Imagine readers hippety-hopping through your content.
An autumn breeze plays with their hair.
You notice a twinkle in their eye.
Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Now, picture a different scene …
The sun is hiding behind an ink black cloud, and your readers are trudging through the mud. Their shoes feel heavy.
Squelch. Sploosh. Squelch. Sploosh.
Not the kind of experience you want to create, huh?
Still it happens all the time.
Lazy editing makes readers trudge …
Wordiness wears them down.
They start skimming, or worse: They click away.
And the muckiest words making your readers drag, plod, and toil?
Those are adverbs.
Bestselling author Stephen King said that “the road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
Well, that statement might be a bit off.
First, we need to be clear that King is talking about -ly adverbs only—words like quickly, merrily, energetically, and so on.
Secondly, he’s right that one type of -ly adverbs can make readers trudge. But another type can inject a dose of emotion and dollop of creativity into your writing.
Shall I explain?
The trudge-y type of adverbs
This type of adverbs modifies verbs, and it almost always yucky.
For instance:
The explanation of Ms. Grammar:
- The word walked is a verb because it describes what Henneke does.
- The word quickly describes how she walked. Therefore, quickly modifies the verb walked, so it’s an adverb.
Why writers should care:
When you delete the word quickly, you change the meaning of the sentence. Henneke walked doesn’t mean the same as Henneke walked quickly.
So, instead of crossing out the word quickly, you can replace the word walk to paint a more precise and vivid picture:
- Henneke hurried.
- Henneke marched into the room.
- Henneke strode across the room.
- Henneke raced ahead.
- Henneke sprinted.
- Henneke jogged.
- Henneke sped ahead like a hungry hyena spotting an antelope.
When an adverb modifies a verb, you can almost always remove the adverb and pick a more accurate verb:
- She spoke softly—she whispered; she mumbled.
- She said loudly—she barked; she yelled; she screamed; she shrieked.
- She said jokingly—she joked.
- She worked really hard—she slaved; she labored; she toiled.
So, when an adverb modifies a verb (she walked slowly), try to find a stronger or more precise verb and remove the adverb (she trudged).
Strong verbs power up your writing.
Hippety-hopping adverbs
This second type of adverbs modifies an adjective.
It can inject a dose of emotion and creativity in your writing; but it can also make readers feel like they’re wading through sludge.
Let’s look at an example:
The explanation of Ms. Grammar:
- Nouns refer to people or things, so the word girl is a noun.
- Adjectives describe what people or things are like, so the word crazy is an adjective.
- Very describes how crazy Henneke is, so it’s modifying the adjective crazy, and that means very is an adverb.
Why writers should care:
The word very doesn’t help you paint a clear picture, and that’s why it’s a mucky adverb.
But when you delete very you might feel that the remaining sentence—Henneke is a crazy girl—isn’t strong enough. And this is where the magic of editing happens. Look for a stronger expression to add zing to your writing. For instance:
- Henneke is nutty as a fruitcake.
- Henneke is bonkers.
- Henneke is looney.
- Henneke is dippy.
Yet, adverbs are not always bad. Compare these two versions:
The adverb really is meaningless and can be deleted.
The adverb breathtakingly adds stress and paints a more vivid picture, so you can decide to leave it, or opt for Her friend is gorgeous. Both versions are fine.
Adverbs left carelessly in sentences are almost always mucky.
In contrast, adverbs chosen deliberately are fine. Choose them to paint a more precise or more vivid picture.
So, does Stephen King use no ~ly adverbs at all?
Ohhh, he does.
But probably fewer than most of us.
According to statistician Ben Blatt, Stephen King uses one ~ly adverb for every 100 words he writes (see Blatt’s book Nabokov’s Favorite Word is Mauve).
But what adverbs does he use?
Often, the adverbs make his dialogue seem more natural (bold added by me):
An adverb can also add meaning:
Or it can just add stress:
If you were super-strict, you could argue to delete easily in that last sentence. But equally, I can see why King left it in. It helps stress that the flow is smooth.
For contrast, I turned to a page on Apple’s website, and without counting, I notice they use more adverbs.
Still, the adverbs feel deliberately chosen. Sometimes they add stress:
Often, an adverb communicates how easy, quick, and effortless the iPhone is:
So, variations in style and voice exist.
King’s writing is concise, almost sparse; it’s easy to read. He gets to the point quickly. Apple’s writing has a tad more flair, and therefore a few more adverbs.
4 enchanting rules for adverbs
- Whenever you see a ~ly word in your writing, ask yourself whether you need it.
- If you delete an adverb and the sentence weakens, try finding a stronger expression.
