How-To Series: Adverbs (Unpopular Opinion)

Adverbs are strong tools that get way too much undeserved hate. So much so that writers are now being encouraged to leave them out altogether. This annoys me because a well-chosen adverb can change the entire meaning of a sentence – and I mean in the best possible way! A good adverb adds texture and flavor and specificity. It’s the type of word that brings extra clarity as to what shade a certain color is. 

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The “weak verb + weak adverb” (wv+wa) Formula

As a general rule, I’ve found that adverbs are weak when used with weak verbs. Eg. She smiled slightly; he ran slowly. I say general because this isn’t always the case. Sometimes there’s no more effective description than just saying “She smiled slightly” or “he ran slowly.” But as often as I can, I limit the amount of weak verb + weak adverb patterns in my writing. 

When I find a wv+wa, I first search for a stronger verb. “She smiled slightly” could become “She smirked.” If that doesn’t fit, I search for a new way to phrase it. “She smiled slightly” could become “The corner of her mouth tilted in a smile.” 

But sometimes, she just has to smile slightly. That phrase has a certain feel to it that you may decide is just the right choice for that particular moment. 

So, in my opinion, it’s not a crime to use a wv+wa now and then. Just don’t overdo it. 

Strong Adverbs are Specific Adverbs

As a general rule, I believe adverbs are strong when they give the verb a meaning unable to be attained by any other single verb. Yes, “he ran slowly” could become “he jogged.”

But what if the casual, steady vibe that comes with “jog” isn’t the feel you’re going for? If you can’t think of a fitting synonym and no rephrasing of the sentence is working, that’s when I’d settle for a specific adverb. Say this guy is running slowly because he’s depressed with all the worries in his life. “He ran slowly” could become “he ran sluggishly.” “Sluggish” gives a whole new feel that is more specific than “slow.” It describes the type of slow.

The “Bad” Adverbs

I’ve made the argument that wv+wa isn’t always bad. But there are three adverbs I instinctively tend to avoid in my writing (… not referring to more conversational writings like this blog post though ;). They are:

• very
• really
• definitely

Except for something like a purposeful understatement (such as “I was definitely mad now”) or to exaggerate/extra-emphasize ( such as “It moved very slowly”), I stay away from these adverbs because the first two are intensifiers that clearly suggest the object they’re describing isn’t strong enough. The last is what I would call a clarifier (no idea whether that’s the real name for it *upside down smiley face*). It again implies that the object it’s clarifying isn’t enough.

Like I suggested, these 3 words are more conversational, casual. If your writing is meant to be that way, keep it! But as a general rule of thumb, I recommend avoiding them.

The Dialogue Exception

Flowing off from my last point, any word you would run quickly – excuse me, sprint to edit in your writing shouldn’t be deleted from your dialogue! I learned this from YouTube writing coach Abbie Emmons (link to video below). This exception is because most people in real life tend to use weak verbs, weak adverbs, weak adjectives. We say “came” instead of “dashed,” “really big” instead of “gigantic,” “cool” instead of “beautiful.” 

Leaving these filler words in dialogue keeps it realistic and natural. 

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I hope you enjoyed this post! Disagree? Agree? Anything to add? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! (Disclaimer: this how-to series is just a collection of tips, advice, and suggestions I’ve discovered along my writing journey! 🙂 )

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(Featured image via Pexels.)