If your sentences are constantly “beginning,” “starting,” or “continuing” to do something, I’ve got bad news: your writing is dragging its feet. Even worse, it’s announcing that it’s dragging its feet. Phrases like:
- began walking
- started running
- was trying to explain
- continued talking
- seemed to be thinking
are some of the most common culprits in weak, flabby writing. They don’t add meaning. They delay action. And they quietly drain energy from your sentences. Let’s talk about why this happens—and how to fix it.
The Real Problem Isn’t -ING. It’s Hesitation.
The issue isn’t that all -ing verbs are evil. The issue is that many writers stack them behind helper verbs that soften or delay action. Look at this sentence:
“I began walking toward the door.”
What actually happens here? Nothing—at least not right away. The sentence spends time announcing that walking is about to occur instead of just letting it occur. Now compare it to this:
“I walked toward the door.”
Same meaning. More momentum. Less clutter. The second sentence moves. The first one stalls.
“Began” and “Started” Are Usually Redundant
In most cases, readers already understand that an action has a beginning. You don’t need to point it out. When you write:
“She started to cry.”
You’re narrating the concept of crying instead of showing the action. Try this instead:
“She cried.”
Or, if you want more texture:
“Her face crumpled, and tears spilled down her cheeks.”
Notice how the second option gives us emotion, imagery, and motion—all without announcing that crying has commenced.
-ING Constructions Create Distance
Another problem with these constructions is that they create narrative distance. Compare:
“He was running down the street.”
Versus:
“He ran down the street.”
The first version feels like the narrator is hovering above the action, reporting it from a distance. The second drops us directly into motion. That immediacy matters—especially in fiction, memoir, and any writing where engagement is the goal.
Weak Verbs Love to Travel in Packs
These phrases rarely show up alone. They tend to stack:
“She was beginning to feel like she was losing control.”
That sentence is doing Olympic-level gymnastics to avoid committing to a strong verb. A cleaner version:
“She felt herself losing control.”
Or even stronger:
“Control slipped through her fingers.”
Stronger verbs reduce word count, sharpen meaning, and make your writing feel confident instead of tentative.
When Writers Use These Phrases (and Why)
Most writers fall into this habit for one of three reasons:
- They’re trying to sound more literary
- They’re afraid of being too direct
- They’re writing the way they speak
Unfortunately, conversational padding doesn’t translate well to the page. What sounds natural out loud often reads sluggish in print. Direct writing isn’t rude. It’s respectful—to your reader’s time and attention.
How to Fix It: A Simple Editing Pass
Here’s an easy rule of thumb for revisions. Search your manuscript for:
- began
- started
- was
- were
- continued
- seemed
- tried
Then ask one question: Can I delete this phrase and keep the meaning—or improve it? Nine times out of ten, the answer is yes. Here's another example:
“She began to open the letter.”
Here's the fix:
“She opened the letter.”
If deleting the phrase makes the sentence stronger, cleaner, and clearer, it didn’t belong there in the first place.
When -ING Is Actually Fine
Let’s be clear: not all -ing verbs are bad. They work when:
- Two actions are happening simultaneously
- You need to show duration or overlap
- Rhythm genuinely benefits from it
Here are an examples that works:
“She stood at the window, watching the storm roll in.”
That’s doing real work. It’s visual. It’s active. It earns its place. The problem isn’t the -ing form—it’s using it as a crutch instead of choosing a precise verb.
Strong Writing Commits
Weak constructions hedge. Strong writing commits. Instead of easing into action, strong sentences step forward and claim it. So stop beginning to do things. Stop starting to act. Stop announcing movement before it happens. Just let your characters—and your sentences—move.
If your writing feels slow, this is one of the first places to look. Trim the hesitation, sharpen the verbs, and trust your reader to keep up. They will.