The Power Of Description: Part Two (Adverbs)

Everything adjectives can do, adverbs do, only more so. Adjectives can only describe nouns, things. Adverbs describe other adjectives and verbs. Adjectives tell you about something. Adverbs tell you how it's done and to what extent.

And adverbs are frequently vilified even more than adjectives, ironically.

Naturally, I love adverbs, too, in case you missed it. I love the nuances and depth a single word can add to a sentence, how it can vary things, make it stronger, weaker, even twist the meaning. Few words will give you the bang for the buck that a single adverb can give. Few verbs or nouns can add as much meaning or flavor to a sentence like an adverb.

Shall I demonstrate? Oh, you know I'm going to whether you want me to or not.

Under the feeble light of the crescent moon, he waited for her.

vs.

Under the feeble light of the crescent moon, he waited helplessly for her.

vs.

Under the feeble light of the crescent moon, he patiently waited for her.

vs.

Under the feeble light of the crescent moon, he always waited for her.

vs.

Under the feeble light of the crescent moon, he waited for her, hungrily.

vs.

Under the feeble light of the crescent moon, he waited for her, hopelessly.

You note, I hope, the differences. A victim at helplessly, abandoned at hopeless, a predator for hungrily. Just the right words can paint a picture of someone early or set the scene in but a sentence or two.

Adverbs are wonderful. They can denote certainty (surely, possibly, improbably), frequency (often, occasionally, never), states of mind (impatiently, adoringly, uncomfortably), methods (quickly, silently, clumsily), intensity (very, marginally, excessively), well, really, the list goes on.

So, if adverbs and adjectives are so useful, so wonderful, so key to effective writing, why are editors and how-to-write books so often eschewing their use?

Good question, which I'll tackle on a different post.

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