Expert Tips: Banish Linking Verbs for Impactful Writing

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a complement, which can be a noun, adjective, or adverb. Common linking verbs include “is,” “am,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “be,” “been,” “seem,” “appear,” and “feel.” While linking verbs can be useful for adding detail and description to a sentence, they can also make writing seem passive and less engaging.

There are several ways to avoid using linking verbs in your writing. One way is to use active voice instead of passive voice. For example, instead of writing “The book was read by the student,” you could write “The student read the book.” Another way to avoid linking verbs is to use strong verbs that convey action or state. For example, instead of writing “The sky is blue,” you could write “The sky blazes blue.”

Avoiding linking verbs can make your writing more concise, clear, and engaging. By using active voice and strong verbs, you can create sentences that are more impactful and easier to read.

1. Using active voice instead of passive voice

Using active voice instead of passive voice is one of the most effective ways to avoid linking verbs. Active voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence performs the action of the verb. Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence receives the action of the verb.

• Facet 1: Clarity

  Active voice is clearer and more concise than passive voice. Compare the following two sentences:

  • Passive voice: The book was read by the student.
  • Active voice: The student read the book.

  The active voice sentence is clearer and more concise because it identifies the doer of the action (the student) and the object of the action (the book).

• Facet 2: Emphasis

  Active voice can be used to emphasize the doer of an action. Compare the following two sentences:

  • Passive voice: The award was given to the student.
  • Active voice: The teacher gave the award to the student.

  The active voice sentence emphasizes the doer of the action (the teacher) by placing it at the beginning of the sentence.

• Facet 3: Engagement

  Active voice is more engaging than passive voice. Compare the following two sentences:

  • Passive voice: The game was played by the children.
  • Active voice: The children played the game.

  The active voice sentence is more engaging because it creates a more vivid image of the children playing the game.

• Facet 4: Conciseness

  Active voice is more concise than passive voice. Compare the following two sentences:

  • Passive voice: The report was written by the committee.
  • Active voice: The committee wrote the report.

  The active voice sentence is more concise because it uses fewer words to convey the same meaning.

By using active voice instead of passive voice, you can make your writing clearer, more concise, more engaging, and more effective.

2. Using strong verbs that convey action or state

Using strong verbs that convey action or state is another effective way to avoid linking verbs. Strong verbs are verbs that express a complete action or state of being. They are more specific and descriptive than linking verbs, and they can help to make your writing more vivid and engaging.

• Facet 1: Clarity

  Strong verbs can help to make your writing clearer and more concise. Compare the following two sentences:

  • Weak verb: The man is walking down the street.
  • Strong verb: The man strides down the street.

  The second sentence is clearer and more concise because the strong verb “strides” conveys a more specific and descriptive action.

• Facet 2: Emphasis

  Strong verbs can be used to emphasize the action or state of being that you are describing. Compare the following two sentences:

  • Weak verb: The car is moving slowly.
  • Strong verb: The car crawls slowly.

  The second sentence emphasizes the slow movement of the car by using the strong verb “crawls.”

• Facet 3: Engagement

  Strong verbs can help to make your writing more engaging and interesting. Compare the following two sentences:

  • Weak verb: The children are playing in the park.
  • Strong verb: The children frolic in the park.

  The second sentence is more engaging and interesting because the strong verb “frolic” conveys a more vivid and playful image.

• Facet 4: Conciseness

  Strong verbs can help to make your writing more concise. Compare the following two sentences:

  • Weak verb: The man is experiencing a feeling of sadness.
  • Strong verb: The man grieves.

  The second sentence is more concise because the strong verb “grieves” conveys the same meaning as the weak verb “is experiencing a feeling of sadness” in fewer words.

By using strong verbs that convey action or state, you can make your writing clearer, more concise, more engaging, and more effective.

3. Using nominalizations

Nominalization is the process of turning a verb into a noun. This can be done by adding a suffix such as -tion, -ment, or -ance to the verb. For example, the verb “write” can be nominalized to create the noun “writing.”Nominalizations can be useful for avoiding linking verbs. For example, instead of writing “The book is interesting,” you could write “The book’s content is interesting.” By nominalizing the verb “is,” you can avoid using the linking verb “is” and create a more concise and engaging sentence.

Nominalizations can also be used to create parallelism in your writing. For example, instead of writing “The book is interesting and informative,” you could write “The book’s content is both interesting and informative.” By nominalizing the verb “is,” you can create a parallel structure that makes your writing more clear and concise.

4. Using prepositional phrases

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that includes a preposition, a noun or pronoun, and any modifiers of the noun or pronoun. Prepositional phrases can be used to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. For example, the prepositional phrase “in the box” shows the relationship between the noun “box” and the verb “put.”

• Clarity

  Prepositional phrases can help to make your writing clearer and more concise. For example, instead of writing “The book is on the table,” you could write “The book lies on the table.” By using the prepositional phrase “on the table,” you can avoid using the linking verb “is” and create a more concise and engaging sentence.