- Use carefully selected adverbs to add meaning and stress, create a more natural tone or a pleasurable rhythm.
- When in doubt, delete your adverb.
The art of good writing
Good writers aren’t sprinters.
They choose each and every word with care.
They know the rules.
But they also know how to break the rules. Deliberately. Determinedly. Emphatically.
Have fun!
Recommended editing tips for business writers:
How to avoid wordiness
How to edit your own writing
How to use the passive voice correctly
In other words, we need to use ‘ly’ adverbs sparingly. Use a stronger expression instead as demonstrated by Henneke. Great pointer! Thank you for sharing!
Yes, that’s it. Good summary.
Brilliant, as always, Henneke!
Makes me glad I paid attention when we covered parts of speech in elementary school . . .
even if that was eighty years ago
🙂
It doesn’t seem possible, Jim, that that was eighty years ago. You seem much younger. 🙂
You’re pretty amazing! Thanks
Thank you, Keith 🙂
Love this, thank you. I found Stephen King’s book, “On Writing”, a helpful (and very interesting) read. I appreciate how you’ve plumped out the subject of adverbs, which only serves to complement his outright disdain for them. Your exceptions may indeed prove his rule, but they also provide me with a fuller toolkit on where these words can occasionally be used to good effect.
Yes, I do think my and Stephen King’s view are probably pretty close: Have a good reason for using an adverb.
I like his book, too. I read it quite a few years ago and writing this made me think it would be nice to reread.
Thank you for stopping by, Bert. I appreciate it.
Hi Henneke.
Thanks for your tips. I would like to know if ‘dropping’ the -ly on an adverb is acceptable. I find that a lot of people don’t use the ‘ly when they talk e.g.
– The girl walked quick (not quickly)
– They sang loud (not loudly) etc.
Thanks Sue
Most grammar teachers will say that’s wrong.
But it’s also true that language is always evolving. And Apple once had a slogan: Think different.
So, I think it depends on your style guide or voice. I personally would still use -ly (unless I make a mistake).
If you want to go without -ly, it has to be a conscious choice, like in the case of Apple or if you want to write dialogue that’s more natural.
I love your advice. It is simple. It is direct. Thank you.
Thank you, Melody. I’m glad you found this useful. Happy writing!
Hello Henneke, i enjoy your tips on writing. Can you offer comment on the semi colon? i am aware of the comma-splice rule, but i find the semi colon distracting. It doesent flow and i think it produces little road bumps when reading prose littered with semi colons. I’m also confused when i see some writers (even Agatha Christie) using a comma to join sentences that don’t have a conjunction. This often happens near the end of a long sentence. Comments?
I’m no expert in punctuation. For me, punctuation is less about sticking to rules and more about making a text easy to read. So, using a comma to join sentences that don’t have a conjunction seems fine to me as it doesn’t hinder the reading experience; it may even make it easier.
The semicolon provides just a slightly longer pause than a comma but shorter than a period (full stop). When overused, semicolons get irritating. But writing with too many periods (full stops) is irritating, too, as it becomes cumbersome to read. And even worse is writing with too many exclamation marks. The overuse of exclamation marks is in my mind the worst offense.
You may find this on semicolons useful: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/magazine/the-case-for-semicolons.html.
In “The Elements of Style,” Strunk & White say, “Write with nouns and verbs, not adjectives and adverbs.” Mark Twain said, “If you find an adjective, kill it.”
Your 4 rules for adverbs can also be applied to adjectives, although, of course, they are sometimes essential.
Love this post.
I agree with you. Adjectives can often be eliminated, too, just like adverbs. Instead of an adjective and a noun, we can often use a stronger noun.
No one can deny that the above content is packed with value. It’s true that we must dump junk adverbs for us to communicate with power and clarity. Thank you Henneke. It’s always a fun-ride to read through your posts.
I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog, Deniz. Thank you for stopping by again!
I came to your site because in my business communications I often struggle with where to put the adverb! For example, did the new morning newscast “premiere successfully” or “successfully premiere”?
Any thoughts or tips? Thank you!
I would focus on using the words your audience is using, too. Are they talking about a newscasting premiering successfully? I might be wrong and I don’t know your audience but using premiere as a verb sounds a bit like jargon to me. That might be fine if you’re writing for experts.
Thanks for the reply. Yes, it’s for a TV industry audience so the use of premiering as a verb is commonplace. That said, where should the adverb “successfully” go? Does it matter?
Thx
I think both is possible but you might want to ask a native speaker or grammar teacher if you want to be absolutely sure.
English is my second language and I’m no grammar pendant. My focus is more on communicating clearly and persuasively, even if that means breaking grammar rules.
