Concise writing uses less adverbs and adjectives in favor of active verbs and concrete words. These parts of speech are known to make writing feel longer and harder to understand. Here’s why:
Too much detail: Adverbs and adjectives describe things, but when you add too many, it can slow down the reader. For example, saying, “The very big, really bright, super cool vase” adds extra words that you don’t need. You could just say, “the vase.”
Repeating ideas: Sometimes, adverbs and adjectives add words that don’t tell you anything new. For instance, “The hot sun” is repetitive because we already know the sun is hot. Or, “She ran quickly” doesn’t need “quickly,” because running already means moving fast.
Vague words: Words like “very,” “really,” or “quite” don’t always add meaning and can make writing unclear. Saying, “He was very tired” doesn’t explain how tired he was, and it makes the sentence longer for no reason.
More to think about: Every extra adverb or adjective is something else the reader has to process. Too many of these can make the sentence harder to follow, especially if you use several in a row.
Longer words: Adverbs and adjectives use more syllables than simpler words—they make sentences longer and harder to read. For example, “unbelievably” is longer than just saying “very.”
To find adverbs and adjectives hidden in your text, click the EDIT ADJECTIVES/ADVERBS button. The editor will highlight adverbs in pink and adjectives in light blue.
You can fine-tune what the the editor highlights by clicking one of these options:
- Show all Adverbs/Adjectives: best option to catch hard or wordy adverbs/adjectives
- Show hard adverbs/adjectives: best option to catch hard adverbs/adjectives
- Show easy adverbs/adjectives best option to catch adverbs/adjectives that add wordiness
Here are some tips to help decide if an adverb or adjective is useful or just extra:
Ask if it adds new information: If the word tells something new, it’s probably worth keeping. Ex: in “The red car,” the adjective “red” adds specific detail about the car. But in “The big, huge car,” “big” and “huge” are similar, so you probably only need one.
Check for redundancy: If a word repeats an idea already in the sentence, it might not be necessary. For example, “She whispered quietly” has a redundant adverb because “whispered” already suggests quietness.
Look for vague words: Words like “very,” “really,” and “quite” can often be removed without changing the sentence’s meaning. If you write, “He’s really tired,” “really” doesn’t add much; “He’s tired” is usually enough.
Read aloud for rhythm: Sometimes, reading the sentence out loud helps spot extra words that break the flow. If it sounds clunky or too long, try cutting some descriptors to smooth it out.
Check the overall sentence length: Adverbs and adjectives should be used sparingly in longer sentences to avoid overwhelming readers. If a sentence feels packed with details, then simplify it.
Think about emphasis: Ask yourself if you’re adding the adverb or adjective to make a point. If it doesn’t help clarify or emphasize something important, leave it out.
A good rule is to use adverbs or adjectives that help create a clearer, more specific picture. When in doubt, try the sentence without them and see if it still sounds right.
Here are examples that I reworked with the Robert Gunning Editor:
Before: The very fast response of emergency crews was completely crucial in saving lives and preventing more serious damage after the highly destructive fire.
After: The fast response of emergency crews saved lives and prevented more damage after the fire.
Before: The very low freezing temperatures this winter has put a very significant strain on the already limited resources of the local shelters, which are completely overwhelmed by the sudden increase in demand.
After: Below-freezing temperatures continue to strain the local shelters’ limited resources, which are overwhelmed by the increase in demand.
Before: The very loyal and dedicated fans of the singer waited for hours in the extremely hot sun to see her perform at the popular music festival.
After: Loyal fans of the singer waited for hours in 90-degree temperatures to see her perform at the sold-out music festival.
Before: In a truly shocking turn of events, the highly respected and very experienced CEO decided to step down, leaving the industry in complete disbelief.
After: In a shocking turn of events, the respected CEO decided to step down, leaving the industry in disbelief.
Before: The extremely detailed analysis of the sales data was comprehensive and provided a highly accurate view of quarterly trends across every single region.
After: The sales data analysis gave an accurate view of quarterly trends across all regions.
Before: Carefully ensure that all screws are tightly fastened before proceeding to the next step in the assembly process.
After: Tighten all screws before going to the next step in assembly.
Learn more about editing adverbs/adjectives at our website: Adverbs and Adjectives, the Dynamic Duo of Descriptive Language