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Energize Your Writing with Strong Verbs

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Step 1: Replace To Be Verbs

It is virtually impossible to write without using to be verbs. However, most people overuse these verbs,聽 and the result is lackluster prose. The problem is, to be verbs just do not convey the same dynamism as stronger, more exciting verbs. If you want to energize your writing, try these techniques:

1. Replace the to be verb with a more expressive verb:
Ex. The coach is loud during games.
Vs. The coach shouts during games.
Ex. The caf茅鈥檚 sandwiches are excellent.
Vs. The caf茅 serves excellent sandwiches.
Ex. The student is afraid of failing the test.

Vs. The student fears failing the test.

2. Change a noun into a verb:
Ex. Our uncle is the driver of the bus.

Vs. Our uncle drives the bus.

3. Combine short, choppy sentences:
Ex. The band鈥檚 music is excellent. The lyrics are meaningful. The melodies are catchy.
The percussion is energetic.

Vs. The band plays excellent music, with meaningful lyrics, catchy melodies, and energetic percussion.

4. Do not overuse there is, there are, there were, this is, that are, etc.:
Ex. There are many apartments that are empty and need new tenants.

Vs. Many empty apartments need new tenants.

5. Replace a to be verb + a prepositional phrase with a strong verb:
Ex. Social media is influential for millennials.

Vs. Social media influences millennials.

6. Replace a to be verb + an 鈥搃苍驳 word with a simple verb:
Ex. The cat was scratching at the back door.
Vs. The cat scratched at the back door.
Ex. The dragonfly was hovering over the pond.

Vs. The dragonfly hovered over the pond

Step 2: Avoid Adverbs

In his book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King exclaims, 鈥淚 believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.鈥� He makes an excellent point. Rather than using a verb + adverb combination, it is better to use a verb that is strong enough to stand on its own.

Ex. He went quickly to the store.
Vs. He hurried to the store.
Ex. She looked angrily at her friend.
Vs. She glared at her friend.
Ex. He messily wrote his name at the bottom of the contract.

Vs. He scrawled his name at the bottom of the contract.

Step 3: Get Creative with Verbs

Still trying to think of better verbs? Here are four common verbs with stronger alternatives:

鈥� Said: announced, uttered, suggested, stuttered, argued, bellowed, whispered
鈥� Looked: surveyed, gazed, stared, glanced, squinted, leered
鈥� Walked: sauntered, strolled, traipsed, tramped, marched, hiked, ambled, plodded
鈥� Went: fled, passed, moseyed, left, set off, withdrew, took flight, set off

Learning Center

Updated August 2023 by The Learning Center staff