Strong verbs make your writing move
"Walked slowly" is two words doing one weak job. "Trudged" is one word doing it better. Why the verb is the most powerful word in your sentence.
If you change one thing about your writing this week, change your verbs. The verb is the engine of the sentence — strengthen it and everything around it gets sharper.
Verb + adverb is usually a weak verb in disguise
"Ran quickly" can become "sprinted." "Said angrily" can become "snapped." "Walked slowly" can become "trudged." One precise verb carries the meaning the adverb was propping up — and reads faster.
Hunt your "to be" verbs
Sentences built on is, was, and were tend to sit still. "The street was full of people" becomes alive as "People packed the street." Not every "was" needs replacing — but each one is worth a second look.
A quick drill
- Underline every verb in a paragraph you wrote.
- Circle the dull ones — was, went, got, looked, made.
- Replace two of them with a verb that shows exactly what happened.
Do that a few times and strong verbs stop being a trick you apply at the end — they become how you write the first draft.
Try it on your own writing
Coach Pen marks what you wrote and coaches the exact technique to fix next — one at a time.