How to Use Adverbs Effectively

Our post today will explain how to use adverbs effectively. We will also expound a little on the popular adage, show don’t tell.

This is how I feel when I read/edit something in which the author ran amuck with the adverbs — specifically, adverbs added to speaker tags:

I would like to reiterate that no one word, phrase, tense, voice, etc. is inherently wrong. What’s bad is the overuse and reliance on such at the expense of clarity and style.

Except for grammar, there really are no “rules” in writing. It is an art, not a science. However, if you are just starting out, it’s okay to follow rules while you find your voice. Compare it to first learning how to ride a bike as a child. You probably used training wheels. Think of these rules as your training wheels until you get your balance.

With that said, let’s talk about the rule, show don’t tell.

What does this mean, and how does it relate to adverbs?

Let’s give an example. The first one will rely heavily on telling. Note the adverbs attached to the speaker tags.

Tina took a sip of her very hot coffee.

“Ouch!” she said exasperatedly.

“What’s the matter?” Bruce asked sleepily. He was very tired, and had just started to nod off.

“Nothing,” Tina said as she angrily slammed her mug down onto the table. Bruce rolled his eyes and yawned.