How to Avoid Weak Verbs in Your Writing

It’s time to talk about verbs.

Do you remember the first time you learned that verbs are “action words?” Well, yes they are—but they’re not all created equal. Some verbs are more than just a bit lackluster in the action department. Choosing the wrong verb will make your prose move at a crawl.

Let’s figure out why. Let’s find out how to choose the best verbs and avoid the weakest ones.

Weak Verb: To Be

You’ll find “To Be” in your writing hidden in the form of “were” and “was.” The weakest and most common verb in the English language—also, the most unnecessary in narrative writing. Any sentence you begin with “There was” is a sign of a weak opening. For example:

Weak: There were two lions standing close to the road.

Strong: Two lions stood close to the road.

Weak: There was a taxi waiting at the curb.

Strong: A taxi idled at the curb.

In the examples above, the first is flabby. The top example reports something that can be seen and doesn’t have tension nor action. While the bottom sentence invites your readers’ mind to ask—and then what?

When you find “To be” in your descriptions, it should trigger your “show, don’t tell” alarm bells. Things like “Michelle was a respected teacher” or “Steve was short” will likely make your reader yawn and your editor cringe.

If used as an auxiliary verb, even with a strong verb, “was” is a weak verb that sucks the life out of an attendant action verb. “Was running” for “ran,” “were screaming” for “screamed,” “was fighting” for “fought” etc. Look at it another way, using “to be” is verbal kryptonite.

If you write in present tense, “are” and “is” are your biggest offenders.

Weak Verb: To Have

“Had” is not quite as bad as or as weak as “was,” but it’s not far away. It stutters where it should instead shine. It will drag your prose to the ground and rip a piece of . . .okay, you get the picture.

You want to write a picture in your readers’ imagination. You don’t do this by telling them what a character had, instead you describe it by how it relates to the action and characters of the story.

For example:

Weak: Lucy had a new hat.

Strong: Lucy wore her new hat tilted over her left eye.

Weak: The castle had a door that dated back to the 12th century.

Strong: The castle door, dated back to the 12th century, showed its age in its weather bleached wood and pitted iron bars.

Avoid the impulse in your writing to use a verb like “had” when with just a little creative rephrasing, you could find a more effective way.

Exception:

“Had” can be used to establish past perfect tense. In this case It’s necessary and not a problem word. If you’re writing a flashback or you want to establish something that’s already happened, and it’s being recalled in the present. This is when you want to use it.

It dawned on Mike where he had seen her before.

Abby had not been an athletic child, nor a graceful one.

Strong Verbs Win

Your story will move at a much better pace when you use specific, strong verbs in your writing. By using verbs that describe action, you’ll get closer to the coveted skill of painting a moving picture in your readers mind. The more specific you can get, the clearer the picture becomes.

Your hero doesn’t just move through town, he strides, stalks, paces, dashes, sprints, meanders, etc. Each one of these verbs used in the context of your story will paint a different picture in your readers imagination.

Look for verbs that can stand alone. Not modified by adverbs. Adverbs weaken verbs and drag down your prose. Avoid adverbs wherever possible.

Always be on the lookout for strong, specific verbs to get your meaning across.

One More Time

Weak verbs blunt your prose. The verbs “to have” and especially “to be” are your biggest offenders. The more you can search and replace them with strong, specific action verbs that convey your exact meaning to the reader—the more your prose will improve.

Look for places in your manuscript where you used “was ____ing” instead of a stronger, past tense verb. Look for instances where you can replace “was” or “had” with specific verbs that convey more meaning.

Search and destroy any weak verbs in your manuscript and watch your writing and craft ability skyrocket.

Need editing or publishing help with your fiction story or memoir? I offer free consultation and personalized quotes. I’ll work with you to develop an editing plan. Please send me an email at griffinsmith74@gmail.com


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