ADVERBS ARE FINE
June 2, 2024 at 11:39 PM
ADVERBS ARE FINE
Seeing folks online angry about Stephen King advising against the overuse of adverbs, protesting that he uses adverbs and sometimes adverbs work, and…
…I’m thinking that if you read “Don’t overuse adverbs” and you think it says “Don’t use adverbs,” your problem may not be writing, but reading.
…I’m thinking that if you read “Don’t overuse adverbs” and you think it says “Don’t use adverbs,” your problem may not be writing, but reading.
August 14, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Seeing folks online angry about Stephen King advising against the overuse of adverbs, protesting that he uses adverbs and sometimes adverbs work, and…
…I’m thinking that if you read “Don’t overuse adverbs” and you think it says “Don’t use adverbs,” your problem may not be writing, but reading.
…I’m thinking that if you read “Don’t overuse adverbs” and you think it says “Don’t use adverbs,” your problem may not be writing, but reading.
Writing tip: After you finish, go back & cut all the adverbs. Then all the adjectives. Then all the other words. Eat the paper. Now you're free.
January 9, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Writing tip: After you finish, go back & cut all the adverbs. Then all the adjectives. Then all the other words. Eat the paper. Now you're free.
Benjamin Dreyer
Needs more parentheses and adverbs.
Needs more parentheses and adverbs.
March 4, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Benjamin Dreyer
Needs more parentheses and adverbs.
Needs more parentheses and adverbs.
the answer is MOAR GAY ADVERBS
May 3, 2026 at 3:11 AM
the answer is MOAR GAY ADVERBS
Adverbs are good, actually. Anyone who eschews adverbs is a coward.
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
October 14, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Adverbs are good, actually. Anyone who eschews adverbs is a coward.
guess i'm just built different (unable to use adverbs)
June 17, 2024 at 5:27 PM
guess i'm just built different (unable to use adverbs)
Stolas's adverbs are SENDING ME!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I had a creative writing professor say, as a rule: "Never use adverbs." Stolas's over-reliance on adverbs is HYSTERICAL! Masculinely? Assassinatingly?!?! I LOVE YOU BABY BOOKISH BIRB, NEVER CHANGE!!!!
#Stolas #ILoveWords #Mission13 #BookReport
#Stolas #ILoveWords #Mission13 #BookReport
July 11, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Stolas's adverbs are SENDING ME!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I had a creative writing professor say, as a rule: "Never use adverbs." Stolas's over-reliance on adverbs is HYSTERICAL! Masculinely? Assassinatingly?!?! I LOVE YOU BABY BOOKISH BIRB, NEVER CHANGE!!!!
#Stolas #ILoveWords #Mission13 #BookReport
#Stolas #ILoveWords #Mission13 #BookReport
So anyways, I’ve started pluralizing adverbs
May 1, 2025 at 6:08 PM
So anyways, I’ve started pluralizing adverbs
ONEST has a new editor.
He reviewed the latest draft and requested: more tuna, fewer adverbs,
and unrestricted access to the keyboard.
He reviewed the latest draft and requested: more tuna, fewer adverbs,
and unrestricted access to the keyboard.
May 11, 2026 at 5:05 PM
ONEST has a new editor.
He reviewed the latest draft and requested: more tuna, fewer adverbs,
and unrestricted access to the keyboard.
He reviewed the latest draft and requested: more tuna, fewer adverbs,
and unrestricted access to the keyboard.
I keep harping on this but AI “writers” and “artists“ keep showing what unserious tourists they are.
People who actually create agonize over adverbs and color palettes and metaphors and gesture.
AI people can’t even be bothered to skim their own book once
People who actually create agonize over adverbs and color palettes and metaphors and gesture.
AI people can’t even be bothered to skim their own book once
This is just so depressing to see. Readers deserve better than this.
August 11, 2026 at 3:38 AM
I keep harping on this but AI “writers” and “artists“ keep showing what unserious tourists they are.
People who actually create agonize over adverbs and color palettes and metaphors and gesture.
AI people can’t even be bothered to skim their own book once
People who actually create agonize over adverbs and color palettes and metaphors and gesture.
