[Grammar] Why do they all hate adverbs?

[Alex S]

Hello teachers!

Would you be so kind to help me here?

"The road to hell is paved with adverbs."

(c) Stephen King

http://www.brainpickings.org/2013/03/13/stephen-king-on-adverbs/

Many experts say we should avoid adverbs where possible to make our speech and writings sound better. Is it true? What is wrong with poor adverbs? I always liked them... :roll:

Other ones insist we would better replace adverds with other parts of speech, word combinations, etc... http://io9.com/5437610/seriously-whats-so-bad-about-adverbs

Does it really sound better when we avoid an adverb and replace it with other word combinations that would describe it better? :-? For example:

Kelly answered hoarsely, coughing from the powder the airbag had released.

vs.

Kelly’s throat stung and scratched, and she coughed, unable to get the nasty, metallic-tasting powder from the airbag out of her windpipe.

Would you be so kind to provide me with any more examples of this kind for me to understand this principle better? (the principle of replacement, I mean. Not avoiding adverbs, this one is clear)

 

[Johnyxxx]

And Voltaire used to say: "The adjective is the enemy of the noun."
And Mark Twain was probably of the same opinion with his comment: "When you catch an adjective, kill it."

If we decide to go with King and Voltaire in what they preach about the language our speech would be sadly restricted.

Not a Teacher

 

[emsr2d2]

For anyone who's interested in a good blog post about the contents of Stephen King's "On Writing", see HERE.

 

[SoothingDave]

My guess is that the idea is to use better words in the first place, instead of relying upon modifiers.

For example, why say "he ran quickly towards the door" when I can say "he sprinted..."?

 

[MikeNewYork]

There is nothing wrong with adverbs or adjectives. They enrich our language.

 

[Alex S]

There is nothing wrong with adverbs or adjectives. They enrich our language.

Agree with you. and that is why it was strange for me to find out so many writers and writing experts are against of them.

 

[Alex S]

For anyone who's interested in a good blog post about the contents of Stephen King's "On Writing", see HERE.

Thanks! I've read the book itself. I am a big fan of King's books, you know ;-)

 

[Rover_KE]

I agree with you, and that is why it was strange for me to find out so many writers and writing experts are against [STRIKE]of[/STRIKE] them.

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