{"id":5767,"date":"2026-03-30T14:56:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T19:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastcentral.edu\/learning-center\/?page_id=5767"},"modified":"2026-03-30T15:03:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T20:03:08","slug":"energize-your-writing-with-strong-verbs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.eastcentral.edu\/learning-center\/energize-your-writing-with-strong-verbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Energize Your Writing with Strong Verbs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Â鶹Éç<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Step 1: Replace To Be<\/em> Verbs<\/h2>\n\n\n

It is virtually impossible to write without using to be<\/em> verbs. However, most people overuse these verbs,\u00a0 and the result is lackluster prose. The problem is, to be<\/em> verbs just do not convey the same dynamism as stronger, more exciting verbs. If you want to energize your writing, try these techniques:<\/p>\n

1. Replace the to be<\/em> verb with a more expressive verb:<\/strong><\/div>\n
Ex. The coach is<\/strong> loud during games.<\/div>\n
Vs. The coach shouts<\/strong> during games.<\/div>\n
Ex. The caf\u00e9\u2019s sandwiches are<\/strong> excellent.<\/div>\n
Vs. The caf\u00e9 serves<\/strong> excellent sandwiches.<\/div>\n
Ex. The student is<\/strong> afraid of failing the test.<\/div>\n

Vs. The student fears<\/strong> failing the test.<\/p>\n

2. Change a noun into a verb:<\/strong><\/div>\n
Ex. Our uncle is<\/strong> the driver<\/strong> of the bus.<\/div>\n

Vs. Our uncle drives<\/strong> the bus.<\/p>\n

3. Combine short, choppy sentences:<\/strong><\/div>\n
Ex. The band\u2019s music is<\/strong> excellent. The lyrics are<\/strong> meaningful. The melodies are<\/strong> catchy.<\/div>\n
The percussion is<\/strong> energetic.<\/div>\n

Vs. The band plays<\/strong> excellent music, with meaningful lyrics, catchy melodies, and energetic percussion.<\/p>\n

4. Do not overuse there is<\/em>, there are, there were, this is, that are,<\/em> etc.:<\/strong><\/div>\n
Ex. There are<\/strong> many apartments that are<\/strong> empty and need new tenants.<\/div>\n

Vs. Many empty apartments need<\/strong> new tenants.<\/p>\n

5. Replace a to be verb + a prepositional phrase with a strong verb:<\/strong><\/div>\n
Ex. Social media is<\/strong> influential for millennials.<\/div>\n

Vs. Social media influences<\/strong> millennials.<\/p>\n

6. Replace a to be verb + an \u2013ing<\/em> word with a simple verb:<\/strong><\/div>\n
Ex. The cat was scratching<\/strong> at the back door.<\/div>\n
Vs. The cat scratched<\/strong> at the back door.<\/div>\n
Ex. The dragonfly was hovering<\/strong> over the pond.<\/div>\n

Vs. The dragonfly hovered<\/strong> over the pond<\/p>\n\n\n

Step 2: Avoid Adverbs<\/h2>\n\n\n

In his book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft<\/em>, Stephen King exclaims, \u201cI believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.\u201d He makes an excellent point. Rather than using a verb + adverb combination<\/strong>, it is better to use a verb that is strong enough to stand on its own. <\/p>\n

Ex. He went quickly<\/strong> to the store.<\/div>\n
Vs. He hurried<\/strong> to the store.<\/div>\n
Ex. She looked angrily<\/strong> at her friend.<\/div>\n
Vs. She glared<\/strong> at her friend.<\/div>\n
Ex. He messily wrote<\/strong> his name at the bottom of the contract.<\/div>\n

Vs. He scrawled<\/strong> his name at the bottom of the contract.<\/p>\n\n\n

Step 3: Get Creative with Verbs<\/h2>\n\n\n

Still trying to think of better verbs? Here are four common verbs with stronger alternatives:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Said:<\/strong> announced, uttered, suggested, stuttered, argued, bellowed, whispered
\u2022 Looked:<\/strong> surveyed, gazed, stared, glanced, squinted, leered
\u2022 Walked:<\/strong> sauntered, strolled, traipsed, tramped, marched, hiked, ambled, plodded
\u2022 Went:<\/strong> fled, passed, moseyed, left, set off, withdrew, took flight, set off<\/p>\n\n\n

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Learning Center<\/a><\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Updated August 2023 by The Learning Center staff<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Step 1: Replace To Be Verbs It is virtually impossible to write without using to be verbs. However, most people overuse these verbs,\u00a0 and the result is lackluster prose. The problem is, to be verbs just do not convey the same dynamism as stronger, more exciting verbs. If you want to energize your writing, try […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5767","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nEnergize Your Writing with Strong Verbs - Learning Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eastcentral.edu\/learning-center\/energize-your-writing-with-strong-verbs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Energize Your Writing with Strong Verbs - Learning Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Step 1: Replace To Be Verbs It is virtually impossible to write without using to be verbs. However, most people overuse these verbs,\u00a0 and the result is lackluster prose. The problem is, to be verbs just do not convey the same dynamism as stronger, more exciting verbs. 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