Verbs Add Power!

by Stephanie Whetstone

As writers, we want to sound smart and savvy on the page, to fit into the lofty academic world at places like Princeton, or simply to stand out in our communities. Many writers go about this by adding excessive adverbs and adjectives or obscure language to their prose. The theory might be, “If it’s difficult to understand, it must sound intelligent!” I wholeheartedly disagree.

The best writing is clear, concise, and logically structured. It conveys ideas in a way that invites thought and collaboration, not exclusivity. It educates, enlivens, and elucidates. It does not rely on jargon to create a sense of intellectual belonging. The true intelligence and elegance of a sentence is revealed through its powerful verbs.

Too often, writers rely on the old standbys: to do and to be. People talk about “doing science,” for example. But what if instead, we investigated or explored science? What if we created and developed new ideas. But it’s not just scientists who fall into verb ruts. Researchers and job searchers face similar writing challenges. For example, in a cover letter, instead of saying, “I did the ordering” or “I was responsible for…,” how about “I managed inventory” or “I directed and implemented…”. Active verbs attribute responsibility for the action to the subject of the sentence. Passive constructions, like “It was decided that…,” can evade responsibility and slow down the rhythm of a sentence. If you are proud of your accomplishments (and you should be!) use active verbs to describe what you did.

Adverbs, such as “really” and “very,” which are meant to describe the intensity of the action of a verb, can actually dilute the power of a sentence. You can avoid them by choosing a more intense active verb. For example, instead of “I really, really tried,” you could use “I endeavored.” In place of “She looked very happy,” you might try, “She beamed.” Turn to your thesaurus to find the verb that matches the precise tone your sentence requires.

The English language offers a plethora of verbs that add precision and specificity to an idea or an image. If you walked, did you amble, stroll, march, saunter, skip, hurry, or traipse? Each of these verbs adds a slightly different dimension to the movement and changes the feeling of your sentence.

When choosing the best verb for your sentence, remember to keep in mind that the verb(s) you pick set the tone for the rest of the paragraph and therefore, affect your relationship with the reader. Consider the difference in tone in these phrases:

“I’m writing to ask…”  Here, you are setting a casual but direct tone.

“I’m inquiring…” Here, you are setting a more formal, official tone.

“I’m exploring the possibility of…” Here, you are gently introducing an idea.

Here’s a brief list of powerful verbs to consider the next time you write:

Adapted, Advised, Clarified, Coached, Communicated, Conducted, Coordinated, Critiqued, Developed, Enabled, Encouraged, Evaluated, Explained, Facilitated, Focused, Guided, Individualized, Informed, Installed, Instructed, Motivated, Persuaded, Simulated, Stimulated, Taught, Tested, Trained, Transmitted, and Tutored.

Don’t stop there, though, there are thousands of strong and agile verbs that can build up your sentence and help you say exactly what you mean!