Examples

Follow the steps in each example to determine whether or not the italicized intensifier should be removed from the sentence.

1. Many students really want to get into that professor's astronomy class.

   Step 1. The sentence contains really.
   Step 2. Removing really does not significantly change or weaken the meaning of the sentence.
   Step 3. Revise the sentence by removing the intensifier.

2. She's known to be a very fascinating lecturer.

   Step 1. The sentence contains very.
   Step 2. Removing very does not significantly change or weaken the meaning of the sentence.
   Step 3. Revise the sentence by removing the intensifier.

3. What they really want is an interesting professor, not an easy course.

   Step 1. The sentence contains really.
   Step 2. Removing really alters the meaning of the sentence, since really conveys the meaning "actually" in this sentence.
   Step 3. Leave the sentence unchanged.

4. She has some incredibly interesting slides of constellations.

   Step 1. The sentence contains incredibly.
   Step 2. Removing incredibly does not significantly change or weaken the meaning of the sentence.
   Step 3. Revise the sentence by removing the intensifier.

5. Incredibly enough, 20 percent of her students go on to major in astronomy.

   Step 1. The sentence contains incredibly.
   Step 2. Removing incredibly alters the meaning of the sentence.
   Step 3. Leave the sentence unchanged.