• Emphasis

  Prepositional phrases can be used to emphasize the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. For example, instead of writing “The book is interesting,” you could write “The book is interesting to read.” By using the prepositional phrase “to read,” you can emphasize the relationship between the book and the verb “interesting.”

• Engagement

  Prepositional phrases can help to make your writing more engaging and interesting. For example, instead of writing “The book is on the table,” you could write “The book rests on the table, inviting curious minds to explore its pages.” By using the prepositional phrase “on the table, inviting curious minds to explore its pages,” you can create a more vivid and engaging image in the reader’s mind.

• Conciseness

  Prepositional phrases can help to make your writing more concise. For example, instead of writing “The book is interesting and informative,” you could write “The book offers an interesting and informative read.” By using the prepositional phrase “an interesting and informative read,” you can avoid using the linking verb “is” and create a more concise and engaging sentence.

By using prepositional phrases, you can make your writing clearer, more concise, more engaging, and more effective.

FAQs on Avoiding Linking Verbs

Here are some frequently asked questions about avoiding linking verbs:

Question 1: What are linking verbs?

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a complement, which can be a noun, adjective, or adverb. Common linking verbs include “is,” “am,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “be,” “been,” “seem,” “appear,” and “feel.”

Question 2: Why should I avoid using linking verbs?

While linking verbs can be useful for adding detail and description to a sentence, they can also make writing seem passive and less engaging. Avoiding linking verbs can make your writing more concise, clear, and engaging.

Question 3: How can I avoid using linking verbs?

There are several ways to avoid using linking verbs in your writing, including:

1. Using active voice instead of passive voice
2. Using strong verbs that convey action or state
3. Using nominalizations
4. Using prepositional phrases

Question 4: What are some examples of how to avoid using linking verbs?

Here are a few examples of how to avoid using linking verbs:

• Original: The book is interesting.
  Revised: The book’s content is interesting.
• Original: The sky is blue.
  Revised: The sky blazes blue.
• Original: He is a doctor.
  Revised: He practices medicine.

Question 5: What are the benefits of avoiding linking verbs?

Avoiding linking verbs can make your writing more concise, clear, and engaging. It can also help you to emphasize the action or state of being that you are describing.

Question 6: Are there any exceptions to the rule of avoiding linking verbs?

Yes, there are a few exceptions to the rule of avoiding linking verbs. For example, linking verbs can be used to create emphasis or to compare two things. However, it is generally best to avoid using linking verbs whenever possible.

By avoiding linking verbs, you can make your writing more concise, clear, and engaging.

See the next section for more information on writing effectively.

Tips to Avoid Linking Verbs

Avoid linking verbs to enhance your writing’s conciseness, clarity, and engagement. Implement these practical tips to effectively eliminate linking verbs from your writing.

Tip 1: Utilize Active Voice

Transform passive sentences into active ones to eliminate linking verbs. Instead of writing “The book was read by the student,” write “The student read the book.” Active voice clarifies the sentence and emphasizes the doer of the action.

Tip 2: Employ Strong Verbs

Replace linking verbs with strong verbs that convey action or state. For instance, instead of writing “The sky is blue,” write “The sky blazes blue.” Strong verbs add depth and vividness to your writing.

Tip 3: Use Nominalizations

Convert verbs into nouns by adding suffixes like “-tion,” “-ment,” or “-ance.” For example, instead of writing “The book is interesting,” write “The book’s content is interesting.” Nominalizations eliminate linking verbs and enhance sentence flow.

Tip 4: Leverage Prepositional Phrases

Utilize prepositional phrases to show relationships between words. Instead of writing “The book is on the table,” write “The book rests on the table.” Prepositional phrases add detail and context without relying on linking verbs.

Tip 5: Avoid Redundant Phrases

Eliminate unnecessary words that often accompany linking verbs. Instead of writing “The weather is very hot,” write “The weather is scorching.” Removing redundant phrases strengthens your writing.

Key Takeaways:

• Active voice and strong verbs enhance clarity and engagement.
• Nominalizations and prepositional phrases provide alternatives to linking verbs.
• Avoid redundant phrases to streamline your writing.

By implementing these tips, you can effectively avoid linking verbs, resulting in more concise, clear, and impactful writing.

Terminating the Usage of Linking Verbs

Throughout this exploration, we have delved into the realm of “how to avoid linking verbs,” uncovering a treasure trove of techniques to enhance our writing. By embracing active voice, employing strong verbs, utilizing nominalizations, and leveraging prepositional phrases, we can bid farewell to linking verbs and unlock a new level of conciseness, clarity, and engagement in our writing.

Remember, avoiding linking verbs is not merely a stylistic preference but a transformative practice that empowers us to craft sentences that resonate with precision, vigor, and impact. As we continue our writing journey, let us carry these principles close, ever striving to eliminate linking verbs and elevate our writing to new heights of excellence.