Adverbs

[Jake Marlow]

I'm curious how we feel about adverbs in our writing. Most any kind of writing guide will tell you to eliminate them from your work, that it's bad, lazy writing. One thing I read went as far as to use the Find function in word and re-write any sentence where you find them. But for all the admonisions about how terrible they are, I've found few explainations of why. The one that made the most sense was that they can be redundant. As in, "The radio blared loudly."

So...opinions...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Adverbs are crutches for weak verbs. Look for the best verb.

 

[Firebrain]

They should be use sparingly

 

[Stella_Omega]

They can be invaluable. But if you use them too often they become worthless.

 

[sr71plt]

Sparingly (but that's good guidance for any part of speech). They exist, though, for a purpose. Killing them all is one of those knee-jerk responses voiced by folks who only read the "how to" books.

There are instances where even "suddenly" is the best word choice.

 

[ExoMani]

Adverbs may be akin to “secondary colors”, but that’s no reason to eliminate them from your “artist’s palette”.

 

[SamScribble]

A well-chosen adverb or adjective can be useful.

But an over-the-top, unbelievably-wonderfully, stupendously-fantastic, collection of superlative modifiers, ostentatiously lined up, beautifully, robustly, sinuously – sexily, even – in front of your incredibly brilliant verb or noun can very easily overwhelm the verb or noun and make it look surprisingly mundane or even irrelevant.

Now, what was it you asked? Oh yeah.

As a rule: choose modifiers carefully. And use them sparingly. Unless, of course, you have a better idea. In which case, go with that. When it comes to writing, rules are only suggestions.

 

[vrosej10]

I recently heard a good rule with them. Only use them when you can't find a more exact word or when the modifer is helping to describe something unique.

 

[sr71plt]

I more or less just write what flows out and if three modifiers pin down the emotion I want to evoke, I use them. Many of these "rules" about how someone should write just make pablum out of one's voice.

 

[jomar]

Sparingly works.

For me (and I always feel a bit off giving writing opinions), it depends to some extent on the story I'm writing and the style I'm shooting for.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Dear Reader

You just know PILOT stepped on every crack in every sidewalk as a child. Still does.

 

[sr71plt]

Dear Reader

You just know PILOT stepped on every crack in every sidewalk as a child. Still does.

Actually, I didn't. And still don't, as a matter of fact. Childhood habits are hard to break.

 

[mynameisben]

Adverbs are the McNuggets of chicken scratch.

 

[sillypanda]

Poor adverbs - they get such a bad rap.

There are some that, for me, are invaluable, especially time-sensitive ones such as suddenly (already mentioned), recently, occasionally and usually.

Then there are the degree adverbs - slightly, decidedly, particularly - which I also find quite useful.

Occasionally, I like to start sentences with adverbs, especially to break up a monotonous flow of sentences or paragraphs that begin with the same word.

The typical noun-adverb-verb structure doesn't do a lot for me, I admit, but there are times that a well-placed adverb can transform a sentence. They're often overused, but as the saying goes, don't the baby out with the bath water. (Which I didn't understand until I was about 20 and someone explained to me that back in the day babies were washed in portable tubs and the water dumped outside. Doesn't have the same meaning in the days of indoor plumbing, does it? Tangent over. )

 

[lettersaroundmidnight]

Adverbs are to sentences like seasoning is to good food. If the main dish is well prepared, you don't need to add salt and pepper. If the food needs a little extra zing, apply sparingly.

I will now have to check all my submissions to make sure I haven't over seasoned.

lettersaroundmidnight

 

[colddiesel]

Actually, I didn't. And still don't, as a matter of fact. Childhood habits are hard to break.

We can tell pilot, we can tell.

 

[BabyBlue2005]

Adverbs are to sentences like seasoning is to good food. If the main dish is well prepared, you don't need to add salt and pepper. If the food needs a little extra zing, apply sparingly.

I will now have to check all my submissions to make sure I haven't over seasoned.

lettersaroundmidnight

That really is an excellent way to explain it.