Why most adverbs deserve to die
I was toying around with words in the first draft of Stephanie McBride’s fifth book.
The body lay quietly in the Adelaide alleyway.
Scratch that. Let me try again:
The body sprawled beneath the rusty fire escape, rainwater pooling in its open mouth.
See the difference? That’s the power of killing your adverbs and choosing stronger verbs instead.
Stephen King reckons the road to hell is paved with adverbs—those pesky words ending in -ly. He’s mostly right, but like any good detective, we need to examine the evidence before condemning them all.
Types of adverbs to kill
First up are the ones modifying verbs. These little bastards weaken your writing faster than a shandy dilutes your beer.
“She walked quickly through the car park.”
Better: “She bolted through the car park.”
“He spoke quietly into his phone.”
Better: “He whispered into his phone.”
“The suspect moved stealthily along the wall.”
Better: “The suspect crept along the wall.”
These -ly words are like cockroaches in your prose. Stamp them out and replace them with stronger verbs.
Adverbs worth saving
Some adverbs, though, earn their keep. They’re the ones modifying adjectives, adding punch when chosen carefully.
Weak: “The witness was very scared.”
Still weak: “The witness was scared.”
Strong: “The witness was bone-chillingly terrified.”
Even King uses them occasionally. Check this beauty from his work:
“The paragraphs flow easily, with the turns and rhythms of the story dictating where each one begins and ends.”
That ‘easily’ adds something. It’s doing its job, unlike its lazy cousins.
The editing process
Here’s how to sort the good from the bad:
- Hunt down every -ly word in your draft
- Question each one: Does it add meaning or just take up space?
- If it modifies a verb, find a stronger verb instead
- If it modifies an adjective, either:
- Delete it completely
- Replace it with something more specific
- Keep it if it genuinely adds value
Think of it like interrogating suspects. Some are guilty as sin, others might help crack the case.
Real-world example
Take this description of a crime scene:
“The blood dripped slowly down the wall, landing quietly on the floor. The detective carefully examined the pattern, moving methodically across the room.”
After cleanup:
“The blood oozed down the wall, pattering onto the floor. The detective studied the pattern, prowling across the room.”
Stronger, yeah?
Bottom line
Most adverbs deserve to die. But like any good cop knows, sometimes you need an informant—even if they’re a bit dodgy. Choose your adverbs like you’d choose your witnesses: carefully, and only when they’ve got something worth saying.