"Tools, Not Rules" Grammar Series: Adverbs

Note: "Lovely" is an adjective and not an adverb. It modifies nouns, not verbs.

Having engaged professionally with many types of writing, I have a unique insight into some of these situational tools-not-rules. 

Adverbs modify verbs. They typically end in “LY”. Common exceptions: actually, especially 

 and appear immediately before a verb in any given sentence. For years now, writers have been discouraged from using adverbs in fiction. One of the writing guides that popularized this was “On Writing” by Stephen King. Despite his advice, adverbs still abound - not just in fiction, but in the world around us at large. Let’s break it down.

In my experience, the best reason for challenging adverbs is to find a better verb. Did he “walk slowly” or did he “saunter”? English language verbs are abundant, and many of them flow naturally and accurately in fiction, so this is almost always a strength worth maximizing. 

Nonfiction, however, relies less on the imagination and more on precision. In technical writing, accuracy and clarity are paramount. If a lever must be turned slowly, you don’t want to skip that modifier. In fact, you might even put it first. “Slowly turn the lever.”

How often should I use adverbs in...

Young Adult? Frequently 

The YA genre is known for narrators with natural and unique voices, dialogues, and ways of talking. Literally! Don’t sacrifice this sense of voice just to avoid an adverb. 

However, if you want your YA novel to have a strong adult crossover, a more mature voice might use fewer adverbs.

Children’s Books? Frequently

Children deserve good writing too, but sometimes books teach vocabulary, and adverbs are an important part of speech! This is a rare situation where redundancy can be helpful because it gives context clues. In an adult book, “She crept slowly” might sound redundant; “She crept” would do just fine. In a children’s book (and this example probably best suits an easy reader or early chapter book), the added context clues help children understand what these words mean. 

Dialogue? Frequently

Natural dialogue makes use of adverbs. When people talk, they are more likely to reach for verbs like the ones above. How did the event go? Swimmingly. How the play go? Beautifully.

Business Writing? Sometimes

Adverbs can soften harsh tonalities in business writing. For example, “We cannot accept your submission at this time” feels professional but abrupt. “Unfortunately, we cannot accept your submission at this time” still feels professional but more polite.

Political Writing and Speech Writing? Sometimes

Natural dialogue uses adverbs frequently, but I'd argue modern speech writers use adverbs a little too often. Sometimes it's important to speak naturally in front of a crowd, as if to a friend, but other times this comes off as unprofessional. I find that modern speech writing overuses adverbs in a way that condescends to the audience and "dumbs down" concepts for listeners.

This doesn't necessarily equate to accessibility. AI-generated captioning sometimes automatically determines reading levels and chooses its audience based on such evaluations. Will your audience be reading what you have to say or listening to it? Most people have a wider spoken vocabulary than a written one. Use adverbs in speech writing as necessary for accessibility, and no more.

Now I'm second-guessing the formatting of this post!

Romance Writing? Sometimes

If you want to emphasize the gentleness of a gesture, you’ll find trouble with certain verbs. For example, there is no good verb for a grabbing motion. “Caressed” is often too cheesy and many of its synonyms fail to emphasize the effect of first contact. “Touched” is an option, but it doesn’t convey the same connection and it’s not exactly atmospheric. “Took hold” doesn’t paint much of a picture. “Gently grasped” works like nothing else. 

Literary Work? Sometimes

As complicated and as the English language is, and even as often as it borrows from other languages, you’re not going to find a verb for everything a human being can do. Aim for accuracy and vividness; trust your instincts. Use an adverb if you need to. 

Technical Writing? Rarely

Adverbs are best avoided in technical writing. Brevity often reigns supreme, but not at the sacrifice of safety. If a lever needs to turned slowly, specify that. If something needs to be shaken gently, say so. 

Mysteries and Thrillers? Rarely

Mystery, thriller, and horror fall into Kingian philosophy: Avoid adverbs at all costs. With any luck, editing out your adverb will help you find a better verb. If you don't, however? Bend the rules to your purposes.

Please let me know what genres and types of writing I might have missed, and I will update this post accordingly! Thank you for reading today.