Transcript Strong Verbs

Strong Verbs
Why and How
The experts…
Choosing strong verbs will make your writing
“lively and emphatic” William Strunk
“If you could write using only active verbs , your
writing will automatically have clarity and
warmth and vigor” William Zinsser
“The closest a writer can get to Godliness is
CLARITY” E.B. White
Example
In his inaugural address JFK talks to his allies and says he
will support them.
In his inaugural address JFK PLEDGES support for his allies.
JFK states, “To those nations who make themselves our
adversaries we offer a request” saying that he would like
to be cooperative with them.
JFK requests cooperation from his enemies, addressing
them in the same way he did his allies, “To those
nations…”
Your task
Work on any of the writing you have to do
for me in the upcoming weeks and
rethink your verb choices.
Your verbs should be:
1. Precise
2. Active (avoid state of being)