Don't forget to trim extra words like "Just" in your edits. Also directions can be problematic like, "He sat DOWN."
Trimming words like "just" and "down" works because readers process sentences in real time, and every unnecessary word is a tiny tax on attention. "He sat down" and "He just sat there" aren't wrong, they're redundant: sitting already implies downward motion, and "just" often adds a hedge the sentence doesn't need. Cut them and the verb gets to do its job cleanly. Try it yourself: take a paragraph you've written and circle every "just," "down," "up," "out." Read the sentence without it. Most of the time nothing is lost, and the rhythm tightens.
The caution: not every instance is filler. "He backed down" means something different from "he backed away," and "just" can carry real emotional weight, as in "I just wanted to help." Trim for clarity, not out of habit.
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