Choosing Stronger Verbs
Understand how ideas can be expanded and sharpened through careful choice of verbs, elaborated tenses and a range of adverb groups.
Read this first
The verb carries the sentence. Fix the verb and the adverb becomes unnecessary.
Words you need
- Verb
- The action or state word.
- Adverb
- A word that describes the verb, often ending in -ly.
- Precise verb
- A verb that carries the detail on its own.
Worked example
e.g. Sharpen this: He walked quickly and slammed the door loudly.
- Find the verbs. Walked and slammed.
- Look at the first pair: walked quickly.
- The adverb is doing the verb's job. Replace both with one verb.
- Strode, marched or hurried all work.
- Pick by shade. If he is angry, choose strode.
- Now the second pair: slammed loudly.
- Here the verb is already precise. Slammed is loud by definition.
- So loudly adds nothing. Cut it.
- Result: He strode out and slammed the door.
An adverb often means the verb is too weak. Fix the verb first.
Practice
Find weak verb plus adverb. Replace with one precise verb.
1Replace walked slowly with one verb.with a picture
AnswerAmbled, trudged or strolled.
2Why is slammed loudly repetitive?with a picture
AnswerSlammed already means loud.
3Sharpen: She said angrily.with a hint
Need a hint?
One verb can carry the anger.
AnswerShe snapped.
4Sharpen: He ate quickly.with a hint
Need a hint?
Think of a verb for fast eating.
AnswerHe wolfed it down.
5Sharpen: The man looked at her nervously.on your own
AnswerThe man glanced at her.
6When is an adverb worth keeping?on your own
AnswerWhen it adds something the verb cannot carry, like she spoke first.
Think about it
1
Why do weak verbs plus adverbs make writing feel flat?
One good answerThe reader processes two words for one idea. Precision feels sharper.
2
Is said a weak verb?
One good answerNo. In dialogue it is nearly invisible, which is what you want. Overusing exclaimed is worse.
Common mistakes
Every adverb should be deleted.
Not so. Delete the ones doing the verb's job. Keep the ones adding real information.
The rarest verb is the best verb.
No. If the reader must stop and think, you have lost more than you gained.