Vibrant Verbs That You Can Use

To fight the tyranny of "is" and "are"

Jean Béraud L’Escrimeuse

In Use Active Verbs, I encouraged readers to reduce their reliance on the verb “to be” by making greater use of active verbs.¹ In this note, I build upon that foundation by listing specific verbs that will help writers avoid particular constructions of this sort, and, in doing so, add power, grace, and meaning to their compositions.²

Expression to Avoid                    Expressions to Consider

is problematic                          presents problems, creates problems, leads to problems

is equipped                               employs, wields, bears, carries

is accused                                 stands accused

is light, heavy                           weighs, weighs in at

is authorized, allowed             rates

is a success                                enjoyed success, met with success

there is a shed                           there stands a shed

For Further Reading:

Active Verbs

1. I recently learned that expressions created by combining an adjective with the verb “to be” are sometimes called copular constructions. However, lest I induce a giggle fit in the rare twelve year-old who discovers this article, I will refrain from using that designation.

2. In replacing a “to be plus adjective” expression with a vibrant verb, I writer will often need to provide additional information. Thus, rather than saying “the rock was heavy,” he will have to write, “the rock weighed a hundred pounds.”