Style: Clarity & Strong Verbs

Clarity can refer to the clearness of the thoughts explored as well as the clearness of the expression of those thoughts. Using plain language techniques can ensure that what you write can be understood by a variety of audiences.

In most work situations we are faced with ideas or procedures that are either inherently difficult to non-specialists. When you edit your writing for clarity, make sure you are using strong verbs.

Using strong verbs will ensure that you are writing shorter, clearer sentences. It can mean the difference between sentences like these:

1. 1. Pursuant to the directive received by this employee, the following represents a carefully considered response to the most recently implemented initiatives enacted by the departmental management, which are herewith considered to be less than optimally effective in achieving the desired ends within the scope of the mission defined for the current project. (52 words, filled with jargon, too many prepositions, muddled meaning)
   2. As you requested, I am providing feedback on the latest department initiative. Unfortunately, the initiative does not effectively support our current project. (22 words, jargon and extra prepositions removed, clear meaning)

The stronger and clearer you can make your verbs, the more directly you will communicate information to your audience.

Keep these basic guidelines in mind as you check your verbs.

Use Active Voice

In daily life, we speak in active voice. Basically, a subject does an action: 

Bob [subject] walked the dog [action]. 

Passive voice reverses that pattern, hiding the subject and in general requiring more  "processing time" as our brains work to rearrange ideas into the expected order: 

The dog was walked by Bob. [In this case, "the dog" becomes the subject, when the real subject should be "Bob."]

Passive voice can be useful in certain situations -- if you need to avoid responsibility, for  instance, or when you want to emphasize the object rather than the subject: 

Cutbacks must be made. [Hides who made the decision, focuses on the cutbacks themselves]

However, unless you have a good reason to adopt passive voice, use active voice in your  writing. 

The verb "being," though not strictly passive voice, also weakens a sentence: 

Weak & Wordy: Being that I am older than you, I ought to get to drive.

Strong & Short: I ought to drive because I am older.

 

Avoid Linking Verbs

According to Grammarly Links to an external site., linking verbs are "verbs that don’t show an action but rather describe the subject. While verbs like walk or jump represent an action, linking verbs like be or seem add more details to the subject." When you use them, you weaken your writing.

Don't Say This	Say This Instead
He thinks he really likes his job.	He likes his new job.
She feels bad about that mistake she made.	She regrets her mistake.
It seems that every time I try to help, I  mess it up.	Despite my best efforts, I make things  worse.
It appears to be time that we should leave.	We need to go now.

 

Convert Weak Nouns to Strong Verbs

Too often, writers substitute longer, less direct noun phrases for more effective verbs. In  particular, watch your writing for nouns ending in -ment, -tion, and -ance. If you find any such words, see if you can convert them to strong verbs.

Don't Say This	Say This Instead
I will undertake development.	I will develop.
We will make a recommendation.	We will recommend.
The team has made preparations.	The team has prepared.
Since the submission of our proposal...	Since we submitted our proposal...