Are Adverbs Really That Bad?

[Tara00]

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Hmm..lol

[sat8997]

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You had a valid point.

[Adam Phillips]

The adverb kills. Period. No excuses. If i come across an authors work where he couldnt be bothered about the general sanity of his reader, i close the piece and move on. There are no hard and fast rules to writing, but if one wants to write, at least show a little interest in how its done. Simply put, there are words that editors do not like, useless words that dont enhance the story. Ive posted that list into the editors forum here and even tho i say there are no hard hard and fast rules, im not interested in reading stories where writers simply use words that are not needed. You can call me selfish, biased, whatever, i dont have the time to read adverbs and adjectives. Writers who use them have no clue and that is my opinion. Shout me down if you will but i refuse to read such stuff. My opinion only. Remember, every writer needs to use adverbs and adjectives at times i agree. The lazy writer uses these in every sentence. Thats the guy who will never be published.

 

I've italicized most of the adjectives and adverbs in this invective against adjectives and adverbs to demonstrate their indispensability. The point the invective reaches for is that adjectives and adverbs can make a piece of writing seem fat and heavy; it can suck the life, energy, and momentum out of writing. I think it's dangerous to resort to hyperbole making this point, because it can give aspiring writers the wrong idea: Even to express complete condemnation of adjectives and adverbs, a person inevitably has to use adjectives and adverbs. There's a reason they're in the language. Like most rules, this one serves as a guideline and, in this case, as an enticement toward greater creativity. It doesn't help anyone to use this guideline about adjectives as a law that permits no exceptions. That defies common sense.

[LJH]

hahaha guilty as charged. Hmmm, no wonder I don't read my stuff. LOL

[Merlin]

I think there's a definite problem when you use them in row, as in:

 

"I'm so tired," John said sullenly, meanwhile, he looked around unhappily at the people walking around wearily.

 

There are ways to get around this, so for the above example, we could say instead:

 

"I'm so tired," John said sullenly, meanwhile, he looked around with a frown at the weary people walking around.

 

The point is, any part of speech shouldn't be abused. The English language is so diverse! Take advantage of all of it!

[Zolia Lily]

I have tried to follow this advice since i first read the line "The road to hell is paved with adverbs". (i think it was King!) It made me wake up to my own writing, which i think is kind of the point. I do have exceptions, though.

a) descriptions of locations / landscapes etc. Sometimes there just isn't a way to put it into dialogue / thought / action without it feeling clunky. Then again, maybe that's me not being skilled enough as a writer to do so. But, then again, maybe sometimes it's a nice change of pace...

during speech. Tone of voice, volume, those sorts of things - sometimes not easy to 'show'. And even if you could, sometimes i think you add a punch, an extra level of emotion, by adding the 'tell' to the 'show'.

[Andy78]

I am an out, loud and proud adverb and adjective user.

[Chris Prieto]

I think adverbs make for some laziness. In place of developing the narrative piece so your reader can see the scene, you use an adverb and take a crude shortcut. You told the reader how the character did it, but you didn't show it to him.

 

I rather see the character anxious because he's talking to the guy he likes and that's never happened before and he's wondering if he has anything on his face and his heart is pumping so hard its hurting his chest than hear about it.

 

"Oh, hi, James. Yeah, I can help you with the homework," he replied nervously.

 

Just my two cents. ^^

[TMcCallahan]

My thoughts, as a professional editor. Write. Don't think about your adverbs at all. Just write. Get it all out and write it as fast as you can. When you begin your revision process (and no matter how good you are, you *will* have a revision/rewrite process) then go back through and take out all your adverbs. See if your work can stand on its own without them. Did you really need them? Ten to one when you rewrite and fix your "show vs. tell" and your narrative voice issues, you'll find that those adverbs no longer have a place in your work anyway. What will be left will be the best and strongest of the adverbs that are necessary to the work - the spice.

[Yettie One]

Heck I'm a bit of a newby when it comes to writing, and I'm finding that it is a minefield of a variety of things to think about, consider and take care to heed while doing it.

