 For Authors: September 12, 2018 Issue [#9098] |
This week: Power Verbs: S through W Edited by: Vivian  
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Two months ago, I shared a list some strong action verbs which create action voice, showing. I covered the first two parts of the 195 verbs plus some extras from me. This issue, I will add the final action verbs beginning with letters S - W. Use these verbs wisely, though. Writing still needs clarity and coherence; verbs need to "fit" the meaning of the clause.
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Strengthening Writing with Power Verbs: Letters S-W
We want our readers to be drawn into and enveloped by our short story or novel, by anything we write. Boredom loses their attention quickly. Showing, using active voice, creates reading excitement. To avoid passive voice and to have active voice, writers use power verbs. To help know some power verbs, I discovered a list, author unknown, and added to it. Now, I will share the list I have to date, from S through W this article. Keep in mind, you may and should add to the list as you find strong action verbs not on the list
Let's begin this part of the power verbs with some verbs beginning with the letter S, the longest list of verbs so far:
• Scan
• Scrape
• Scratch
• Scrawl
• Seize
• Serve
• Shadow
• Shatter
• Shepherd
• Shimmer
• Shine
• Shock
• Shrivel
• Sizzle
• Skip
• Slash
• Slide
• Slip
• Slurp
• Smash
• Snag
• Snarl
• Snowball
• Soar
• Sparkle
• Sport
• Stare
• Steal
• Steer
• Storm
• Strain
• Stretch
• Strip
• Stroll
• Struggle
• Stumble
• Supercharge
• Supersize
• Surge
• Survey
• Swell
• Swipe
• Swoon
For an example of the difference between a so-so verb and a powerful one: The boy forced himself to reach the top shelf. The boy strained to reach the top shelf.
Now, we will look at a few strong action verbs beginning with the letter T:
• Tail
• Tattle
• Toss
• Track
• Trample
• Transfigure
• Transform
• Travel
• Treat
• Tremble
• Trim
• Trot
An example for the letter T might be tail rather than follow: The dog followed the boy through the woods. The dog tailed the boy through the woods.
Next, let’s look at verbs that start with the letter U:
• Uncover
• Unearth
• Untangle
• Unveil
• Usher
• Utilize
Writers use words to create stories. Writers utilize words to create stories.
Not many verbs begin with the letter V. The list had one, and I added the rest:
• Vacate
• Value
• Veil
• Vet
• Voice
The man said he wasn’t happy. The man voiced his displeasure.
The last of the verbs on the original list began with the letter W:
• Wallow
• Waste
• Wind
• Withdraw
• Wreck
• Wrench
• Wrest
• Wrestle
• Wring
The farmer twisted the chicken’s neck. The farmer wrung the chicken’s neck.
I keep the full list including my additions (and I keep adding) handy when I write because the thesaurus found with MS Word often doesn't have the best list of synonyms, and it doesn't have any suggestions if I can't express what I need in one word.
I hope you found these three lists, combined into one list, helpful. I may do other articles concerning “better” words to use in the future. |
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