Tip 709: Keeping Things Short, Part III

From the Writing Workshops: Keeping Things Short, Part III

Our counsel this week: Use strong verbs.

In June of 1917, Ernest Hemingway graduated from high school in Oak Park, Illinois (outside of Chicago).

In October of 1917, he went to work for the Kansas City Star as a cub reporter.

C. G. “Pete” Wellington was the assistant city editor of the Star. He gave young Hemingway this advice: “Verbs are the most powerful part of the language. Make your verbs do the work.” Hemingway later said this was the best advice he ever received about writing.

Strong verbs are direct, powerful verbs (action words): “Ten people attended the meeting.”

Weak verbs are meaningless verbs that usually mask stronger verbs turned into nouns (things): “Ten people were in attendance at the meeting.”

Notice how attend—a strong verb, an action word— turned into attendance—a noun, a thing. And how we gained the weak verb were. No! Use strong verbs.  

Find and Fix the Problem

1.    Look for words ending in “-ment,” “-ion,” or “-nce.”

2.   Find the root verb.

3.   Use the root verb.

Test Yourself

We will provide management for the project. (Seven words)

We will do an evaluation of the bullying guidelines. (Nine words)

The file makes reference to an earlier matter. (Eight words)

Answers to the Test

We will manage the project. (Five words)

We will evaluate the bullying guidelines. (Six words)

The file refers to an earlier matter. (Seven words)

Wow. It works, doesn’t it? We love this stuff.

Next Friday is Veterans Day. We’ll continue our discussion after that.