Of course. Here is an article about using strong verbs.
Ditch the Dull: Why Verbs like ‘Rethinking’ and ‘Tackling’ Will Transform Your Writing
Stare at this sentence:
“The committee is responsible for making a decision about the new budget.”
It’s not wrong. It’s grammatically correct. But it’s also flat, wordy, and passive. It plods along without energy. Now, consider this version:
“The committee decides the new budget.”
Shorter. Sharper. More confident. What changed? We swapped a clunky phrase for a single, powerful verb. This simple shift is the secret to unlocking writing that engages, persuades, and resonates with your reader. It’s time to move beyond weak, placeholder words and embrace the power of the strong verb.
The Enemy: Weak and Passive Verbs
The biggest culprits in lifeless writing are weak verbs, especially forms of “to be” (is, are, was, were) and generic utility verbs (has, does, gets, makes). These words don’t perform an action; they simply state a condition of being. They act as a fragile skeleton, forcing you to flesh out the meaning with extra nouns and adjectives.
Consider the language we often use in professional or academic settings:
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Instead of: “We are in the process of a re-evaluation of our strategy.”
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Try: “We are rethinking our strategy.”
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Instead of: “She is the one who has management over the project’s difficult phases.”
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Try: “She navigates the project’s difficult phases.”
The first versions are clunky and bureaucratic. The second versions are dynamic. Verbs like rethinking, navigating, and tackling don’t just state a fact; they paint a picture. “Rethinking” implies a deep, cognitive process. “Navigating” suggests skill and guidance through complexity. They carry intention and meaning all on their own.
The Hero: The Strong, Specific Verb
A strong verb is an action word that creates a clear mental image. It does the heavy lifting in a sentence, conveying not just what is happening, but how it’s happening.
Why are strong verbs so effective?
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They Are Concise: Strong verbs eliminate clutter. “He made an argument against the proposal” (6 words) becomes “He argued against the proposal” (5 words). “She was a participant in the discussion” (7 words) becomes “She participated in the discussion” (5 words). This tightening makes your writing more direct and powerful.
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They Are Specific: Why say someone “walked quickly” when they could have strode, dashed, scurried, or bolted? Each of those verbs tells a different story. Strong verbs replace vague verb-adverb combinations with a single, precise word.
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They Are Active and Engaging: Strong verbs create momentum. They pull the reader through the sentence. Words like ignite, dissect, forge, and streamline have an energy that “is” and “has” can never match. They show, rather than tell, which is the golden rule of all compelling writing.
How to Find and Unleash Your Strong Verbs
Injecting this power into your own writing is a skill you can learn. It just takes a little practice.
1. Hunt for “Hidden” Verbs:
Look for nouns that are secretly verbs in disguise, often ending in -ion, -ment, -ance, and -tion. These “nominalizations” are common in formal writing and are prime targets for improvement.
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Before: We will conduct an investigation.
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After: We will investigate.
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Before: The team must reach a conclusion.
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After: The team must conclude.
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Before: Please make a confirmation of your attendance.
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After: Please confirm your attendance.
2. Target the “To Be” Verbs:
Scan your draft for “is,” “am,” “are,” “was,” and “were.” When you find one, ask yourself: What is the real action in this sentence?
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Before: The new policy is a major challenge for our department.
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After: The new policy challenges our department.
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Before: He was a strong supporter of the initiative.
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After: He strongly supported the initiative.
3. Put It All Together: Before and After
| Instead Of This (Weak & Wordy) | Try This (Strong & Concise) |
|---|---|
| Our goal is the reduction of expenses. | Our goal is to reduce expenses. |
| The report gives an overview of the data. | The report summarizes the data. |
| We need to get a handle on this problem. | We need to tackle this problem. |
| It is my belief that we should move forward. | I believe we should move forward. |
| The software makes the process easier. | The software simplifies the process. |
The next time you write an email, a report, or even a simple memo, give your verbs a second look. Are they merely existing, or are they acting? Are they placeholders, or are they powerhouses?
By trading “making a plan” for planning, “giving consideration to” for considering, and “being in a difficult situation” for navigating a challenge, you do more than just edit your words. You elevate your message, sharpen your thinking, and command your reader’s attention from the very first sentence.
