Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Action Verbs & Active Voice

An author's job is to show not tell. A talented author knows action verbs are his best friend. Using action verbs correctly keeps the story engaging and helps move the plot along.  The active voice forces the writer to be specific and confident adding clarity and action to your writing.  
 
  • Action verbs are something that a person or thing can do.
  • Action verbs can also be actions you can't see such as 'thought' or 'wanted'.
  • Active verbs move the action and reveal the actors.
  • Passive verbs emphasize the receiver, the victim.

The following are excellent resources: action verb lists:

 

Examples of action verbs:
Administer
Believe
Calculate
Evaluate
Investigate 
Kick
Kidnap
Kill
Strip
Stroke
Struck

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