My old writing teacher said to cut every adverb, but I think that's too strict

My professor in college told me to remove every single adverb from my fiction drafts. I tried it for a full year, and my writing did get tighter. But last week, I was editing a scene where a character says 'I love you' quietly, and just writing 'she said' felt totally wrong. The 'quietly' was needed for the mood. I think the rule helps new writers avoid clutter, but it can kill the right detail. Has anyone else found a middle ground with this kind of strict writing advice?

2 comments

2 Comments

karenf408h ago

Agree completely that the rule helps beginners but needs to be broken. Your "quietly" example is perfect. The real trick is asking if the adverb adds something the verb can't show alone. "She whispered" is stronger than "she said quietly," but sometimes only "quietly" gives the right feel. I treat them like spice, use them when the sentence needs that exact flavor.

charles_kim7h ago

Stephen King's book On Writing says the road to hell is paved with adverbs, but he uses them himself all the time. It's about picking the right moment, like you said with the spice. Sometimes "she said sadly" just lands faster than trying to show the tears welling up. The rule exists so new writers don't lean on them as a crutch, but once you know how to walk, you can run.