Thank you for the examples of adverbs gone wrong. And, yes, writers are not sprinters. If we pick our words we care, we don’t need weak adjectives and adverbs. Yes, they do have their place in writing, but the English language has so many words to choose from. Choose the right one, and your writing will leap off the page and connect with the reader.
I’m glad you agree, Kathy. Happy writing! And thank you for stopping by. I appreciate it. 🙂
Thank you Henneke. Your little snacks of wisdom are always so delicious and digestible.
I’m glad you’re enjoying my writing, Ann. Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
Hello Henneke,
Thank you..You are very good at describing.This is helping me a lot.Does this type of describing even work when addressing objections?
Thanks,
Lubosi Jr Maboshe
Yes, it doesn’t matter what content you write, the “rules” on adverbs remain the same.
Thank you. This article gave me clarity!
Great. Happy writing!
Such an insightful piece. As always, we can’t thank you enough our dear Henneke.
I’m still laughing at ‘Henneke is Bonkers’ This article gave me so much clarity. Thank you.
I’m glad I could make you laugh today 🙂
(And it’s true!)
hello Henneke,
strange as it can be, i got your name through one of my clients friends in Singapore Heather. She is highly recommending you and ” Im Dutch living in Haarlem.”
Now what?
Are you also having a dutch version of everything you do?
This is my question.In between im just translating it into dutch and get inspired! Which i truly am, im getting inspired of your writings.
It’s a strange small world, right? I lived in Haarlem briefly in 2001-2002!
Sorry, I don’t have a Dutch version of my website. It’s quite a challenge maintaining a blog in just one language. 🙂
Great article! Definitely, your wise words will add value to my writing. Henneke, you are one of the best English teachers I have come across! Keep up your good work!
Thank you, Augustine. That’s a lovely compliment, especially as I’m not a native English speaker!
I hate to admit this, but I’m a recovering adverb junkie.
Reading this post has been helpful! And I’m posting the 4 tips on adverbs on my desktop.
Fantastic, Henneke! Thank you bunches!
I think every writer has been in love with adverbs, at least during some phase in their writing life.
Happy writing, Tara! And thank you for stopping by 🙂
Thank a lot HENNEKE! Now, my knowledge increased from 10% to 80%, it’s simple but delicious. Let me follow your formulas onwards.
I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Raju. Happy writing!
Well! this was adequately delicious. Especially, the 4 enchanting rules for adverbs.
I don’t want to sound picky but could you kindly shed light on Active and Passive voice, next time.
Thanks for sharing this valuable information
Grammar Girl has a good post on active and passive voice: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/active-voice-versus-passive-voice
Great post,
I’m new to writing and trying to learn as much as can.
I like the explanation.
May I use some of your example in a macro I’m going on?
I use MS Word to write and I’ve been tinkering with VBA code to check my writing.
I just finished a 127,000 novel and started my first self-edit/rewrite. I’ve created a couple of macros to help me spot trouble areas.
Thanks,
Amilcar (Aumi) Hernandez
Eagle Pass, Texas
I’m not sure I understand what you want to achieve with your macro, but have no problem if you want to use my examples.
If you want to troubleshoot adverbs, you also may want to check out the Hemingway app. The online version is free.
A funny misread… In the email leading to this page I mistook adverbs for adverts… Why adverts stink? 🙂
Ha! Adverts do stink sometimes, too 😉
Brilliant article, enchanting as ever.
Thank you for writing and sharing, Henneke!
Thank you, Alina. I appreciate your comment 🙂
Hmmmm interesting, I never thought of it this way.
Being an american living abroad most of my life I think I overlook things like how to use an adverb properly.
I guess I should be thankful that I have my partner do most of my web writing… (I just send him this post : )
I’d say most people overlook things like how to use an adverb properly. You’re already ahead if you know what an adverb is 🙂
Yes indeed 🙂 I already have my partner making some changes to a number of blog posts.
And to top it off I placed a link to this post in the SOP for any writer that is writing any content for me. So I hope this will help make the needed shift!
Dear Henneke
How dare to comment your post. I was flabbergasted while studying your post. Your writings always have a different taste. Just love your way you think.
Best
sujit
Thank you, Sujit. Happy writing!
Oh my gosh – I just rediscovered my love for language… Thank you!
You put a smile on my face, Miriam. Thank you, and happy writing!
Hello Henneke,
I regularly read your blogs and have learned a lot of things.
I love this post, but I have a question.
In the third line, you wrote “Sound good, doesn’t it?”
Shouldn’t it be “Sounds good, doesn’t it?”
If your version is correct, then please explain. I am a bit confused here.
