Aug 10, 2020
Are adverbs really the devil? If they sneak in occasionally, does it mean the writer is lazy?
How many adverbs do you count in the subject for this weeks blog hop? It’s been a long time since I conjugated a sentence, but I count 2. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. Sure, I could change this to “Are adverbs the devil? If they sneak in on occasion, does that mean the writer is lazy?”
Now, when was the last time you used “on occasion” in your everyday conversations? The answer likely depends upon the last time you gave a formal speech. Which for me is more years ago than some of you have been alive.
I don’t know who came up with the rule that adverbs shouldn’t be used in writing, but it wasn’t me. I’m a firm believer that storytelling should echo the language of the listener. That includes adverbs.
The trick is to limit their use and find the proper balance. Overuse translates to boring, just like too much description or starting too many sentences with the same word. Or using the same word too many times.
I do try to be aware of my use of adverbs when I’m writing. Sometimes, the only word that fits is an adverb. An author friend claims he wrote an entire book without using any, (I haven’t verified it!) and my first reaction was “Why?”
I run these posts through a grammar checker before I post them, and I got a kick out of one of the suggestions for this one. Way back at the beginning, when I switched ‘occasionally’ to ‘on occasion?’ The grammar checker wanted me to switch it back. So, even an “official” source approves of the use of the rare adverb.
That leaves me guilt-free to continue my sparse use of adverbs. I’m not lazy, I’m using all the possible tools to tell my stories. Let’s see if other authors agree with me by following the links below.
Until next time, please stay safe!
Aug 10, 2020
Are adverbs really the devil? If they sneak in occasionally, does it mean the writer is lazy?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
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Lol, I often use ‘on occasion’ when typing dictation at work, but more often than not use occasionally when I speak.
Exactly!
I’ve always thought that grammar doesn’t apply in dialogue, nor should it in the quest for realism.
I feel that daily dialogue is often boring and repetitious. Part of our job, as writers, is to jazz it up and make it sound exciting while still keeping it real.
I’m gonna step on my tongue and say only that adverbs of manner are the ones most often discussed as evil. ‘Occasionally’ is an adverb of quantity. It does not suggest nor modify manner of an action other than to state how often.
“Stevie quickly opened the grammar checker”…No? Then what? Passive voice? Stevie was in a hurry to open the Grammar checker? There are many ‘manner’ adverbs available here to modify direct action. Immediately, promptly, hurriedly…does that action even require an adverb? Stevie read the prompt, checked her glasses for cleanliness, read it again and opened her grammar checker. People use adverbs to make their sentences pop. Much the same as throwaways like then, basically, actually etc. Stevie grabbed (throttled etc.) her mouse, shot the cursor to her grammar checker, opened it. We get more from the direct action and stay inside the action without the -ly modifier.
Occasions arise when an adverb is difficult to beat, he said, offhandedly. But it’s not impossible.