AI people can’t even be bothered to skim their own book once
You can pry my adverbs from my cold, dead fingers 😂
What's your favorite writing rule to break? Why do you break it? #WritingPrompt
January 25, 2026 at 3:39 PM
You can pry my adverbs from my cold, dead fingers 😂
Everyone: “Don’t use adverbs in your writing!”
me: *crosses out adverbs while I line edit*
books I’m reading: *adverbs sprinkled every few pages*
me: “…”
I’m nearly convinced I should stop reading writing advice.
me: *crosses out adverbs while I line edit*
books I’m reading: *adverbs sprinkled every few pages*
me: “…”
I’m nearly convinced I should stop reading writing advice.
July 23, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Everyone: “Don’t use adverbs in your writing!”
me: *crosses out adverbs while I line edit*
books I’m reading: *adverbs sprinkled every few pages*
me: “…”
I’m nearly convinced I should stop reading writing advice.
me: *crosses out adverbs while I line edit*
books I’m reading: *adverbs sprinkled every few pages*
me: “…”
I’m nearly convinced I should stop reading writing advice.
"This isn't the ending I wanted!"
Okay. Cool. This is exactly what fanfic is for. Go! Be free! Run wild across the adjective plains, adverbs whipping through your hair.
Okay. Cool. This is exactly what fanfic is for. Go! Be free! Run wild across the adjective plains, adverbs whipping through your hair.
August 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
"This isn't the ending I wanted!"
Okay. Cool. This is exactly what fanfic is for. Go! Be free! Run wild across the adjective plains, adverbs whipping through your hair.
Okay. Cool. This is exactly what fanfic is for. Go! Be free! Run wild across the adjective plains, adverbs whipping through your hair.
No you don't understand these are my emotional support adverbs
June 22, 2026 at 5:21 PM
No you don't understand these are my emotional support adverbs
Releasing an acoustic edition of my short story collection. Courier 11pt and no adverbs or adjectives.
March 24, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Releasing an acoustic edition of my short story collection. Courier 11pt and no adverbs or adjectives.
Also there are times you need to use adverbs because the rhythm would be wrong.
August 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Also there are times you need to use adverbs because the rhythm would be wrong.
"Never use adverbs. Adverbs are bad writing" is such bizarre advice. Adverbs are a common, standard part of all languages. It would be like telling a musician "Never use 7th chords. Find a major or minor chord that achieves the same effect." Why would you limit yourself in that way? Makes no sense.
December 30, 2024 at 5:04 PM
"Never use adverbs. Adverbs are bad writing" is such bizarre advice. Adverbs are a common, standard part of all languages. It would be like telling a musician "Never use 7th chords. Find a major or minor chord that achieves the same effect." Why would you limit yourself in that way? Makes no sense.
today in the new york times forgets that adjectives exist
remove “best” from “best friend” and you get “friend”
tomorrow perhaps we can tackle adverbs
remove “best” from “best friend” and you get “friend”
tomorrow perhaps we can tackle adverbs
They’re not our besties, but they’re more than just acquaintances. How much of ourselves do we owe our “medium friends”?
The Vexing Problem of the ‘Medium Friend’
They’re not our besties, but they’re more than just acquaintances. How much of ourselves do we owe them?
www.nytimes.com
June 22, 2024 at 11:00 PM
today in the new york times forgets that adjectives exist
remove “best” from “best friend” and you get “friend”
tomorrow perhaps we can tackle adverbs
remove “best” from “best friend” and you get “friend”
tomorrow perhaps we can tackle adverbs
“Prematurely” and “hastily” are adverbs that could also be applied to the government spiriting away hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador without due process last month
NEW: Justice Alito files his belated dissent in the Alien Enemies Act case, calling his seven colleagues’ move premature and hasty.
Justice Thomas joins.
Justice Thomas joins.
April 20, 2025 at 3:44 AM
“Prematurely” and “hastily” are adverbs that could also be applied to the government spiriting away hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador without due process last month
"Remember that adverbs are a sign that you’ve used the wrong verb."
rude :)
rude :)
September 16, 2026 at 5:01 PM
"Remember that adverbs are a sign that you’ve used the wrong verb."
rude :)
rude :)
Rich Lowry's piece is basically the same as this, with more adverbs and subordinate clauses.
bsky.app/profile/atru...
bsky.app/profile/atru...
Trump on Somalis: "We're gonna go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage."
December 2, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Rich Lowry's piece is basically the same as this, with more adverbs and subordinate clauses.
bsky.app/profile/atru...
bsky.app/profile/atru...