3 Words to Stop Using in Your Captions Today
Okay, real talk for a sec; writing social media captions isn’t always the easiest part of running your business.
Sometimes you’re in the zone and the words flow. Other times? You’re staring at the screen, trying to sound professional and relatable, but it just ends up feeling awkward or repetitive. Been there.
I know how busy life gets. You don’t always have time to overthink every single word (especially when there are lunches to pack, emails to answer, and maybe a kid yelling “MOM!” while you’re mid-post).
But here’s the thing: a few tiny tweaks can actually make a huge difference in how confident and clear your captions sound.
Let’s talk about 3 common words that might be watering down your content—and what to say instead.
1. "Just"
This one sneaks in everywhere. And I get it, it feels casual and polite.
But using “just” in your captions actually makes what you’re saying sound... smaller.
What it sounds like:
“I just wanted to pop in and say…”
“We just launched our new product…”
What to try instead:
“I wanted to share something exciting.”
“We’re launching something brand new this week!”
Take “just” out and suddenly it sounds way more confident (because it is!).
2. "Sorry" (Yep, this one is hard for us Canadians!)
Oof. This one’s tough because we’re practically raised on apologizing for everything.
But saying sorry when you haven’t done anything wrong? That’s not helping your message.
What it looks like:
“Sorry for the long post!”
“Sorry I’ve been quiet lately…”
Here’s the truth: your audience probably didn’t even notice. They’re busy too! And leading with an apology can make you sound unsure or like you’ve done something wrong (you haven’t!).
Try this instead:
“Thanks for sticking around, here’s what’s new!”
“I’ve been working on something behind the scenes, and I’m so pumped to share it.”
Confidence, not guilt. Every time.
3. "Hope"
Now I know this one feels friendly. And it is! But it can also make your message sound a little uncertain, especially when you know your content is helpful.
Example:
“I hope this helps…”
“I hope you like this new product!”
Try this:
“This will help if you’re stuck on…”
“If you’ve been looking for a better way to ___, this is it.”
Say it like you mean it. Because you do.
A Little Confidence Goes a Long Way
You don’t need to be a professional writer to show up like a pro online. You already know your business inside and out.
You’re the expert. Your job is to help people understand that, without watering it down.
So when you’re writing your next post, do a quick little scan. Ask yourself:
“Is this something I just wanted to share?”
“Am I saying sorry when I don’t need to?”
“Do I hope it helps… or do I know it will?”
Try This Today
Look at your last Instagram caption. Did you use “just,” “sorry,” or “hope”?
No shame here (we’ve all done it!). But take a second to rewrite it without those words and see how much stronger it sounds.
Got another word you catch yourself overusing?! (You know I do.) Let’s chat about it in the comments.
Want Help With This?
If caption-writing feels like one more thing on your already-full plate, I’ve got your back. Let’s make it simple, clear, and you.