Adverbs modify verbs or adjectives—you could say that they "add to" verbs (and adjectives). They're useful for telling when and how something happened, but adverbs are often used as a way to avoid finding the right word for a situation. Plus, they can add unnecessary words and slow down the pace of your prose.
Which of the following sentences is better?
· He moved quickly through the crowd so he could be the first in line.
· He dashed through the crowd so he could be the first in line.
The second sentence is better because it takes two words and replaces them with a stronger word that paints a better picture for the reader.
Strong verbs are the lifeblood of interesting prose. When you find yourself using a lot of adverbs, edit ruthlessly (I know "ruthlessly" is an adverb, but if you can think of a single word that equates to "edit ruthlessly," please let me know). Replace "keenly interested" with "fascinated" or another word that you don't hear all the time. Replace "enormously important" with "monumental."
"Really" is one adverb that is often abused. Most of the time, you can remove it without any negative consequences to your writing.
Of course, you don't want to cut out adverbs at the expensive of clarity. If an adverb is necessary to convey your meaning, use it.
You'll notice that all of the adverb examples that I've used so far end in ly. However, there are other adverbs that don't end in ly that you could cut out. Take very for example. I believe this is one of the most overused words in the history of the English language. Most of the time, it isn't necessary, or you could replace it and the word it modifies with something strong.
· Very good --> excellent
· Very bad --> awful
· Very wet --> drenched or soaked
· Very poor --> in the depths of poverty
· Very entertaining --> captivating or hilarious
Got it? Very is so overused that in some languages, it has lost its meaning altogether. In Chinese, they use the word that is literally translated as very to aid the rhythm of a sentence, not because something is very anything.
When you cut out unnecessary adverbs, you steer yourself away from lazy writing and become better at showing rather than telling your reader what is going on.
YOU ARE READING
Things Every Writer Should Know (but Most Don't)
NonfiksiYou have a wonderful idea for a story, and that is fantastic! But how can you make sure that poor mechanics don't distract your writers from your message? I address some of the most common errors in writing and tell you how to fix them.
