When writers want to strengthen their prose, they often focus on adjectives and adverbs. They search for more vivid descriptions or more expressive ways to tell readers what's happening. But the biggest opportunity to improve a sentence is usually sitting in the middle of it. It's the verb.
Verbs carry the action. They create movement, establish pacing, and help readers visualize what's happening. When the verb is weak, the entire sentence loses energy. Strong verbs make writing feel alive, while weak verbs make it feel like it's standing still.
What Is a Weak Verb?
A weak verb is one that relies on additional words to do the heavy lifting instead of expressing the action directly. In the example below, nothing is grammatically wrong with the sentence, but the action feels indirect.
Snow White went over to the window to look outside.
Now compare it to this version:
Snow White peered through the window.
The revision is shorter, but that's not the real improvement. The verb peered paints a picture. Readers can better imagine Snow White leaning toward the glass and looking carefully through the window. Notice how just one strong verb replaces an entire phrase.
Weak Verbs Often Hide Behind Extra Words
Many weak verbs are paired with unnecessary helper words such as the following sentence:
The Queen began to walk across the room.
Here's a stronger version:
The Queen crossed the room.
Or consider this sentence with a weak verb:
The huntsman went into the forest.
Instead of telling readers that he went, use a verb that describes how he moved as in these examples:
The huntsman hurried into the forest.
The huntsman crept into the forest.
The huntsman marched into the forest.
Each verb creates a different image and reveals something about the character.
Strong Verbs Reduce the Need for Adverbs
Weak verbs often invite adverbs to compensate as is shown in the example below:
The Queen walked quickly toward the mirror.
There's nothing technically wrong with the sentence, but the verb is doing very little because there are many variations of walked. Here are some stronger versions that better describe how the queen moved.
The Queen hurried toward the mirror.
The Queen stormed toward the mirror.
The stronger verb eliminates the need for the adverb while creating a more vivid image.
Strong Verbs Create Better Pictures
Readers don't simply process words. They create mental images. Compare these examples:
Snow White looked at the apple.
Snow White studied the apple.
The second sentence encourages readers to imagine her examining the fruit carefully.
Now compare these sentences:
The dwarfs went into the mine.
The dwarfs descended into the mine.
One verb simply reports movement, while the other creates a visual scene. That's the difference a strong verb can make.
Don't Settle for "Was"
Another common weak verb is was. Consider this sentence:
The cottage was old and covered with vines.
The sentence provides information, but it feels static. A stronger version might read:
Vines covered the weathered cottage.
The emphasis shifts from describing the cottage to creating an image the reader can see.
Every Verb Should Earn Its Place
When you're editing, pay close attention to common verbs such as:
- Went
- Got
- Had
- Did
- Made
- Looked
- Walked
- Came
- Took
- Was
These verbs aren't wrong. In fact, they're some of the most common verbs in the English language for a reason. They communicate basic actions clearly, and there are plenty of situations where they're exactly the right choice. The problem arises when they become your default choice.
Imagine describing every movement in a story with went or every observation with looked. Readers still understand what's happening, but the writing begins to feel generic. Instead of creating vivid mental images, the verbs simply report events.
A Quick Editing Exercise
Open one chapter of your manuscript and search for words like the ones in the bullets above. Review each occurrence individually, and ask yourself these questions:
- Can I replace this verb with one that's more specific?
- Can one stronger verb replace both the verb and an adverb?
- Can I create a clearer mental image?
You don't need to replace every common verb. You simply want to replace the ones that are making the sentence work harder than it should. One carefully chosen verb can reveal emotion, pacing, setting, and character all at once. Characters don't simply walk, they stroll, limp, shuffle, charge, wander, march... Each choice tells readers something different. That's why strong verbs are one of the simplest ways to improve your writing.
Let the Verb Carry the Sentence
Many writing problems can be traced back to verbs that don't quite do enough. When the verb is weak, writers often compensate by adding adjectives, adverbs, or extra explanation. When the verb is strong, much of that extra wording disappears naturally.
The next time you revise, don't start with the adjectives. Start with the verb. You may discover that changing one word gives your entire sentence more clarity, energy, and impact.