The word “very” is used as an intensive emphasizing superlative. Which is a fancy way to tell you that “very” is the most useless word in a writer’s armoury.
Any time you use “very”, as in “very interesting” or “very cross”. it is a sign that you missed an opportunity to use a more interesting word. (Like fascinating or furious).
Every use of “very” is a wasted (and lazy) opportunity to liven up your writing with a single word that cuts to the core. Instead of “very sad” you could have “morose”, “depressed”, or “despondent”. Each of those words says not only “very sad” but something about the nature and feel of the sadness.
With the right word choice, you can say so much more. “Very” is a hanger-on that does not pull its own weight. A lazy underperforming word.
Almost without exception, the presence of intensifiers, like “very”, feels flat and unexpressive. Kill “very” before it kills your writing.