Thanks
I think that’s because it’s short for “That does sound good, doesn’t it?”
(I’ve written “Sounds good?” in the past, too, but had it corrected by a professional editor.)
LOVE this post!
Working in corporate-land I’ve been steadily indoctrinated with the desire to add ever more outlandish adverbs to my copy (you see how much work there is to be done!)
I’ve recently embarked on a ‘strip it bare’ and build it back up mentality, fuelled by reading copyblogger articles, which is how I stumbled on your site.
What’s interesting is the persuasiveness of your copy. I arrived at your site, read the first 5 lines of one of your posts and promptly purchased your book – what strange mind control is this that you weave Henneke!
One tool that has helped me is Grammarly. I love the way it crosses out my adverbs like a frosty old English lit teacher.
When I write: “Henneke is a really crazy girl.” – it strikes out my poorly chosen adverb with a carefully worded put-down:
“It appears that ‘really’ causes some redundancy in this sentence. Consider removing it.”
I’m slowly getting used to the constant criticism it lavishes on my copy but heaven forbid you add a preposition at the end of a sentence…
Thank you for buying my book, Dylan. I hope you find it useful. Let me know?
I’ve not tried Grammarly – their feedback does indeed sound a little old-fashioned like a stuffy literature teacher. The Hemingway app (free online) also marks all adverbs so you can consider removing or replacing them.
Happy writing!
Hi Henneke – thanks for the tip, I hadn’t come across that tool before.
I’ve got both books now so plenty of note taking for the week ahead 🙂
One thing I do like about Grammary, apart from the obvious grammar improvement, is that it warns you when you’re getting ‘too wordy’, it’s been excellent for getting rid of bloat.
Anyway, thanks for the tip, will check it out, loving this site.
Hi Henneke,
This post is extremely helpful (I needed that one, I promise :-)). I’m guilty of overusing adverbs, though I believe most of us do it. I signed up for your writing course a while back and got through some of the material but to be honest with my inbox so flooded and time being limited I lost track. Now I’m reminded why I need to go back to that folder (yes, I made you a folder) and finish reading EVERYTHING.
You are amazing at what you do and I thank you for sharing your gift so freely. I just got both books from Amazon. It may take me a while to get through them but I will keep you posted on the journey.
Thanks again for all you do!
Anna
Yep, you’re right. Most of us overuse adverbs. Me, too. We just have to edit ruthlessly 😉
Thank you for buying my books. I hope you’ll find them useful, too. Will you let me know?
Thank you for stopping by!
Thanks for this valuable post. I came across your name on Elna Cain’s blog and thought I should visit. You are so knowledgeable! Thanks again
Mercy.
Hi Mercy – nice to “meet” you 🙂
Thank you for stopping by!
Hi Henneke,
You powerfully showed us how to make our writing less dull. When it comes to writing concise and colorful, you are one of the writers I truly admire.
The Apple example was exquisite, those adverbs are almost hypnotic. The way they present their products is magnificent, it’s just something I have to respect as a marketer.
On a related note though, I read the copy for the Kindle Fire recently. No funky words, but it was so bold I had to chuckle.
Tiny Price. Big fun
Almost 2x more durable than the latest iPad Air (and costs a lot less too)
I love your lessons Henneke, thanks for another one!
– Jasper
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jasper.
It’s fascinating to study copy, isn’t it? I could spend all day browsing the web looking for interesting copy …
A pity that I have to write a blog post now and then 😉
Wow Henneke! A well explained and easy post to read on two levels. One, thanks for the refresher in grammar, and two, awareness from a copywriting perspective.
I always smile when you refer to Apple – you just love their web copy 😉
Enjoy the rest of the week
Mark
Yep, I like Apple’s copy. I’ve learned a lot from studying their copy (and the article I wrote for KISSmetrics about three years ago still gets mentioned by people occasionally!). I also think Apple provides good examples because they instantly establish credibility – probably more so than from some lesser known brands?
I hope you’re having a good week, too!
Henneke,
As usual, you make perfect sense out of a controversial subject.
Thank you for that.
Mike
P.S. Please say hi to Henrietta for me?
Hi Mike – nice to see your name pop up again 🙂
Henrietta says hi to you, too!
Hi, Henneke,
Yet another great piece.
Okay, I give up. I’m sort of lame at adverbs. And this article sure spills the entire beans on using adverbs well.
I love the emphasis on differentiating the usage. And the last four examples are good points that have successfully summarised the entire lesson every writer needs on adverbs.
Interestingly though, after reading Stephen King’s On Writing, I came off with the notion that adverbs are just too lame and should never appear in writing. (The book explores that deeply).
