The Great Adverb Debate: When to Use Them in Your Writing

I remember the first time I read about writing. The golden rule was never to use adverbs—not even one! They also told me to avoid adverbs in dialogue tags, like “she said quietly.”

Why Do We Even Have Adverbs?
So, if adverbs are so bad, why do they even exist? Are they just lazy authors’ crutches, morphing adjectives into quick fixes? Or maybe they have a purpose and can actually be useful without making a writer seem lazy or confused.

The Case for Speaking Softly
Let’s take this example: “Lila fidgeted with her scarf, glanced at her watch, and said softly, ‘I’m not sure where he went.’” Here, Lila’s actions show she’s unsure, and speaking softly is a natural part of being uncertain, right? Sure, we could say she spoke quietly, gently, or hesitantly, but does any word fit better than “softly”? “Quietly” might suggest she’s being discreet, not that her tone is gentle and unsure.

Let’s try another version: “Lila fidgeted with her scarf, glanced at her watch, and said loudly, ‘I’m not sure where he went.’” Now, she might just be impatient or frustrated. If we strip it down to: “Lila fidgeted with her scarf, glanced at her watch, and said, ‘I’m not sure where he went,’” she seems unsure, but we can’t be sure. Using “softly” or "loudly" here gives us a clear picture of her state of mind without extra sentences.

Adverbs Aren’t All Bad
Looking back at our example, does any other adverb fit Lila’s mood better than “softly”? And more importantly, can we convey the same clarity without it? Sure, we could add a few more sentences, but “softly” does the job perfectly in just one word.

But Don’t Go Overboard
This isn’t a free pass to sprinkle adverbs all over your writing. A well-placed adverb can be as powerful as any other word used wisely. However, despite their existence, you should avoid using words like "smilingly" or "tiredly". Almost any adjective can become an adverb with “-ly,” but that doesn’t mean you should use them all.

Adverbs, like adjectives, have their place, but only after you’ve searched for the best verb or noun. So use adverbs, but do so with care and purpose. They’re not the villains of grammar but must be used wisely to enhance your writing, not clutter it.