Strengthen Your Verbs, Cut Your Adverbs
Adverbs are not the enemy.
Let me say that again, because there's a lot of advice out there that says adverbs are bad, adverbs are lazy, adverbs should be eliminated entirely. And that's not quite right.
Adverbs are a tool. Like all tools, they can be used well or poorly. They can strengthen your prose or weaken it. The problem isn't adverbs themselves. The problem is what adverbs often signal: weak verbs.
The adverb-verb connection.
When you write "walked slowly," you're using an adverb to modify a weak verb. "Walked" is generic. It doesn't tell us how the character is moving. "Slowly" tells us the speed, but it doesn't tell us anything else. Is the character strolling? Trudging? Creeping? Ambled? The adverb "slowly" is a band-aid on a weak verb.
Now consider: "strolled." "Trudged." "Crept." "Ambled." Each of these verbs conveys both the action and the manner of the action. They're stronger, more specific, more evocative. They don't need adverbs.
The problem with adverb-verb combinations.
"Walked slowly" is two words. "Strolled" is one. "Walked slowly" is generic. "Strolled" is specific. "Walked slowly" tells. "Strolled" shows.
When you use adverb-verb combinations, you're diluting your prose. You're using more words to say less. You're telling the reader how the character is doing something, rather than showing them through a precise verb.
Common adverb-verb combinations.
- Walked slowly → strolled, ambled, meandered
- Ran quickly → sprinted, dashed, bolted
- Said quietly → whispered, murmured, muttered
- Looked angrily → glared, scowled, glowered
- Smiled happily → beamed, grinned, glowed
- Laughed loudly → guffawed, cackled, roared
- Cried softly → wept, sobbed, sniffled
- Ate quickly → devoured, gobbled, wolfed
Why do we overuse adverbs?
Because they're easy. Because when we're drafting, our brain reaches for the first verb that comes to mind—"walked," "ran," "said"—and then modifies it with an adverb. It's a shortcut. It gets the job done.
But writing isn't just about getting the job done. It's about getting the job done well. And "walked slowly" is not as well as "strolled."
How to fix the adverb problem.
Use Word Census to count how many "-ly" adverbs you've used in your manuscript. You might be surprised by the number. Then, here's how to fix it:
1. Replace adverb-verb combinations with strong verbs. "Walked slowly" → "strolled." "Ran quickly" → "sprinted." "Said quietly" → "whispered."
2. Cut unnecessary adverbs. Sometimes you don't need the adverb at all. "She smiled happily" → "She smiled." "He ran quickly" → "He ran." The verb is enough.
3. Use adverbs intentionally. Sometimes adverbs are necessary. Sometimes they add nuance that a single verb can't convey. "She smiled sadly" is different from "She smiled." "He laughed bitterly" is different from "He laughed." In these cases, the adverb is doing important work.
4. Focus on specific, sensory verbs. Verbs that engage the senses are stronger than generic verbs. "She touched the fabric" is generic. "She traced the fabric" is specific. "She caressed the fabric" is sensory. "She fingered the fabric" is evocative.
A note on "very" and "really."
"Very" and "really" are adverbs, and they're almost always unnecessary. "Very angry" → "furious." "Really tired" → "exhausted." "Very happy" → "elated." Cut them. Your prose will be stronger.
A note on "just."
"Just" is an adverb, and it's one of the most overused words in modern writing. "I just wanted to ask." "She just couldn't believe it." "He just needed a minute." Cut it. "I wanted to ask." "She couldn't believe it." "He needed a minute." Stronger.
The bottom line.
Adverbs aren't bad. But adverb-verb combinations often are. They're a sign that your verbs are weak. They're a sign that you're telling instead of showing. They're a sign that your prose could be tighter, stronger, more precise.
Run your manuscript through Word Census. Count your "-ly" words. Then start strengthening your verbs. Your prose will be more vivid, more immediate, more powerful. And your readers will feel the difference.