Ditch the Dull

 

​Title: Ditch the Dull! How to Supercharge Your Essays with Stronger Verbs

​Hey Smart English students! 👋

​Ever felt like your writing is a little… sleepy? You've got great ideas, but they just aren't popping off the page? The culprit might be hiding in plain sight: your verbs.

​Think of verbs as the engine of your sentences. Weak verbs like "is," "was," "have," and "get" are like a car stuck in first gear—they get the job done, but they're not very exciting. Stronger verbs, on the other hand, are like hitting the gas! They make your writing more dynamic, more precise, and way more interesting for your reader (and your grade!).

​Let's look at some common weak verbs and how to power them up.

​1. Banish "Is" and "Are"

​The "to be" verbs are often the biggest offenders. They describe a state of being, but they don't show action.

• ​Weak: The student was angry about the test score.
• ​Strong: The student fumed about the test score.

​See the difference? "Fumed" paints a much clearer picture of the student's emotion.

​Smart Swap: Instead of "is sad," try "weeps," "grieves," or "mourns." Instead of "is walking," try "strolls," "marches," or "saunters."

​2. Get Rid of "Got"

​"Got" is a great word for casual conversation, but in academic writing, it's a weakling. It's often vague and can be replaced with something more specific.

• ​Weak: I got a lot of information from the article.
• ​Strong: I gleaned a lot of information from the article.

​Smart Swap: Instead of "got a new phone," try "purchased," "acquired," or "received." Instead of "got tired," try "grew weary" or "became exhausted."

​3. Power Up with Specificity

​Sometimes, a verb isn't "wrong," it's just too general. A stronger verb gives your reader a better idea of how something is happening.

• ​General: The cat walked across the room.
• ​Specific: The cat prowled across the room.

​"Prowled" suggests a stealthy, hunting motion, adding a layer of detail that "walked" completely misses.

​Smart Swap: Instead of "said," try "whispered," "shouted," "muttered," or "declared." Instead of "ran," try "sprinted," "bolted," or "dashed."

​Your Turn!

​Ready to put this into practice? Grab a recent essay and go on a "weak verb hunt." Circle all the "is," "was," "are," and "got" verbs you can find. Then, try to replace them with one of the strong verbs we discussed or, even better, a new one from your own vocabulary.

​Leave a comment below with a sentence you've rewritten. Let's see how you can supercharge your writing! 🚀