Using Verbs in Your Writing

    Often our writing, not our attire or hairstyle, provides the first impression of us.
    Think of all you write, whether or not you are a “writer”—resumes, applications, business letters, email, websites, personal ads, blogs.  We’re writing more; perhaps that’s why mistakes in grammar and word usage abound even in major newspapers and magazines. When Julie asked if I’d do a monthly column on writing rules and regs, I leaped at the chance simply because I love language. So let’s begin where the action is. Verbs.
    Verbs tell the action or state of being in a sentence. Action verbs are words like run, catch, drive, and state of being verbs are words like is, are, were, been.
    Verb Tip 1:  Limit the use of these being verbs (is, are, was, were, be, been) and helping verbs like has, have, had.  Choose a section or chapter and read through, circling how often you use these; then go back and try to reword the sentences using active verbs. Naturally, you can’t remove them all, but change those you can. Your writing will sparkle, becoming more direct, active, and powerful.
He was outside./He waited outside.
She had sailed around the world./She sailed around the world.
     Verb Tip 2: While you’re examining each verb, ask if it is exactly the right one. A good verb does not need an adverb (more on those later). Does “waited” give the most information? Perhaps one of these verbs would better describe the situation: lolled, loitered, paced, remained, dallied, tarried.  You can see how a verb can relay both an action and the state of mind of the actor. 
    Verb Tip 3: Limit the use of -ing verbs such as “kept thinking,” “was drinking,” “is driving,” because they slow down the action. The simplest and most specific way to say it works best: thought, drank, drives. If you want to imply more action, search for that just-right verb: expected or imagined; gulped or sipped; sped or crept.
    Verb Tip 4:  Avoid passive voice. Active voice tells us a subject is acting (He threw the ball) and passive voices tells us the subject is being acted upon (The ball was thrown by him). Instead of writing, “I was given the pearls by Mom” say “Mom gave me her pearls.”  Again, think simple, specific, and direct.
    Verb Tip 5:  In writing dialogue, use “said.” In an essay detailing his ten rules of writing, Elmore Leonard said, “The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. But said is far less intrusive than grumbled, gasped, cautioned, lied.” To his advice, I suggest, “Don’t add adverbs to said, she said bossily.” The scene and the dialogue itself will convey the tone and emotion if written with those active and specific verbs.
    General Writing Tip: Avoid being writerly. That is, avoid purposefully wafting eloquent (like this!). Leonard calls this hooptedoodle and sums it up with, “If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.” Good advice that might include the caveat that using too many specific verbs can make writing sound contrived. Your purpose in any kind of writing is to communicate. Say what you need to say clearly and concisely and then move on.
    As a resource on grammar usage try The Little, Brown Handbook and for word choices use any good thesaurus or thesaurus.com.

Peggy Tabor Millin leads womens’ writing classes and retreats through her business ClarityWorks. Registration is open for the next series of Tell It Like It Is and Delve into Story classes .  See www.clarityworksonline.com for details. If you have questions for this column, send them to pmillin@clarityworksonline.com.