Hence, I tend to avoid adverbs like it’s a plague.
But with this masterpiece, putting a final crush to my doubts about the use of adverbs, I am certain to never be scared of adverbs. Not ever.
This is worth sharing and of course, worth archiving.
Thanks, Henneke.
Best regards.
Busayo Yusuff
Yep, you can decide to avoid adverbs almost completely. That’s fine, too.
It’s always better to be on the safe side. Rather too few than too many.
Thank you for stopping by!
I thought that Henneke was just mildy eccentric. Now I know the truth.
Henneke is bonkers.
Henneke is looney.
Henneke is dippy.
Henneke is also modest, changing the subject in her final examples. Too modest to write…
Henneke is breathtakingly beautiful.
Henneke is gorgeous.
Thank you for the enchanting lesson, Henneke.
You’re making me blush!
Hi Henneke,
thank you for bringing life and spunk into something as painful as writing copy (for me).
I like the word spunk! And I hope that (with a little more practice perhaps) writing soon will become less painful for you!
Thank you Henneke, you make everything clear effortlessly. This one takes out the duh’s of adverbs. I am going to share it with my daughter who writes a half page for the newspaper every week.
Thanks again, great lesson; delightfully written.
Nicolas Rao
Thank you, Nicolas 🙂
Wow Henneke, I savored every word in your post. Your writing is crystal clear, thank you very much!
Thank you, Elisabeth 🙂
Henneke–I’m a long time reader and this is one of your top 5 posts! As others have commented, this is an eye opener. I am sharing this with my three teen-aged daughters and the balance of my tribe. Thank you!
Just shows how difficult it remains to predict as writer how popular an article will be.
I appreciate your comment (and you loyal readership!), Matthew. Thank you.
Referring to one of your earlier comments, of COURSE (didn’t mean to shout) we are interested in adverbs. Actually I am interested in anything you dish up. As a copywriter who has spent far too much learning things I didn’t plan to (immersed myself in SEO this week and hope all these comments are ‘nofollow’ so you don’t endorse us all by mistake), it’s great to be reminded of what I should be focusing on. Thank you for being you and being out there, keeping us on track, Henneke. You are a special one.
What a lovely comment, Emma. Thank you.
And yep, all links in the comments are nofollow. I wouldn’t mind endorsing real commenters like you and the others here, but I think by having dofollow links in comments, you attract more spammy comments.
I recall this being brought up in one of your books, but it was effervescently nice to see it so delightfully reinvigorated here.
I like the word effervescent! (That’s despite often struggling with the pronunciation.)
Nice use of adverbs 🙂
Hey lady! I like the illustrations adding spice to the introduction to this lesson. The cartoon features looks like you! At least to my eyes and perceptions. Perhaps it is a self portrait of you internally. Is it? Ha! This lesson about grammar is interesting! I write poetry… so I am careless. And this is reflected in the rest of my writing. I just care about rhythm and pleasing myself. I am egocentric. Anyhow! We all appreciate you help–teacher! God bless!
Yes, purple-haired Henrietta (the cartoon character) is my alter ego. She’s a little braver, more outgoing, and more creative than me. Henrietta is like the English translation of Henneke. It’s the closest English name I could find.
To be clear, I don’t have purple hair. And I don’t have a dog either 😉
Now that 5 minute grammar lesson was really helpful. I always thought adjectives and adverbs were the same thing. Duh! I will be on constant lookout in future. Thank you Henneke
You’re not the only one, Paul.
As a Dutch person, I have an advantage that we must learn several languages at school, and that helps with learning about adjectives and adverbs.
In case you’re up for another 5 minute grammar lesson, there’s a similar post about adjectives here: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/how-to-use-adjectives/ 🙂
Thanks again Henneke – I’m learning fast
I love learning from you Henneke and some of it is beginning to sink in…I find myself saying more by writing less and getting rid of those useless adverbs helps …and I adore your sketches, especially the cycling ones..
Thank you for your compliment on my sketches, Joan. I find bicycles still difficult to draw!
Lovely to hear you feel your writing is improving 🙂
Wonderful post! Thank you so much. I particularly loved the examples of replacement with a stronger verb. My writing and even my edits tend to be “more than is needed” to convey my message, and adverbs could be a major contributor to the muck. 🙂
What helps me to tighten my writing, is to wait a day between writing a first draft and editing it. It’s easier to see what words to cut when you’ve created some “distance” and are able to look at the sentences with fresh eyes.
Happy writing!
I had a writing teacher tell me that verbs are the workhorses of vocabulary. Instead of choosing an adverb to brighten up some boring verb, choose the right verb! That’s always been told repeatedly…. ahem, drummed into my head.