 

There are so many great points on this thread, but a couple that I agree with especially as a new writer myself lie with the folk that encourage you to just write in the first instance. (I speak purely from my own limited experience and as I see it as a writer) Get it out, regardless of who, when, what, why and how. Let your creativity flow out without worrying extensively about the pro's and con's of how its written.

 

Once its written, leave it. Go away and let it settle, then at a later date return to it and start that whittling process of breaking it down. This is how I've started working on my first novel, and while I don't suggest that my writing style is for everyone, it helps me to focus on the story/plot/dialogue as I write to not fret about the rules.

 

I think it also helps to be able to read your work with a critical eye when it comes to starting the editorial process. Detach from writer mode and think as a reader and you'll know when it has become to word, heavy or overdone. I write for the joy of writing as I'd hope the majority of us do, and if this is the case, I don't see a point in working yourself into a stress about how your writing style will be received.

 

There are thousands of authors with a myriad of styles of writing, and they all enjoy creating and sharing their work. The work and writing style I enjoy is not going to be the same as the next person. That is the joy of diversity and individuality. However, having said that I am more aware of the pitfalls of excessive use of these tools of creative writing.

 

ps. It's encouraging to get tips and guidelines from seasoned writers. This community has inspired me much already, and I'm sure will continue to do so. Thanks

[Henry_Henry2012]

I think the usage of an adverbs is dependent on the mood of the storyline -- for me. Adverbs does make a writer compensate either for their lack of vocabulary or editing, however, it does propel a certain statement into a deeper emotion. E.g:

 

"Enough." said Sheila, as her eyes vaguely moved to emotion. She was angry, complacent, and tired of her ruminations with her knowledge of Marc's infidelity. She was finally ready to leave him.

 

Compared to:

 

"Enough!" angrily said Sheila. Albeit her complacency to Marc's infidelity was the bone of contention within her -- she was tired. She finally acceded to her conscience that she was ready to leave him.

 

Or the lack of adverb within this sentence:

 

"Enough." said Sheila. Her knowledge of Marc's infidelity made her complacent, angry and tired. She was ready to leave him.

 

I think it's an artform, writing per se, but it does take a certain art to expound the emotions of a character without going beyond the limits to what is passable and what could be neglected. Adverb for me, is a friend I'd use if my character badly needs the emotional context of what he/she is feeling.

 

There are authors out there who have used adverbs incessantly, and mostly, adverbs are very prominent in figurative and metaphorical licenses, used in novels. If you prefer a certain flowery statement but is appropriate for the setting, emotion, situation, and condition of the said character, then it could be perceived as acceptable.

 

I don't expect someone using an adverb that doesn't need the use of such. It could be overdone and plainly, irritating as a reader to hear of adjectives, verbs, and adverbs, becoming a pestilence in a sentence, instead of it being appropriate.

 

Even in films, the narrative of a dialogue is shaped by the actor's expression, emotion, inflection and the parsing of the said line. Adverbs, are like the subtle expressions of an actor's body and facial movements. That is why sometimes, watching a film where the character's facial expression is lacking; even a good line doesn't compensate what the actor is doing. The acting becomes bland and mediocre.

 

As a writer, I put adverbs if my character needs that emphasis on a certain emotion CRITICAL to a scene within my story, otherwise, it's futile and a waste of word count. It's not like I'd be using it in every paragraph. My characters sometimes need a stringent approach to things, and I want to sometimes let my readers guess what my character is saying. For example:

 

"Enough!" angrily said Sheila. Albeit her complacency to Marc's infidelity was the bone of contention within her -- she was tired. She finally acceded to her conscience that she was ready to leave him.

 

"I'm not stopping you. It's my fault." said Marc.

 

"So much for a man."

 

"I am no man the moment I cheated and lied to you."

 

Sheila, despondent of Marc's tears, said, "Stop crying me. You did this to us."

 

"I know." replied he. Marc was ashamed. However, shame was not an emotion that would make Sheila refuse the concept of leaving her husband.

[Cia]

I think the usage of an adverbs is dependent on the mood of the storyline -- for me. Adverbs does make a writer compensate either for their lack of vocabulary or editing, however, it does propel a certain statement into a deeper emotion. E.g:

 

"Enough." said Sheila, as her eyes vaguely moved to emotion. She was angry, complacent, and tired of her ruminations with her knowledge of Marc's infidelity. She was finally ready to leave him.

