Word Upgrades & Adverb Replacements
Not banning adverbs, just helping you avoid the icky ones.
1. Swap the adverb, not the meaning. Instead of: “He whispered angrily.” Try: “He hissed the words between his teeth.”
2. Replace “said” only when it changes tone. Not every line needs flair! But sometimes: • mused (thinking aloud) • snapped (tension) • muttered (quiet frustration) • chirped (bright and quick)
3. Alternatives to ‘almost’ that aren’t icky. Objects: brushing against, bordering, adjacent to Actions: poised to, ready to, about to States: akin to, resembling, not quite Misc: a whisper from, at the cusp of, within reach of
Example: Instead of: “She was almost smiling.” Try: “A smile hovered at the edge of her mouth.”
Punctuation as a Writing Superpower
Punctuation is mood.
1. Em-dash = drama or interruption. “The decision — reckless as it was — already felt final.”
2. Semicolon = linked thoughts. “The storm hammered the walls; inside, her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.”
3. Colon = emphasis or explanation. “He wanted only one thing: answers.”
4. Ellipses = hesitation or fading thoughts. “I thought I saw someone behind the shed, but…”
5. Intentional fragments = emotional punch. “The letter fell from her hands. Silence. Then breathing. Then panic.”


