That’s a great example, Laurie! I love it. 🙂
Yeah, I know. Stephen King suggested editing with a heavy marker to cross out superfluous words. Or with a knife to whittle down your manuscript to the bare minimum. What you’re left with is pure. Like scraping garnish off good steak.
I love that comparison with the steak. Why spoil a good steak with garnish or a far too creamy sauce? I like my steak pure, too!
PS did you notice the error? Or is this on purpose to see if we are awake??
The adverb “breaktakingly” adds stress and paints a more vivid version, so you can decide to leave it, or opt for “Her friend is ..
BREAKtakingly??? Is that a new word?????
LOL
Thanks for being my English mentor! 🙂
Oops. That’s a mistake. I’ve corrected it.
Thank you for pointing that out! I appreciate it 🙂
Hey Henneke,
You know, after 7 years of English in high school, then working for a company fir 6 years where English was equally used as Dutch, I thought I spoke pretty good English. Next, marrying my American husband and living in the US helped me to expand my English even further, being assured by many that my English was much better than the average American. Wonderful.
Next, moving to Australia, I thought I did not speak not understood English at all. I adjusted my language in the 3 years on the Gold Coast.
Now, living some 21 years in English speaking countries and being a constantly developing copywriter, you teach me ever so much more about English, more than I ever imagined. And I love it, you teach me how to use English better and better. Say it better and with less words. Let them sing and dance, let them paint a vivid picture so they may engage and entertain and persuade!!
THANK YOU, Henneke, I so appreciate you! 🙂
And I guess the English spoken on the Gold Coast is quite different from American English, too.
I’ve found the Americans more complimentary about my English than the Brits. Perhaps the Americans are more used to different accents?
Yes, we are more used to lots of mixed accents, but also, we have a sort of different viewpoint, of all being in this boat together, helping each other pull self up by the bootstraps, acutely aware of our own “foreign” roots, struggling to make it all work. We appreciate anyone who commits to learning one of the more difficult languages in the world, however successfully. We do not think we invented English, but some of us actually know how to speak it. 😉
I love your explanation, Katharine. That’s a good way to think about it. Thank you!
Yes! I was excited to see this, Henneke.
However, about half-way through, I frowned. Hmm…
How could this little Dutch girl be teaching ME new things in MY language?! Ha!
But you were, and you have, and more than once.
Thanks for your bravery, risking what you thought might not be popular, but only for our good. Like a mom, that way. <3
In a way, it might be easier to analyze and write about a language that’s not your mother tongue. I still look at the English language with fresher eyes than people who grew up with English. 😉
Glad you were excited about this one!
Hey Henneke,
Great advice here. You’re the second person that have talked about adverbs in this manner. I have been slowly but sure adding adverbs with care as you suggested, but if I’m in doubt then I just get rid of it because sometimes to me it just sounds redundant.
Thanks for the advice Henneke! Have a good one!
Editors hate the overuse of adverbs, so I’m not surprised you’ve come across other posts discussing how to use adverbs in moderation.
Thank you for stopping by, Sherman.
I could literally visualize running like a hungry hyena, Henneke. 🙂
Thank God for some nice adverbs. I have to try this in my next blog post.
I’m not a good runner at all! I prefer swimming or cycling 😉
Cool!
Really? Not very cool? 😉
Cheeky! Great explanations. I know it, I’ve never seen it written down.
Henneke:
Every piece of your digestible content has been delectible and this is no exception. You’re just toooooo good!
I think Hemingway allows 3 but I usually want to keep mine…now I may have to rethink…well…everything.
I had been reading your work for quite sometime before getting on the list to digest and oh my goodness…just more proof of why I love your stuff. Thank you, Henneke.
You can keep a few adverbs – you just have to decide which adverbs are a little stinky and which are quite fragrant 😉
Thank you for your kind words, Sue-Ann. Nice to “meet” you here!
Henneke,
Great tips. The use of boring adverbs is a waste of paper. The average reader has become immune to the lazy, standard adverbs, and generally walks away with the image of a boring ‘blah, blah, blah’ conversation.
Thanks for the lesson on adding a little spice to our writing.
Yep, it’s easy to bore readers with our blah blah.
Thank you for stopping by, Tom.
Exceptional stuff, Henneke (edited from: really love your stuff). I aspire to be you when I grow up!
Question: Do you do the illustrations yourself?
Yep, I do the illustrations. The old-fashioned way – using colored pencils!
Another illuminating lesson. Thanks Henneke.
