You’re a writer, so you’ve probably heard that you should avoid adverbs. Adverbs are bad, right? All those -ly words clutter your writing and make it wordy. Adverbs, they say, turn prose purple.
The notion that any writer who knows what they’re doing will avoid adverbs at all cost is more than just some rumor you heard on the Internet. Some truly amazing writers have disavowed the wicked adverb.
I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it to the rooftops.
Stephen King
Even the great and powerful Stephen King denounces adverbs. And it’s hard to argue with him; the man has written over 50 books to become a bestselling legend.
You’ll find more insight into Stephen King’s thoughts on adverbs in his classic book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
But you’re on my website now, so you’re going to get my take.
Are adverbs just plain bad?
If you want a black-and-white answer to this timeworn writing question, I’m afraid you’re not going to get it from me. (Even Stephen King hedged on adverbs in On Writing, so before you call me wishy-washy, check yourself.)
I said it before when I talked about how to improve your writing skills:
Adverbs are like spice. A little goes a long way, but don’t overdo it. Sprinkle your writing with too many adverbs, and pretty soon it’s unpalatable.
Wait, what’s an adverb?
If you’re a proud member of the I Know WTF An Adverb Is, Thank You Very Much Club, you can go ahead and skip this part. But if you’re just learning this stuff (proud of you!) or you need a refresher, here’s the definition of adverb straight from Merriam-Webster:
Essential meaning of Adverb: a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree.
Most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective: quickly, carefully, loudly, happily, easily, boldly.
But adverbs don’t have to end in -ly. Again, also, just, and very are examples of adverbs, too.
The adverbs I will be talking about (and the ones Stephen King was referring to) are the -ly words. But if you’d like to learn more about other types of adverbs, Merriam-Webster’s got you covered.
Should you avoid adverbs?
Sometimes.
I know that’s a frustrating answer, but hear me out.
English writing — yes, even good English writing — is full of -ly adverbs. Some writers use them more liberally (liberally is an adverb!) than others. But I guarantee you won’t find bestselling books littered with -ly adverbs.
When it comes to adverbs, I have a simple rule:
Never use an adverb to boost a weak verb. Instead, use a strong verb so you don't need an adverb.
Examples of adverbs used to modify weak verbs
You want examples? Yo, I got your examples right here!
WEAK: The border collie ran quickly toward the sheep.
STRONG: The border collie darted toward the sheep.
WEAK: Carol yelled harshly at Joe: “Get out of here, you loser!”
STRONG: Carol brayed at Joe: “Get out of here, you loser!”
WEAK: Alex walked slowly and quietly toward the door, trying to go unnoticed.
STRONG: Alex crept toward the door, trying to go unnoticed.
WEAK: She looked closely at the signature. Could it have been forged?
STRONG: She examined the signature. Could it have been forged?
There are other types of adverb abuse, but I believe when writers ask “So, should you avoid adverbs in your writing?” they’re talking about the adverbs writers use to give weak verbs a jumpstart.
Adverbs aren’t all bad if you know how to use them
The bottom line: Use adverbs consciously. (See what I did there?)
Sometimes, an adverb is a style choice, like in my sentence above. Although consciously modifies use, I don’t find it offensive. Do you?
Adverbs can also make dialog sound more natural. When we talk, we’re all about adverbs. Often, we use them as intensifiers. Instead of giving a weak verb a boost, they add a little extra bling to the sentence:
“Actually, I don’t find that funny.”
“My dog is basically an idiot, but I love him.”
“Dude, I totally get where you’re coming from!”
Could you remove the adverbs from those sentences without changing their meaning? Sure. But I think they sound more colorful and natural just the way they are.
I’ll leave you with a little ditty from Schoolhouse Rock. (I’m old.) Lolly and Sons may be pushing adverbs harder than an 80s TV salesman in this little song (and if it gets stuck in your head, you’re totally welcome) but now you have the skills to stop making impulsive purchases that cause clutter and only buy what you need.
