Adverbs are really bad.
Adverbs are bad.
The second sentence of the above example is stronger without the adverb.
Adverbs add weight and length to writing which should be short and tight. The use of adverbs show a lack of confidence and they often restate the obvious:
He ran quickly.
Running is a quick motion. If you want to emphasise the quickness then it would be better to say: ‘He bolted’, or ‘He dashed’. This puts a striking image in the reader’s mind and makes the writing more interesting.
She was very small.
She was tiny.
She was so small she was mistaken for an M&M.
This is not to say adverbs can’t be used at all. Just be sure when you do choose to use them.
Can you think of any amusing examples of the poor use of adverbs?
When you're in the zone writing, it's easy to stick an adverb in and keep writing. The trick is to remember to go back during the editing and cut as many as possible.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Lynda.
i really like to desperately depend on the repetitive use of adverbs to helpfully make... oh man. i can't do this.
ReplyDeletegreat post lynda!
you made me laugh, Aspiring :)
ReplyDeleteOh, the neverending war with the adverbs. I read somewhere once that the problem with using too many adverbs wasn't the adverbs per se, but the fact that they often were the result of lazy writing. Like in your example the lazy writer would write "run fast" because he/she is not bothering to think of a better word.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helen, though. It's okay to use them in first drafts ;)
I know about adverbs but I agree with what Helen said-- I tend to write them when writing a lot and then I have to remember to go back and get rid of them. I tend to use Really too often:))
ReplyDeleteI agree! A weakness of mine, but something I look out for in the edits.
ReplyDeleteFor sure! All bets are off while writing the first draft. If we worry about technique for the first draft we'll get nowhere.
ReplyDeleteJust came across your blog ~ great post & so true!
ReplyDelete