You’re welcome 🙂
I wondered what it said about me that I clicked open a post about adverbs with gleeful anticipation. Not many people could make an adverb tutorial both educational and fun but as usual Henneke, you succeeded.
Yes, I was wondering about this, too. I thought the word “adverb” in the subject line would frighten off a lot of people, but I was hoping that the word “stink” would make up for that 😉
Thank you for your kind words, Carole. Always good to see you!
Henneke – I loved this post! Thank you for clarifying adverbs; I will refer back this post often.
Question for you on blogging style. I see a lot of blogs these days where every sentence stands on its own, as if it’s a paragraph. Most of your post is that way, also. Is that the current style to make posts easier to read?
Patricia Haag
Most of the time, I try to have one-sentence paragraphs in the opening of the post because it makes it feel like readers breeze through the content with ease. Then the main body has paragraphs of a few sentences, unless I want to stress a specific sentence (if I want to stress a single sentence, I create a one-sentence paragraph). In the final paragraph, I usually have one-sentence paragraphs again. It might be that I’ve been following this routine less recently. I’ll have a look!
The layout of this post feels a bit messy with so many bullet points.
Dear Ms. Grammar,
I wish you were my teacher when I struggled in grammar school to learn the rules of un-mucky writing. (I was more of an art and science kid.)
Thanks again for another enchanting lesson. (How much muck can you put in a comment?) 😉
I’m not sure I’d be good in front of a class of kids! 😉
Dear Henneke,
Here I am, enjoying myself hippety-hopping through your enchanting writings. Just to go with your words and never ever return to my daily struggle, digging deep, trudging to find the right words. The right words for what? Somewhere on the way to learn to write I lost my purpose and passion. After reading this post I am inspired by the word hippety-hopping. It hit me. I am born for hippety-hopping. Trudging makes me feel a shame of my writing. With newfound inspirations and tips due to this post I will start writing again. Hopefully one day somebody will hippety-hopp through my writing. Thank you, Henneke.
I think readers notice it when you write with enthusiasm or when you’re finding writing a pain. Having fun when writing (or editing!) will inject more passion into your writing.
Don’t ever feel ashamed of your writing. Try to spot why you don’t like it and then try to improve it. Reviewing articles you like and emulating their style and structure, can also help. I hope you’ll soon enjoy your writing again!
I have always had problems with adverbs. I use them too much and even I know I don’t have to I still use them. With this post I have a much clearer paint about this thread.
Just loved the way you explaind what kind of adverbs exists and how to remove or change them for something better. I will follow your advices.
Thank u Henneke!
PD: sorry for my English, instead I’ve studied English here (Spain) since I was a child my writing has become terrible in the last years. I have to practice much more 🙂
Your English is fine. Nice to “meet” you, Javi 🙂
I’ve become a ruthless editor. Thanks to you. Now my writing is more tight, crisp. And (I hope) it goes straight to my readers’ heart.
I enjoy writing now. A huge change from my school days, when I loathed it.
I hated essay writing at school, too. And I wasn’t good at it either. Dutch (my native language) and English were my worst subjects!
Henneke, you are a true master! Your lessons always surprise and delight your audience, but this one is especially good. Who knew adverbs were worthy of such deep consideration? I especially appreciate the ultra-specific examples you provide. As many others have said, “Thank you for all you do!”
And thank you for stopping by! 🙂
Words are fascinating, aren’t they?
Thanks Henneke, for this breathtakingly useful post.
🙂
Hi Henneke,
Really great post here.
The person who is very interested in improving their writing skills, a post like this tells a lot to me. Me that I desperately need to spend more time in the editing stage than I currently do.
I know for a fact that my problem is I just get lazy and choose those week adverbs to relay my point and I just never return to correct it.
But that’s pretty much miscues and I know to be a better writer I have to make the sacrifices that I needed to edit properly. And that definitely means no longer take a shortcuts with particular ad verbs and that using adverbs meaningful and dynamic.
Excellent stuff as always, Henneke.
– Andrew
Yeah, I’m the opposite. I hate writing first drafts and I can spend all day long editing my content. I find editing so much more enjoyable 🙂
Henneke – exceptional and crisp as always. I saved the post to use again later – like brushing my teeth or making my bed, scrubbing my writing for pesky adverbs is something I must do every day. Otherwise, they sneak back in there. Do you have a recommended app or software (e.g., Hemingway app?) to help identify them? Some of us, many years past grammar class, could use the help of software that highlights them for us…so we could then search and destroy.
I enjoy seeing your posts pop up in my feed! Such a great service you offer
Marné
The Hemingway app is pretty good. I find it a little too prescriptive – they suggest to eliminate all adverbs (I think). If you use the app to find adverbs and then decide what action you want to take (leave, delete, or replace), then it can be useful.
