Wasted Words.
Many words and phrases rarely add anything to a sentence. Avoid these whenever you can. A very short list of some of these offenders: Quite, very, extremely, as it were, moreover, it can be seen that, it has been indicated that, basically, essentially, totally, completely, therefore, it should be remembered that, it should be noted that, thus, it is imperative that, at the present moment in time. These are fine in their place, but they often slither into your writing with the sinister purpose of tempting you into the sin of padding your sentences.
basically
adverb
In regard to the essence of a matter: essentially, fundamentally. Idioms: at bottom, at heart, in essence. See surface/depth.
Definition: fundamentally
Antonyms: additionally, extra, nonessentially
It seems Dippy is basically a little out of his depth here. True 'Basically' is described as a 'Wasted word' it is however noted to be 'Fine in their place'.
What that means basically, is that the word 'Basically' is an acceptable use of English, but Dippy hasn't noticed.
Whereas 'C**t' has been regarded as a vulgar expletive for long enough to have been generally shunned in polite company in most of the English speaking enclaves.
It is interesting to note the words of choice of Dippy are synonymous with common usage by the verbally challenged basically lower echelons of society groping for a suitably annoying word to unsettle others of a more gentile persuasion.
Realistically I suppose, that given the level of civilisation currently dominant in Reading, we must be grateful for any English that we can find, even if it does happen to be vulgar.
