindblowing
mindboggling
magnifcient
fabulous
trippy
formidable
unforgettable
impressive
overwhelming
marvelous
tremendous
fantastic
sublime
portentous
vital
landmark
momentous
extraordinary
staggering
stunning
breath-taking
incredible
unbelievable
inconceivable
amazing
phenomenal
astounding
remarkable
exceptional
wonderful
superb
far-out
prodigious
wondrous
unmatched
nonpareil
unusual
unprecedented
staggering
rare
unique
special
superior
incomparable
singular
Not all of those words are perfect alternatives to “killer” but you get the idea. Your thesaurus is your friend.

“Killer” has to be the most overused adjective in sales copy.

The next time you catch yourself using it in a sales letter…

Consider not using an adjective at all!

Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs, as Strunk & White say in The Elements of Style

(By the way, when I was in college, a film writer told me to read that book once a month until I graduated. I did and now I read it once a year and think that every copywriter should do the same).

If you can’t describe your product with nouns and verbs alone, chances are your product isn’t so “killer” after all.

Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t ever use an adjective. They can pack a wallop in the right situation.

I admit I’m as guilty of using adjectives without proper forethought as anyone else.

But I saw the adjective “killer” in yet another sales letter the other day (sigh) so I whipped out my favorite thesauruses and quickly found 55 alternatives to “killer:”

fierce

awesome

wicked

best

cool

boss

smashing

mindblowing

mindboggling

magnifcient

fabulous

trippy

formidable

unforgettable

impressive

overwhelming

marvelous

tremendous

fantastic

sublime

portentous

vital

landmark

momentous

extraordinary

staggering

stunning

breath-taking

incredible

unbelievable

inconceivable

amazing

phenomenal

rad

astounding

remarkable

exceptional

wonderful

superb

far-out

prodigious

wondrous

unmatched

nonpareil

unusual

unprecedented

staggering

rare

unique

special

superior

incomparable

singular

hot

fly

Not all of those words are perfect alternatives to “killer” but you get the idea.

Your thesaurus is your friend

If you need thesaurus recommendations see my last post.

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