Adverbs: Are they really so terribly bad?
Oh, adverbs. They must be the most vilified of all the parts of speech. When adverbs are mentioned in writing circles, it’s often with the advice to limit or even eliminate them altogether in the name of stronger and more concise writing. But what exactly are adverbs? Do they really deserve all the hate? And will it actually make your writing stronger to remove them?
What are adverbs?
You’ve likely been taught that an adverb is a word that modifies a verb and usually ends in -ly.
He walked slowly.
She searched frantically.
He jumped suddenly.
She stood boldly.
He smiled blandly.
But an adverb can also modify an adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or an entire sentence.
Her hat was shockingly pink.
Suddenly, the door slammed shut.
The lecture was, surprisingly, fascinating.
And there are plenty of common adverbs that don’t end in -ly.
He jumped again.
She walked very slowly.
Soon, everything will change.
They often visit the seaside.
Adverbs tell how, when, where, how often, and to what extent things happen or are the way they are.
What’s wrong with adverbs?
Adverbs express important information, but they can easily be used lazily or redundantly, which is where writers can get into trouble.
Redundancy
Adverbs often double-tell, especially in character descriptions, actions, or dialogue tags. In each of the following cases, the adverb repeats information that’s built into the verb or the dialogue. For more on dialogue tags and action beats, visit this post.
She grinned happily. (Unless noted otherwise, a grin is assumed to be happy.)
He tiptoed softly. (It would be a challenge to tiptoe any other way!)
She glanced briefly. (A glance is, by definition, a brief look.)
“I hate you!” she said angrily. (If “I hate you” is said lovingly or joyfully, by all means specify. Otherwise, readers will assume it’s said in anger.)
“You must help me! I’ll do anything!” he said desperately. (The desperation is already there in the words.)
weak verbs or adjectives
An adverb can be a sign that your verb or adjective isn’t pulling its weight. A stronger verb will often make the adverb unnecessary.
He spoke softly. → He whispered.
She ran quickly. → She sprinted.
He stared angrily. → He glared.
It was raining hard. → It was pouring.
It looked very old. → It looked ancient.
telling rather than showing
Adverbs are sometimes used to quickly label the emotions behind actions, when what’s really needed is a stronger description or more detail. In other words, they are used to tell rather than show information, action, or emotion.
He cleaned angrily. → He stormed through the kitchen, throwing old takeout containers in the bin and attacking the sink with a scrub brush.
She moved sneakily through the garden. → She tiptoed through the garden, peering around the shrubberies and freezing at the slightest sound.
“Thanks for stopping by,” he said rudely. → “Thanks for stopping by,” he said, slamming the door in her face.
Extraneous intensifiers
Adverbs that add emphasis but don’t significantly alter meaning can often be removed or replaced with stronger verbs or adjectives. That said, in some cases, especially in dialogue, these types of adverbs may improve rhythm, deepen emotion, or contribute to voice. Authors should carefully consider whether these adverbs contribute meaningfully to the writing.
Actually, I’m very happy with the new gardener.
I just wish we had a little more time.
She is simply the best.
That was totally unfair.
You really shouldn’t do that.
Clearly, that was the wrong choice.
You’ve obviously never read the book.
Surprisingly, she had never even been to the beach.
When is it okay to use adverbs?
While they can be used lazily, there’s nothing inherently lazy about adverbs. Sometimes even the strongest nouns, verbs, and adjectives can’t tell the whole story, and the best way to get your point across is through a thoughtful, well-placed adverb. If an adverb adds clarity, strengthens imagery, improves rhythm, or sets the right tone, don’t be afraid to use it. Just watch out for redundancy, weak verbs or adjectives, and “telling” what should be “shown.”
Adverbs have their place in every piece of fiction. If you’re unsure about their use in your own writing, try revisiting books in your genre or by authors you admire to see how they’ve used adverbs effectively (or ineffectively). Here are a few examples from randomly chosen bestsellers.
From the first chapter of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara:
“And then she stood . . . and looked pointedly at the door.”
“Pho Viet Huong wasn’t very good - the pho was curiously sugary.”
“Although the phones rang more or less constantly, he rarely picked them up.”
“Annika was speaking very fast and had apparently decided that the best strategy was to treat Willem like an eclipse and simply not look at him at all.”
From the first chapter of The Shining by Stephen King:
“Jack’s hands were clenched tightly in his lap, working against each other, sweating.”
“Jack flashed the PR smile again, large and insultingly toothy.”
“Ullman looked at Jack coolly and appraisingly.”
From the prologue of The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger:
“Mercifully, you lapse back into unconsciousness and wake up . . . with your wife leaning over you looking very worried.”
“Everything is sublime and has an aura, and suddenly you are intensely nauseated and then you are gone.”
I love meandering through the stacks at the library . . . lightly touching the spines of the books.”
What do you think? Did these authors use their adverbs well? Did I use them well in this article? (Yes, I may have been a little heavy-handed.) Do you try to limit adverbs in your own writing? Let me know in the comments!
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