Adverbs. Oh hell. Seriously, what's wrong with adverbs? They're in all the famous books: he said thoughtfully, she looked up enquiringly, he said triumphantly, he smiled thinly. What? How do you smile thinly? Go on, try it.
So here's the message. You can use an adverb every now and again, when really really necessary (LOL). Just don't overdo it and be sparing with them.
Adjectives. Some people think you can't use them either. Pffft....what a load of old baloney. It's all a question of getting a feel for a sentence and writing it in the best way for you. My problem with adjectives (which I've recently found out thanks to my wonderful editor, Katriena Knights, from Etopia Press) is that I don't always use them in the right order. Tricky that. Here's quite a good post on that very subject - and a good tip about whether to use AND with a row of adjectives.
Now, I've decided to describe something that begins with "A" and not use a single adjective or adverb. Can you guess what it is?
It's a fruit. It's not the one that if you eat it you won't need to see the doctor. This one fits into the palm of my hand. I can cover it with my fingers without squashing it. The color reminds me of the one used for the background in the A to Z challenge badge, or like the color of the sky at twilight. The smell doesn't overwhelm me and its fragrance is the same as its taste. Without the kernel - which could damage my teeth - I can finish it in two or three bites.
What is it?
Oh geez, Susan, this is HARD. I dunno, I'm gonna guess apricot!
ReplyDeleteAlways love grammar tips because I need them!
Happy A to Z!
Grammar tips are always a good thing. Thanks! I'm going to guess apricot. I really love them.
ReplyDeleteI've made the mistake of using adverbs in my writing, something I've hopefully learned to stop.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go with apricot too :)
Jamie Gibbs
Fellow A-Z Buddy
Mithril Wisdom
thank you Cathy, Melissa and Jamie. Glad you liked the post
DeleteThese are things I really need to pay attention to - thanks for the reminders.
ReplyDeleteKaren
Cathy stole my guess! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be a really interesting month and if I'm not careful I might actually learn a thing or two.
Adverbs and adjectives...yeah, there are rules, and then there are rules meant to be broken a little. "Sparingly" and "necesary" should be the rules to go by. Adverbs are not evil, when used correctly. :D
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Glad they were useful Karen. Me too DL - the things I've learned today!!! Of course rules are made to be broken, I agree Cherie - and it makes life fun too.
DeleteIt's always nice to have little reminders about writing. I like that. It will be a fun April. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteTo be different from everyone who said apricot, I'm going to say peach! :P
ReplyDeleteI'm going with apricot too! :) Love their scent!
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazingly absolutely adorable post! Since A is for Apricot...hmmm. Then again, it is April fools...
ReplyDeleteThanks Manzanita!. Peach, Alessahinlo? Ummmm.... it is apricot actually but it's nice to be different :-) Well done Jemi and Ute (and I know you've been stung by an April Fool already today)
DeleteAwesome first post, following you now! :D
ReplyDeleteA is for awesome apricot, LOL. Darn I used an adjective.
ReplyDeleteI hope all your posts will be like this. Love the lessons.
ReplyDeleteApricot.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem with adverbs comes with dialogue tags. Stephen King said in his book On Writing that if a writer is doing his or her job that they should know how something is said so the adverb tag becomes unnecessary. It made perfect sense to me so I've tried to keep that in mind when I write.
Following you too Kyra! LOL Spacerguy, it's very tempting to throw a few in, isn't it. Well, I'll do my best Clarissa but since I'm winging it, I can't promise... Good point M.J. we should make it clear from the wording of the speech, rather than using the tag. It's not so hard with a bit of practice...I suppose... Well done on Apricot!
DeleteI like your attitude towards adverbs and adjectives!!
ReplyDeleteI'm going with apricot, too.
ReplyDeleteOh, and this: "...what a load of old baloney" made me like you immediately. :O)
LOL - I hate rules
DeleteI'd go with apricot too! I like a good apricot sunset or sunrise.
ReplyDeleteGood post. My first drafts are littered with adverbs, but I tell myself they're just there to remind me to write something better :-)
ReplyDeleteThe never-ending adverb debate...
ReplyDeleteI'd have to also go with apricot... seems like the most likely fruit!
You'd be right Cynthia and Michelle! Yes, true enough Sarah.
DeleteHow would you feel if I told you I did, indeed, try to smile thinly. I think I may have accomplished it! Haha. I am going with apricot. My first thought was plum, but that is the wrong color. I've never eaten an actual whole apricot, so I don't know how squishy it is.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z
You did? You smiled thinly? Go on, take a photo! :-)
DeleteThe first thing I thought as I started reading was avocado . . . but apricot does make more sense!
ReplyDeleteThe Golden Eagle
The Eagle's Aerial Perspective
I'm very much on board with your approach to adjectives and adverbs--a judicious sprinkling is perfectly acceptable, thank you very much. These modifiers have earned their bad rap, but we can't let a few abusers ruin it for everyone, can we?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to the post on adjective order. Will pop over their for a spot of self-improvement forthwith!
I like your view on adverbs and adjectives. I am just always afraid I am using them too much.I am thinking the fruit you are talking about is a peach?
ReplyDeleteSince everyone is saying apricot, I'm going to hedge my bets and say:
ReplyDeleteAvocado
Just imagine finishing it in two or three bites beneath an avocado coloured sky. Yep, I can see it. Definitely avocado.
Dave
Dave Wrote This
hmmm...avocado GE and Dave? Can you get your fingers round it? Big hands LOL. And the color of the sky at twilight? Kern, I think that little description shows that it takes a lot of effort to write without adverbs and adjectives and it's not always obvious what the hell it is you're trying to describe!!!
DeleteI enjoyed reading this post and I agree that the occasional use of adverbs is fine.
ReplyDeleteCould the fruit be dried apricot? I suppose not as that begins with "D".