Adverbs have their purpose. They provide additional description about a verb, adjective, or other adverb.

Unfortunately, writers tend to abuse them. This usually happens when a writer is unable to select a word whose description stands on its own. To make the selected word provide the desired description, the writer searches for an adverb. Whether it’s done out of ignorance or laziness, the effect is the same: bloated writing.

Compare the following pairs of sentences, one using a verb and an adverb, the other using a verb:

• She he smiled widely. — She smiled.
• Hears spoke aloud. — Hears scream.
• The boy ran down the street quickly. — The boy dotted down the street

Substitution of a modified verb by an adverb (smiled widely, spoke loudly, ran quickly) with a single verb (smiled, shouted, rushed) improves the quality of the prizes. They become vibrant. And the reader can visualize the action in greater detail.

As with verbs, when you choose the appropriate adjective, you eliminate the need to use an adjective modified by an adverb. Consider the award: You did a very good job. it does Very good does it mean great, commendable, outstanding, notable, or something else? The writer has relinquished control by letting the reader decide.

Are your Abuse of adverbs? This simple exercise will help you discover:

1. Scan your writing and circle each word that ends in lily. This will identify most of the adverbs. Also circle adverbs that modify an adjective, such as very in the example above.
2. Read your writing out loud and when you come to an adverb, visualize the image you intended.
3. Ask yourself, does this adverb-verb or adverb-adjective combination show what I, the writer, see in my mind?
4. If it does, great. If not, ask yourself, what verb or adjective could you use instead? Make a list.
5. Read the sentence using each of the words on your list. With each word, ask, does it fully describe what I see in my mind?
6. When you find the correct word, insert it, go to the next adverb, and repeat the process.

When you read your edited draft, you’ll immediately notice the benefits of spending time and effort on this exercise. Removing excess adverbs takes the bloat out of your writing. Plus, the words you carefully select to replace adverbs create specific descriptions that enhance your writing.

The bonus? Avoiding adverbs also enriches the reader’s experience, increasing their appreciation for your work and their desire to read more.