Better writing: Go easy on the adjectives

Write mainly with nouns and verbs. Only use adjectives if they help make your meaning more precise.

In his book Daily Mirror Style, Keith Waterhouse describes the journalist’s view of adjectives. He says:

Adjectives should not be allowed in newspapers unless they have something to say.

People often think adjectives add colour to their writing. They do. But colourful writing isn’t necessarily easier to understand. In volume one of Editing and Writing, another newspaper journalist Harold Evans says adjectives give writing a superficial glitter.

He goes on to say:

Every adjective should be examined to see: is it needed to define the subject or is it there for emphasis?

Evans says “over-emphasis destroys credibility”.

Take care when using adjectives for emphasis. For example, the word very often adds nothing to a phrase. It can usually be left out without changing the meaning. The same usually applies to really, actually, rather and quite.

In practice many adjectives have no substance. You can removed most from your sentences. You won’t lose much, but you will gain clarity.

On a personal note, I’ve been paid to write by the word for many years so my copy is often loaded with lucrative adjectives – but my writing would certainly better without them.

For the record:

Nouns are used to name people, places, things and ideas. Verbs are doing words. They tell you what is going on. We say Adjectives modify nouns by telling you what kind it is, how many there are and which is the one being talked about. Adverbs do the same job for verbs.

Further reading:
Better writing: Rhythm
Better writing: Companies are singular
Better writing: The inverted pyramid
Better writing: Keep it simple
Better writing: And
Better writing: Capital letters