 

Compared to:

 

"Enough!" angrily said Sheila. Albeit her complacency to Marc's infidelity was the bone of contention within her -- she was tired. She finally acceded to her conscience that she was ready to leave him.

 

 

Not to mention the fact that while adverbs can be helpful but only when placed in such a way that they make sense. Your first example wouldn't be an effective description because how can someone be both angry and complacent at the same time? There was a missing link there to tell us she had grown tired of her complacency and angry with herself over it. Your second example highlights that in a much better structure, though still a lot more formal than I would use, lol.

 

It's not enough to know what descriptive words you want to use, you have to know when and where to use them as well.

[Henry_Henry2012]

Not to mention the fact that while adverbs can be helpful but only when placed in such a way that they make sense. Your first example wouldn't be an effective description because how can someone be both angry and complacent at the same time? There was a missing link there to tell us she had grown tired of her complacency and angry with herself over it. Your second example highlights that in a much better structure, though still a lot more formal than I would use, lol.

 

It's not enough to know what descriptive words you want to use, you have to know when and where to use them as well.

 

With my first example, various interjections could be conjectured with that given statement.

 

The reason why I placed a period on Shiela's statement after the word 'Enough' was because I was referring to a different sentiment that she was feeling. If a woman's husband is cheating on her; anger could be displaced to her self for not arising to her emotion to the situation, which is her being angry upon the knowledge that her husband is cheating; thus, her complacency by not doing anything to that given knowledge is emphasised on the phrase which came after, 'knowledge of Marc's infidelity'.

 

So in other words, she was angry at herself for not having done anything despite the knowledge of her husband's philandering. And with her having said "Enough." could be assumed that she may be alone in her room, have read a text message from her husband's mistress, reading or viewing the proof of her husband's infidelity in her own secrecy or privacy. We could assume that situation is happening with that statement.

 

Because on my second example, I placed an exclamation point after the word 'Enough' to emphasise her emotion that she was indeed angry for not having done anything with her husband's cheating. However, if you've noticed... The second example was the one I used to continue the conversation. With the second example, she was talking to her husband, she was talking to someone.

 

If I used the first example to continue the said conversation, it would appear to the reader that she was a reticent woman, someone who may be under her husband's whims.

 

While the second one, it really showed her anger that she was finally done with the knowledge of not being able to do something, and stepping up to his husband's deceit by saying, "Enough!" which is supplemented by the phrase 'angrily said Sheila' that emulsified the emotion of the character -- which for me helpful. That's why I said that adverbs is dependent on the scenario of the story. I don't think I'd provide adverbs or adjectives if my character is taking a crap, unless it's detrimental to the storyline. Haha.

 

Anyway, these are two varying examples with the same thought enunciated by a character but differently expressed, or could be disseminated in various ways. The first one was an inner turmoil, while the second one was an outward display of emotion. Most people prefer reading the second one because it is 'Out There' or vividly expressible by a character or any human being.

 

If a character says, "I don't want to die." compared to "I don't want to DIE!" These are subtle differences, but to a keen reader, is quintessential to the emotion displayed by any character.

 

I wouldn't say that I'm right Cia, as you've said, it depends on one's writing style. And yeah, I usually go for the whole formal narration. At least to contrast the informality of the character's conversations.

[crazyfish]

Wow a adverb debate amongst writers. Why do I run into this in every writing community? I thought we're supposed to be artists, and here we are making iron-clad rules.

 

I like adverbs. They are good enough for Fitzgerald, they are good enough for me. They're good enough for Alan Hollinghurst. they're good enough for me. I'm more worried about precise, accurate imagery than I'm worried about words with ly endings.

 

Some in a haste to remove adverbs, splatter on adverbial clauses. He steered him gently becomes he steered him, exerting gentle pressure on his back. Fun times.

 

Worry about your imagery and clarity. Think about sound, rhythm, and wordiness. Think about pace. Think about ease of reading. Also think about reader expectations in your genre. Now think for yourself. Yep think. And do what you want.

 

Thinking for yourself is much harder than obeying a bunch of rules isn't it?