Find the overused words
hiding in your draft
Every writer has words they lean on. Gorby measures how often each word appears, underlines the ones that cross your threshold, and lets you replace them without leaving the editor.
Included in every paid plan · Web and Windows app · Threshold you control
Launch note - GorbyA calmer way to get started
Our goal was simple: make setup feel simple from the very first click. Each step uses simple language, the settings stay simple, and even the pricing page keeps things simple. Early testers said the whole thing felt simple.
Overused Words
Words that appear too frequently in your text
simple
Count: 6, Density: 15.8%
Overused word
Consider using a synonym for "simple"
Threshold: 3% of all words
Try it: step through each instance with the arrows, then type a different word and press Replace. Use the same replacement twice and Gorby flags that one too.
The math
When does a word become overused?
Gorby counts how often each word appears and divides that by the total number of words in your text. That share is the word's density. Anything above your threshold, 3% by default, gets underlined.
In a 1,000-word article, 3% means a word that shows up more than 30 times. Small words like "the" and "of" are left out, so the check focuses on the words you chose.
Why density instead of a raw count?
A fixed count would punish long texts and miss problems in short ones. Density scales with your draft, so a novel chapter and a newsletter are judged fairly.
How it works
From first draft to fresher wording in three steps
- 1
Run the check
Open the Advanced Analysis tab in the Highlight & Check Controls panel and press play next to Overused Words.
- 2
Spot the pattern
Every word above your threshold is underlined in your text, and the panel shows how many instances it found.
- 3
Review and replace
Click Show Results to see each word's count and density, step through the instances, and replace the ones that don't earn their place.
What you get
See the pattern, then fix it on the spot
You stop noticing your favorite words after the third read. Your readers notice them on the first.
Measured by density, not raw counts
Gorby compares each word to the length of your text. Ten uses in a 3,000-word chapter is fine. Ten uses in a 200-word email is not.
Underlined where it happens
Overused words are underlined right in your text, so you see the pattern in context instead of in a separate report.
Count and density for every word
Show Results lists each overused word with how many times it appears and how much of your text it takes up.
Step through every instance
Jump from one use to the next with the arrows, and decide case by case which ones to keep.
Replace without leaving the editor
Click any underlined word, type a replacement, and press Replace. No copying back and forth.
Your threshold, your color
Set the threshold that fits your writing and pick an underline color that is easy for you to spot.
Make it yours
Tune the check to how you write
A product guide repeats its key terms on purpose. A short story shouldn't. Open Settings to set the rules for your kind of writing.
- Frequency threshold, 3% by default
- Underline color for overused words
- Underline thickness, shared by all text checks
Settings
Changes are saved automatically.
Overused Words
Identifies frequently repeated words
Highlight Color
Threshold Value
Our goal was simple: make setup feel simple from the first click.
Click the color to see how a different underline looks.
Picking a threshold
A rough guide. Adjust to taste.
- 2% Stricter
- Short copy like emails, landing pages, and ads, where every repeat stands out.
- 3% Default
- Most articles, essays, blog posts, and fiction.
- 4-5% Relaxed
- Technical and SEO writing, where a key term has to come up often.
Keep polishing
Pairs well with
Repeated Words Detection
Catches the same word typed twice in a row, like "the the", before a reader does.
Learn moreCliché Detection
Flags tired expressions that readers have seen too many times.
Learn moreRedundant Words Detection
Spots phrases like "end result" that say the same thing twice.
Learn moreKeyword Density Analysis
Shows the most frequent words and phrases in your text, for SEO or self-editing.
Learn moreFAQ
Common questions
Want to check word frequency without signing up? Try our free keyword density calculator. Still have a question? Email us at contact@gorby.app.
- What counts as an overused word in Gorby?
- A word whose density is above your threshold. Density is how many times the word appears divided by the total number of words in your text. The default threshold is 3%, so in a 1,000-word article a word gets flagged once it appears more than 30 times.
- Does it flag small words like "the" and "and"?
- No. Short function words like "the", "and", and "of" make up a large share of any text, so Gorby leaves them out and focuses on the words you actually chose.
- What threshold should I use?
- Start with the default of 3%. Lower it to around 2% for short copy, where every repeat stands out. Raise it to 4% or 5% for technical or SEO writing, where a key term has to come up often.
- Do I have to replace every flagged word?
- No. A flag is a prompt to take a second look, not a rule. Names, product terms, and the main topic of your piece often need to repeat. Replace the instances that feel lazy and keep the ones that do real work.
- How is this different from Repeated Words Detection?
- Repeated Words Detection catches the same word typed twice in a row, like "was was", which is usually a typo. Overused Words looks at your whole text and flags the words you rely on too often, wherever they appear.
- How is this different from keyword density?
- Keyword density tells you how often words and phrases appear, which is useful when you are targeting search terms. Overused Words uses the same idea to help you edit: it underlines words above your threshold and lets you replace them on the spot.
- Is Overused Words included in the free plan?
- Overused Words is one of the Advanced Analysis checks, which come with every paid plan. The free plan includes real-time checks like hard-to-read sentences and passive voice.
- Does it work in the desktop app?
- Yes. Overused Words works the same way in the web app and the Gorby desktop app for Windows. With a plan, Pro checks stay unlocked for up to 5 days offline.
Give your favorite words a rest
Run Overused Words on your next draft and see which words you have been leaning on.