- Many adverbs prop up a weak verb a stronger verb could replace.
- Adverbs in dialogue tags ("she said angrily") usually tell, not show.
- Redundant adverbs ("shouted loudly") add nothing.
- Not all adverbs are bad; cut the unnecessary ones.
- Stronger verbs and action beats often replace adverbs.
Cut adverbs by targeting the ones doing a stronger word's job: replace "walked quietly" with "crept," "said angrily" with an action beat, and delete redundant pairs like "shouted loudly." Search for "-ly" words and ask whether each adds meaning a better verb could carry alone. Keep adverbs that genuinely contribute — the rule is "cut the unnecessary," not "eliminate all." Stronger verbs and shown behavior are what usually replace a propping adverb.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Adverbs cluster where the verb is weak, so a draft heavy with "-ly" words usually signals prose that could be tighter and more vivid. Cutting the unnecessary ones and replacing them with stronger verbs sharpens the writing and removes the "telling" quality of adverb-laden dialogue tags. The nuance matters too: blanket adverb-hatred leads to awkward writing, so the skill is discernment — cutting the props while keeping the adverbs that earn their place.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A search for "-ly" adverbs.
- Verb-plus-adverb pairs replaced by stronger verbs.
- Adverb dialogue tags replaced with action.
- Redundant adverbs deleted.
- Discernment — keep the ones that add meaning.
- Shown behavior over told adverbs.
Chapter iii·Example
A writer searches "-ly." "She closed the door quietly" becomes "She eased the door shut." "Get out," he said angrily becomes an action beat that shows the anger. "Ran quickly" loses the redundant adverb. But she keeps "she answered honestly," where the adverb carries real meaning. Discernment, not a purge.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom's Edit studio helps you flag propping adverbs, so you cut the unnecessary ones and strengthen the verbs beneath them.
See the Edit studio