How to Improve Writing With Adjectives

Adjectives are words which modify nouns by limiting, qualifying or specifying them. For example, in the phrase "blue horse," the noun "horse" is modified by the adjective "blue," which specifies the horse's color. Adjectives can be used to create a composition that is more evocative and precise in order to communicate more clearly with the reader as well as to engage them more fully with the writing. Adjectives are particularly useful in descriptions, such as in travel writing or personal essays.

Things You'll Need

  • The piece of writing, printed out
  • A pen
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Instructions

    • 1

      Identify the nouns in your writing, circling them with your pen. Nouns are the names of people, places, things, qualities or actions.

    • 2

      Go back and look at each noun to see if it would be more specific or evocative if it was limited, qualified or specified by a different noun. In some cases, you may find that a more specific noun would work better than the original noun, even with an adjective. You want clear and precise writing.

    • 3

      Use adjectives that are specific, or which evoke a particular quality, such as nostalgia, or sense, such as taste or touch. Unexpected adjectives are more interesting and engaging to a reader than imprecise or overused adjectives.

    • 4

      Read your piece aloud, thinking about each adjective and the noun it modifies. Does the sentence read smoothly and fluidly, or does it seen awkward? Wherever the latter occurs, you may need different adjectives or nouns. You may want to read the piece aloud several times, revising as you go each time.

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