Adverbs aren’t very popular these days.
We all know how Stephen King regards and Mark Twain regarded them. English teachers, writing coaches, and would-be authors advise everyone to avoid them. J.K. Rowling—best-selling author and creator of the “Harry Potter” series—has been criticized relentlessly for her use of them.
Perhaps it’s time to take a closer look at adverbs, the most maligned of the parts of speech.
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They describe how, when, where, and how much.
Ex: “I was soundly beaten the last time I played Scrabble. ”
The disdain many writers and editors have for adverbs often occurs when adverbs are used with the word “said.” Here are a few examples.
Ex: “You cheated. That’s the only way you could have won,” I said angrily.
In this example the adverb angrily modifies the word “said.” However, a stronger verb would remove the need for the adverb.
Ex: “You cheated. That’s the only way you could have won,” I barked.
The stronger verb “barked” provides more value.
Yet, what if the first sentence used a stronger adverb?
Ex: “You cheated. That’s the only way you could have won,” I said crossly.
Which is the better sentence, the second or third?
Writers shouldn’t necessarily avoid adverbs altogether; they must choose them judiciously. Opt for precise and descriptive wordings over meaningless and unimaginative phrases.
Also, don’t use too many of them. It’s okay to leave “said” as “said.”
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Below are a few examples of strong adverbs, and while these adverbs may not work in every context, they can add variety to your writing.
- Anxiously
- Ardently
- Atrociously
- Bleakly
- Breathlessly
- Crossly
- Dimly
- Disdainfully
- Defiantly
- Earnestly
- Elegantly
- Evasively
- Exuberantly
- Fervently
- Grimly
- Harmoniously
- Hopelessly
- Incoherently
- Indifferently
- Inexorably
- Inwardly
- Languidly
- Mockingly
- Modestly
- Neighborly
- Relentlessly
- Repulsively
- Rigidly
- Scarcely
- Sheepishly
- Somberly
- Sparsely
- Spitefully
- Sullenly
- Tacitly
- Tartly
- Vainly
- Voluntarily
- Waywardly
Do you have any adverbs to share? Please post them below.
Laura Hale Brockway is a writer and editor from Austin, Texas. Read more of her posts on writing, editing, and corporate life on PR Daily and at impertinentremarks.com.
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