Using Strong Word Choices Don’t rely too heavily on the verb “to be” (am, is are, be, was, were, being, been) – it is a weak verb that blurs your precision! Here are some stronger verbs and some better substitutes for “very.” Substitutes for “very”: Acknowledges Dictates Observes Absolutely Adds Directs Persuades Bitterly Addresses Discloses Places Chiefly Admits Divulges Points out Dramatically Advocates Elaborates Portrays Especially Affirms Emphasizes Posits Exceedingly Agrees Employs Presents Extremely Alleges Encourages Reassures Excruciatingly Applies Entreats Recounts Fully Argues Establishes Refutes Immeasurably Arranges Estimates Relates Incredibly Articulates Explains Repeats Immensely Assents Exposes Responds Infinitely Assesses Expresses Restates Intensely Asserts Formulates Reveals Largely Assumes Heightens Specifies Mightily Assures Hints States Obsessively Attests Illustrates Stipulates Overly Claims Implements Strengthens Powerfully Compresses Implies Suggests Profusely Comments Incorporates Summarizes Richly Compares Indicates Targets Ridiculously Convinces Infers Thinks Severely Critiques Introduces Underscores Shockingly Debates Instructs Uses Slightly Decides Maintains Utilizes Surely Defines Mentions Writes Surprisingly Determines Narrates Truly Describes Notes 16 Unusually Devises Objects
Using Strong Word Choices Don’t rely too heavily on the verb “to be” (am, is are, be, was, were, being, been) – it is a weak verb that blurs your precision! Here are some stronger verbs and some better substitutes for “very.” Acknowledges Adds Addresses Admits Advocates Affirms Agrees Alleges Applies Argues Arranges Articulates Assents Assesses Asserts Assumes Assures Attests Claims Compresses Comments Compares Convinces Critiques Debates Decides Defines Determines Describes Devises Dictates Directs Discloses Divulges Elaborates Emphasizes Employs Encourages Entreats Establishes Estimates Explains Exposes Expresses Formulates Heightens Hints Illustrates Implements Implies Incorporates Indicates Infers Introduces Instructs Maintains Mentions Narrates Notes Objects Observes Persuades Places Points out Portrays Posits Presents Reassures Recounts Refutes Relates Repeats Responds Restates Reveals Specifies States Stipulates Strengthens Suggests Summarizes Targets Thinks Underscores Uses Utilizes Writes Substitutes for “very”: Absolutely Bitterly Chiefly Dramatically Especially Exceedingly Extremely Excruciatingly Fully Immeasurably Incredibly Immensely Infinitely Intensely Largely Mightily Obsessively Overly Powerfully Profusely Richly Ridiculously Severely Shockingly Slightly Surely Surprisingly Truly Unusually 16
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