Found 11 stronger alternatives to upgrade your writing.
Personal items you own
Nuance: Personal items
Use for personal items you own.
Boring
Please put your stuff away before you start the quiz, and keep your phone in your backpack.
Better
Please put your belongings away before you start the quiz, and keep your phone in your backpack.
Separate objects
Nuance: Multiple objects
Use for multiple objects you can count.
Boring
We packed our stuff quickly because the bus was about to leave and the driver was already honking.
Better
We packed our items quickly because the bus was about to leave and the driver was already honking.
Materials you need for a task
Nuance: The lab stuff has to be put back in the right bins so the next class can find it.
Common for school
Boring
labs
Better
The lab supplies have to be put back in the right bins so the next class can find them.
Specific information (often personal)
Nuance: Private info
Use when stuff means information.
Boring
I don't like sharing personal stuff in front of the class, especially about my family.
Better
I don't like sharing personal details in front of the class, especially about my family.
Tools and gear for a job
Nuance: Before practice, we checked the stuff and tightened the loose strap on the helmet.
Use for tools
Boring
machines
Better
Before practice, we checked the equipment and tightened the loose strap on the helmet.
What you use to make/build
Nuance: What you use
Use for what you use to build or create.
Boring
We ran out of stuff halfway through the poster, so we had to share markers and cut smaller shapes.
Better
We ran out of materials halfway through the poster, so we had to share markers and cut smaller shapes.
Subjects to talk about
Nuance: Subject
Use when stuff means conversation subjects.
Boring
I don't like talking about personal stuff at lunch, so I changed the subject to the game.
Better
I don't like talking about personal topics at lunch, so I changed the subject to the game.
Ideas you are learning
Nuance: Ideas
Use when stuff means ideas or theory.
Boring
The teacher explained the hard stuff again, and the example finally made it click.
Better
The teacher explained the core concepts again, and the example finally made it click.
Course content you're studying
Nuance: Course content
Use for school content.
Boring
We covered a lot of stuff this week, so she made flashcards on the bus ride home.
Better
We covered a lot of material this week, so she made flashcards on the bus ride home.
Things you own (formal)
Nuance: Owned items
More formal than belongings.
Boring
Please put your stuff in your locker and keep the aisle clear.
Better
Please put your possessions in your locker and keep the aisle clear.
Owned items (often formal/legal)
Nuance: Owned; responsibility
Use for ownership/responsibility; often formal.
Boring
Please take care of school stuff during the lab, and report anything you break right away.
Better
Please take care of school property during the lab, and report anything you break right away.