You might think strong verbs are only for fiction writers. He uses few adjectives and adverbs to keep his writing fast-paced. I tore out the pages, ate them with salt, doused them with relish, gnawed on the bindings, turned the chapters with my tongue!īradbury’s choice of strong verbs (like “gnaw” and “douse”) adds zest and power. She starts if she hears a sound, pales if you ask her questions, spins and vanishes if you disturb her dress. The Muse, then, is the most terrified of all the virgins. Over the weekend, I read Ray Bradbury’s “Zen in the Art of Writing.” I enjoyed his word choice, and I loved how his verbs breathe life into abstract concepts, like storytelling and the Muse.įor instance, he describes how he started writing stories based on lists of nouns:Īnd the stories began to burst, to explode from those memories, hidden in the nouns, lost in the lists. You can’t picture “provide feedback,” but you can visualize “shouting,” “lecturing,” and “scribbling.” Strong verbs breathe life into abstract ideas Examples of weak verbs are “to be,” “to provide,” “to add,” and “to utilize.” You can’t picture these words.įor instance, if someone provides feedback, is he shouting his comments? Or lecturing you with a smug face? Or perhaps scribbling a few suggestions in the margin of your handout?
In contrast, weak verbs are abstract and generic-they don’t help you visualize a scene. He cradles the baby, strokes her dark hair, tickles her chin, and hums a lullaby. Strong verbs engage your senses, and help readers picture a scene (verbs in bold): Want to write better? Get my best writing tips for business here > So, the “secret” to writing with gusto is to choose stronger verbs. In contrast, strong verbs add action, vitality, color, and zest.
DESCRIPTIVE ACTION VERBS LIST FULL
First drafts are full of weak verbs, and weak verbs make your writing limp, flabby, and listless.
Why does this writing feel energetic and strong?Īnd do you wonder why your draft text seems a tad limp in comparison?įirst drafts often require an injection of power and pizzazz.
DESCRIPTIVE ACTION VERBS LIST HOW TO
How to use strong verbs to improve your sentencesĪ list of 351 strong verbs to inspire your writing Examples of strong verbs in Ray Bradbury’s writingĮxamples of strong verbs in business writing
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