Thank you for stopping by!
I have a problem I am not quite sure how to solve. I need to write my blog about a horrible topic – child abuse and neglect. I am writing for a fantastic group of volunteers. We raise funds to meet the needs of these young victims of maltreatment. How do I apply your suggestions for making the blog light-hearted and interesting, but at the same time make my message urgent and clear? Does every blog have to be a story?
Not every blog post has to be light-hearted and not every blog post needs to be a story. Try thinking about your volunteers. How can you help them and keep them motivated? Which questions do they have that you can answer? How would you talk to them in a face-to-face conversation?
Another enlightening post, Henneke!
Adverbs shall fear my delete key.
Thank you.
Chris.
Adverbs are getting scared 😉
Thank you Henneke. I sometimes feel like I’m trudging through my writing. I will check to see if it’s the adverb issue. I love the advice about finding a stronger word to replace the adverb and verb. It’s difficult at times to come up with the precise word. Would you suggest using a thesaurus for this?
Yep, I use a thesaurus quite often. I sometimes find that I use the same words too often, and a thesaurus can help find alternatives.
I also use a thesaurus quite often too. I believe all writers at some point can say that they find themselves using the same words and expressions too often. Being aware is half the battle! Thank you once again for your enchanting article about weeding out those sneaky unnecessary adverbs. Perhaps it’s not the writer’s fault at all. Perhaps all those extraordinarily sneaky adverbs that pop up in our copy are the result of alien influence-aliens have infiltrated all writer’s computers throughout the world, unbeknownst to us, and when we tap tap tap on our keyboards, our fingers unnaturally tap out unnecessary adverb after adverb! Ha Ha
Sharing this with my kids. It should be required reading in English class 🙂
I hope your children like it!
Fantastic insights and guidance. Your awesomeness continues. Thank you Henneke. Love. Love. Love your juicy posts. ❤️
Thank you, Lee! 🙂
Great article. Straight to the point.
I must admit I have an itty bitty adverb problem myself. At least my first drafts are often packed with adverbs. Thanks for the 4-point-checklist. I’m going to apply this to the website copy I’m writing right away. 🙂
But that’s
exactlywhat first drafts are for! You’ve not seen how crappy my first draft are. 🙂Hi Henneke,
Back with another blockbuster, huh?
Love the visual imagery of your opening.
You didn’t just say why it was wrong, but how to correctly use it, if need be. The editing tips are so welcome.
Thanks for a great post.
Ruth
To be honest, I was prepared for a deafening silence, because I wasn’t sure whether people would be interested in an article about adverbs. It sounds a bit like going back to school, doesn’t it?
Glad you enjoyed this one!
Hi Henneke
If truth be told and tons of writing reveal it, some of us didn’t get it the first time around. Since grammar is abstract refreshers are always welcome. Hint. The best grammar book hasn’t been written yet.
P.S. I found a handy trick. When I edit and see a word with “ly” stuck on the end I wonder what it’s doing there. The word not the “ly”. 🙂
Cheers
Yep, that’s an excellent trick! Thank you for adding that, Curtis 🙂
What other grammar topics should a grammar book cover? I know you want me to write one 😉 But I’m not sure I’m up for writing it. At least not yet. Perhaps try a few more grammar-focused blog posts first.
‘Very’ good Henneke as always. Exceptionally clean writing. Clearly explained. Goodly done.
Thank you.
Thank you kindly and warmly 😉
Henneke,
As always, your words are ENCHANTING! As well as engaging, alluring and captivating. (All adverbs I know, but good ones.)
I shall drift off to sleep with your wise words dancing through my mind tonight. (It is night where I am.)
And tomorrow, I shall promise, once again, to apply to my writing, what you tell me to do!
Thanks for all you do. Thanks for caring. Thanks for writing. Thanks for sharing. You inspire people more than you possibly imagine! 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words, Mark.
By the way, engaging, alluring, and captivating are adjectives. Those can be bad, too, but not as bad as adverbs. And in this case, I like them all! 🙂
Hope you’re having sweet dreams about readers hippety-hopping through your content with a smile on their face 🙂
Sorry Henneke, my bad! Of course they are adjectives and not adverbs. (I will claim being tired!)
🙂
Excellent post, thank you Henneke! You add value to my life 🙂
You’re welcome. Happy editing!
This article is an eye opener to me.
Why? (I’m curious!)
Henneke, I learned the effective usage of adverbs through your article. I learnt the nuances of the do’s and dont’s of the adverb placing in the writing.
Live long to educate us with your enchanting posts.
Great! Thank you 🙂